“My SEP took place in St. John's at School of Pharmacy where I worked with Dr. Weber studying neuroprotective effects of blueberry extracts to determine their potential use in neurodegenerative diseases. I was working in the laboratory treating the cells and analyzing the results with different methods, such as immunocytochemistry and fluorescence imaging. I also met many people that made me feel at home. We went on trips to some stunning places in St. John's and its surroundings, such as Cape Spear, East coast trail and even went whale watching. I am really glad I visited this lovely town and am so grateful to have met amazing friends. I would recommend everyone to do a SEP exchange!”

“SEP in Cyprus became one of the most rewarding experiences of my degree. Each day on the island offered a new adventure. I would go to my community pharmacy in the morning and learn about medications, common disease states, drug ordering, OTC counselling, and so much more. In the afternoon, I would explore the island with the other SEP students. Each student was here to learn something new about themselves and about the profession, which connected us regardless of the physical boundaries that separated us. Together, we would go to the beach, to new restaurants, or sightsee so we could immerse ourselves within the Turkish culture. I am grateful that I was welcomed at my community pharmacy with such enthusiasm that made each day of work enjoyable. I am fortunate to have met so many incredible pharmacy students from other parts of the world with whom I now share an unbreakable bond.”

“My exchange took place in the Kansai prefecture of Japan for two weeks. The SEP staff were amazingly kind and helpful, which made the foreign students feel at home in the middle of a huge cultural shock. Indeed, our itineraries consisted of sightseeing, local food tasting and culture exchange with students from other countries. The most insightful experience of my trip was the visit to the Red Cross hospital pharmacy. Its humanitarian mission, its volunteer services and its noble approach are deeply heartwarming to me. Furthermore, I was truly amazed by how the pharmacist’s practice is framed by technology. In fact, all drugs are stored in distribution machines and these robots even mix some of the medications. Also, they receive prescriptions electronically, which not only is eco-friendly,  but also reduces errors. Overall, I encourage all of us, the new generation of pharmacists, to reach out, to learn and to exchange with our colleagues from far away, in order to improve both of our practices and our systems.”

“I am very happy to recommend SEP as it was very beneficial in advancing my career and knowledge in pharmacy. I was placed in a community pharmacy in Strasbourg and I got the chance to practice my communication skills in French as well as learn about the healthcare system in Europe. The pharmacists that I worked with trusted my competencies and this in turn allowed me to build my confidence while working in the pharmacy. During my internship I also learned about how the independent pharmacy business model works in France. Finally, I had the opportunity of travelling to Alsace and visiting the northernmost part called Wissembourg and learning about their culture and language. As a result, I developed good friendships and connections with people who I would happily host at my home. I look forward to applying what I learned from this exchange to my pharmacy practice in Canada!”

“This past summer I had the opportunity to participate in SEP in Japan. Having the opportunity to travel to the opposite side of the world and learn about a completely different healthcare system was an amazing experience. I experienced various areas of pharmacy including community, hospital, and industry. As part of the exchange, we were able to see how pharmacists incorporate aspects of Traditional Chinese Medicine into western medicine in drug therapy. Being a part of a pharmacy exchange program was a very unique experience and I would highly recommend anyone who is thinking about participating to take that leap and go explore.”

“I did my internship in Pharmaprix community pharmacy in Montreal, where I obtained an insight into pharmacy in Canada, which strongly differs from Europe. Altogether, I can highly recommend SEP to anyone who seeks the adventure of living far away from home while getting to know amazing and caring people and working in a different environment, which will serve as an incomparable experience in anyone’s life.”

“I did an exchange program in Dunedin, New Zealand with University of Otago. I learned a lot regarding community pharmacy practices in New Zealand, and the staff members also showed me good food and attractions around Dunedin. Dunedin is a beautiful city not only because of its natural sceneries, but also because of endangered wildlife, such as royal albatross and yellow-eyed penguins. I am very glad and grateful for meeting so many great people and making friends with them! This summer is indeed one of the most unforgettable moments in my life and I highly recommend future students to have their exchange in New Zealand.”

“I truly enjoyed my time in Taiwan during SEP. It was an eye-opening experience that allowed me to learn about innovative practices and bring over my own insights and experiences at the same time. The students I met are extremely friendly and helpful. I was deeply engaged in the local culture by visiting historical and modern attraction sites. The food at night markets was awesome! I am really thankful for this opportunity to go on exchange in Taiwan. It is quite different to be visiting a city as a student than as a tourist, allowing for a much deeper understanding of the local culture while learning about pharmacy at the same time.”

“Je m’appelle Candice, je viens de France et cet été j’ai eu la chance de participer au SEP pendant 3 semaines près de Montréal. J’ai fait mon stage dans une pharmacie communautaire à Côte-St-Luc et j’ai vraiment adoré cette expérience ! 

Bien évidemment, l’expérience SEP ne se résume pas qu’au stage mais aussi aux très belles rencontres que j’ai pu faire avec les étudiants Canadiens et les autres étudiantes SEP, avec qui nous avons vadrouillé quotidiennement pour découvrir et s’accoutumer à cette magnifique ville de Montréal. Ce voyage a été pour moi une expérience inoubliable avec à la clé de nouvelles amitiés et une grande envie de revenir !”

“I had the opportunity to participate in the IPSF KNAPS Visiting Program. We visited many places including various museums, pharmaceutical industries, hospitals, and community pharmacies. In addition to the pharmacy-related sites, we also had excursions during the weekends. One of my favourite places we went to was the Korean Folk Village - it was very neat to see what Korea was like in the past.

I think what really made this Visiting Program special was the gatherings with KNAPS members and other SEP students after seeing the main sites. This was a great way to strengthen friendships and get to know each other better. We would go to karaoke, play games and hang out at the park. 

Many memories were made during my time in South Korea, and I will never forget the times I had together with everyone, and the new friendships I made. I would highly recommend South Korea to any student interested in taking part of SEP.”