Summer Pharmacy Study Program at USC: Student Achievement Presentation

Since 2010, the School of Pharmacy (藥學系) at TMU has been sending outstanding students to our sister school, the University of Southern California (USC), for a summer pharmacy study program. Students have consistently shown exceptional performance and returned with invaluable insights. To share these experiences, the School of Pharmacy invited this year's participants to hold a share-out session on September 20 and 21 in Room 3101, where they shared their academic and daily lives in the U.S. with the university faculty and students.

The one-month internship focused on four main themes: Clinical Pharmacy Curriculum, Lifestyle, U.S. Pharmacy Visits, and Key Takeaways.

A Hands-on Clinical Learning Experience

The teaching style at USC differs significantly from that in Taiwan. While lectures are used for disease introductions and pharmacology overviews, the program emphasizes clinical application. Students are assigned clinical cases as homework to be analyzed and then discussed the following day with instructors and local Pharm.D students. Together, they complete SOAP notes (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan) and conclude with practical patient counseling and education simulations.

Observations on U.S. Pharmacy Operations

The students' presentations on the "living" aspect of their trip—covering food, clothing, housing, and entertainment—captivated the audience. Furthermore, the visits to local American pharmacies were eye-opening, particularly regarding staffing configurations, automated dispensing systems, and medication packaging standards.

To help underclassmen prepare for future opportunities, the participating students also compiled a guide on "culture shock" and essential pre-departure preparations, providing practical advice for those interested in following in their footsteps.

Encouragement for Future Global Citizens

The event concluded with a summary by Professor Hsiang-Yin Chen (陳香吟), Director of the Department of Clinical Pharmacy. Drawing from her personal journey as an international student, she encouraged students to seize every opportunity to travel abroad, pursue advanced studies, and experience the unforgettable milestones that come with global exploration.

[Photo: The scene at the School of Pharmacy Summer Study Program at USC Achievement Presentation.] 

Source: The Office of Global Engagement