2014/2015 Events (Part 1)

It's been a while since we updated our blog due to our usual tight schedule of lectures, placements, workshops, practicals and of course, finals. But nevertheless, here's a BIG update on our activities and events last semester in 2014: 

1. Health Sciences Career Day (15 Oct 2014)

Thanks to UNMC Career Advisory Services, Script Your Future, a 3-hour career talk was successfully held along with the support of Lovy Pharmacy, Pharmaniaga and PharmNotts. Honourable guests include representatives from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Pharmaniaga and BP Healthcare Group.

Script Your Future aims to provide a platform for students to plan ahead and an opportunity for students to interact with their possible future employers. 

From Left: Mr. Ganesh Subramaniam, Stephen Wong, Dr. Ting Kang Nee, Calvin Tsen and Dr. Lily Manorammah

The event started off with a forum hosted by our respected lecturer – Dr. Ting Kang Nee, joined by panel members including Stephen Wong and Calvin Tsen from GSK, Dr. Lily Manorammah from BP Healthcare Group and Mr. Ganesh Subramaniam from Pharmaniaga.

Among the highlights in the forum was ‘Should job hopping be encouraged?’ It was interesting especially when panellists have different opinions. 

Dr. Lily a reknown consultant pathologist claimed that job hopping is a very difficult path to pursue; however, she encouraged that one should hold on to his/her position and perform beyond expectation with the experiences gathered. 

Dr. Lily expressing her opinions on job hopping

On the other hand, Calvin Tsen disagreed, claiming that young employees will not know what they like until they have tried it. He then revealed a three-year Future Leaders Program offered by GSK to help new-comers discover their strengths and career aspirations as they work within the company. 

The forum went on with several other interesting topics, such as qualities employers are looking for, points to consider whilst choosing a career, and the possible challenges newcomers might have to face in the future etc. It was an interesting and enjoyable discussion. 

A talk by BP healthcare group followed up next, with an introduction of the services provided in BP healthcare group and the job opportunities available. It was undoubtedly interesting to learn about the fact that a pharmacy may actually such a variety of services ranging from drive-thru, webcam pharmacy, medication reminder sms etc. Simply Amazing!  

Rainee Jay (our Notts Pharmacy Alumni) delivering a talk about services and opportunities offered by BP Healthcare

Last but not least, the event ended well with an interactive session between the companies’ representatives and students. Students and lecturers gathered at the foyer next to F3A12 and had a great chit-chat with the representatives whilst enjoying some of the snacks prepared by the organising committee.  

Our PharmNotts's President, Vice President and PR officer having a chat with GSK representative Stephen Wong

We thank everyone for making this event so successful, especially to Amy and Zhariff who had spent their summer break preparing for the event, the career advisory service, external speakers and our forum host – Dr. Ting as well as Yeshmita, our emcee of the day.

2. Health Awareness Week & Blood Donation Drive (20-24 Oct 2014)

Organizers : Kenny Tan & Hiew Sook Ching (Health Week),
                    Maggie Kok & Vivyanne Hong (Blood Donation)

Our health week is back with the theme "Genital Care and Sexual Health - Nothing is Too Personal!" The event was held on campus for four days with the aim of educating all students and staffs about genital care and sexual health, such as awareness of sexually transmitted diseases, maintaining good hygiene, while creating awareness regarding general health.

As usual, we set up a booth at the SA Circle with a few activities being carried out:

Giving out sponsored items such as sanitary pads, female hygiene washes and also various skin products

Bulletin board with information and fun facts related to our theme

Giving out booklets with information regarding our theme

Sales of hand-made bookmarks from our very own organizer Sook Ching

We also carried out a photo competition titled "My Healthy Promise" for students to write their promise to their health. The objective of this activity is to provide motivation for students to improve on any aspect of their health.

Besides that, we also had a health talk on Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS in collaboration with the Ministry of Health Hulu Langat District Office and Klinik Kesihatan Kajang.

Dr Azimah from Klinik Kesihatan Kajang delivering her talk on STIs

Running alongside our health week is the Blood Donation Drive at H1B11. Response was good as more and more students are aware of this programme being held on campus.

3. Johnson & Johnson Competition (21 Nov 2014)

In collaboration with the British Pharmaceutical Student Association (BPSA) and the Johnson & Johnson Company, the Johnson &Johnson, Responding to Symptoms Competition was organized in UNMC by PharmNotts on the 21^st of November 2014. 

The Johnson &Johnson Competition has been an annual competition in UNMC, and it was previously known as the McNeil competition. Both competitions are actually the same, designed by the BPSA as part of the Professional Development Scheme (PDS) to encourage students to get involved with pharmacy outside their degree and to help them prepare for future Continuing Professional Development requirements. The competition provides a platform for its participants to practice for future OSCEs whilst applying their clinical knowledge, counselling skills and their ability to show empathy.

Unlike the actual settings for the competition in UK, in UNMC, we only open the competition exclusively for the year-one students to ensure fairness among the participants and to encourage more year-one students to join and to gain experience for their future OSCEs examinations.

The theme for the 2014 competition was on ‘Foot Care’. With the support mainly from the first year MPharm students, we managed to get 61 registered participants out of 91 students in their class. In this foot care module, there were interesting topics, such as corns, blisters, cracked heals, varrucas, athletes foot etc.

At the end of the day, we got three of our winners based on the scores given by our judges Dr. Abigail Emtage, Dr. Suresh Kumar Mohankumar and Dr. Jim Chai. The winners for the competition that day were Ann Chong Li Wen, Adriana Syaira binti Azmi and Nurul Ain Nadhrah Binti Muhamed Edil. They were entitled with a trip to the 73^rd Annual BPSA Conference 2015 in Liverpool, John Moores University! It was truly a competitive competition. Even though some of participants might not had much experience with OSCEs prior the competition, everyone performed beyond expectation and was indeed amazing.

Written by,

Gan Quan Hong & Kenny Tan,

Publication Officer & IT Officer