Ms Dahlia Hougardy, Groningen, The Netherlands The Netherlands, 26 Oktober 2001 Dear Pharma- brothers and sisters in Tasmania It's been a short while since Gina asked me to write something about my experiences upon visiting the Tasmanian School of Pharmacy. I first came in August 1999 as a Dutch pharmacy student. For 6 months I worked on clinical pharmacy research in the Royal Hobart Hospital. I might have met some of you in the halls of the school or at some barbies. I came in contact with Greg through the ASHP and through a Tasmanian PhD student in my hometown, Groningen, The Netherlands. Looking back, it's like it was almost meant to be… "Follow the road which leads to Hobart, down-under, and thy shall have a wonderful time" … And indeed I did!

Greg Peterson was my mentor and chief at university. But also from the rest of the staff at UTas and the Royal Hobart Hospital I received help and new ideas about the research and about other goals I wanted to reach.

Studying Pharmacy in Holland is different from the course in Australia. Our course is 6 years. At the end of the 6 years you get a Masters Degree in Pharmacy.There's a difference in the required training / specialisation for community pharmacists, hospital pharmacists, industrial pharmacist and researchers in pharmacy. After 6 years you're licensed to work as a pharmacist, in community, industry or research.

Hospital pharmacy requires specialisation; that is another 4 year training. In these 4 years learning and working experience are combined in a hospital setting, and in the end you are registered. Before you're registered as a hospital pharmacist the position you hold is the pharmacy equivalent of being an intern in medicine before you can become a registrar. For community and industry: after 2 years you can get registered as a pharmacist in that area.

Maybe the whole procedure sounds complicated, but it's not. The Pharmacy Uni training consists of 2 parts; first 4 years you work towards your Masters Degree in Pharmacy. The last 2 years are directed towards professional skills; management, dispensing, pharmacotherapy. Upon completing your Masters in Pharmacy; you'll also have a little experience in carrying out research. It is incorporated in our curriculum. In our fourth year; all students have to participate in a half year of research. They have a free choice in the area of research. Afterwards they write a thesis and present the results at a symposium.

The last 2 years of the study; students follow professional oriented courses. These courses contain a lot of pharmacotherapy, dispensing classes, including compounding, some management and communication courses. Last but not least; the final half year you do 3 internships in 2 community and 1 hospital pharmacies. That is the best time of the study. Your fingers start to itch; because you are eager to enter the "real world". WORK finally seems appealing. But on the other hand; you never really feel like you're finished. I guess when you leave uni, a lifetime of keeping up with new developments and improving your knowledge on new drugs and everything that goes with it, starts.

No worries, I personally believe this is good, because you'll see friends and colleagues at symposia, clinical courses and organised functions from the pharmaceutical industry.

Quite a few people asked me why I came to Tassie for more research in clinical pharmacy. For me it was combining the useful with the pleasant. And I've been very lucky to actually find both! I believe the Pharmacy School in Tasmania has a lot of potential. The staff are very supportive and most important: fun to work with. And doing some research in one of the many area's your interest lies in is really good for your experience and will bridge the gap between uni and work. It's good for the heart and soul! Foreign trips also boost your knowlegde and looking in each others kitchens may make you "hungry". But you'll want to go "home to eat" and use the new knowledge in your own surroundings! After reading this piece of proza; if you're interested in doing an exchange with the Netherlands; contact your staff at the Pharmacy School and they can help you out! You can also contact me for details regarding the University of Pharmacy in The Netherlands! Dahliahougardy@hotmail.com. Take care, Pharma-brothers and sisters! Dahlia Hougardy