Two pharmacy students, Makhaila M. Esquibel and Mostafa Qasemi, along with two faculty members from the University of New Mexico (UNM), embarked on a two-week educational journey to Nagasaki University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Japan. This visit was made possible through an exchange agreement between the two universities, leveraging their respective regional strengths and educational resources.
The training commenced with preliminary sessions at Nagasaki University's clinical training room, followed by visits to Kampo pharmacies and drugstores, and hands-on experience at the University Hospital School of Pharmaceutical Sciences. During these sessions, the students learned various techniques, including the preparation of decoctions and Shiunko, a type of Kampo medicine. The program also included a unique segment on Kamigoto Island, where the students observed and participated in medicine preparation and home health care, an experience they found enriching.
On the final day of the program, a student exchange meeting took place, featuring presentations from both institutions. Nagasaki University students Ayaka Torigoe and Haruna Uezono discussed "Made in Japan! About Kampo Medicines," while Makhaila M Esquibel and Mostafa Qasemi presented their findings under the title "Report on the Study in Nagasaki."
Esquibel and Qasemi highlighted differences in the roles of pharmacists between Japan and the United States, noting that pharmacists in the U.S. have a broader scope of practice, including administering vaccinations, which is restricted to licensed doctors in Japan. They expressed enthusiasm about bringing back valuable practices learned in Nagasaki, such as Kampo medicine and home healthcare, to apply them in New Mexico's community medicine.
Overall, the exchange program provided an opportunity for cross-cultural learning and sharing of knowledge between the two institutions, fostering a deeper understanding of pharmaceutical practices and healthcare systems in different parts of the world.
