Ten students from Lebanese American University spent their final clinical pharmacy rotations in Nebraska this spring and summer, through a groundbreaking international partnership with the UNMC College of Pharmacy. Visiting LAU students included U.S. citizens, as well as those from Lebanon, Syria and other nations.
LAU’s School of Pharmacy carries the only Accreditation for Pharmacy Education-accredited PharmD program outside of the U.S., said Dean Naser Alsharif, PharmD, PhD, who is a UNMC College of Pharmacy alumnus. LAU is an accredited international American university, and its PharmD graduates can sit for licensure in the U.S.
What better place for these students to complete their U.S. clinical rotations than at their dean’s alma mater? Dr. Alsharif, whose family still lives in Omaha, reached out.
“We are very appreciative of this partnership and excited about the quality of the training our students received,” said Dr. Alsharif, who completed his MS and PharmD degrees at UNMC. “We are extremely delighted about the spirit of hospitality, collaboration and cooperation the UNMC College of Pharmacy team from the dean, senior associate dean, experiential director, preceptors, staff and students.”
It was no easy task. But the UNMC College of Pharmacy was excited to step up to it, said Don Klepser, PhD, senior associate dean for academic affairs.
Dr. Klepser said other areas of campus sprung into action to help. Crucial collaborators included Phil Covington, EdD, associate vice chancellor for student success, and Ryan Lawson, real estate and property manager in facilities.
“We were able to work through visa issues, housing issues, Nebraska intern licenses. We were building the airplane while we were flying, a little bit,” Dr. Klepser said.
Preceptors and clinical sites were enthusiastic and gave the visiting students high marks, Dr. Klepser said. Likewise, the LAU students adjusted well to Nebraska.
“Any initial concerns about being in the Midwest have passed,” Dr. Klepser said.
“We have grown more independent, resilient and adaptable, navigating life in a new country and immersing ourselves in a different culture. The friendships we’ve made and the connections we’ve built with students and professionals will undoubtedly last a lifetime,” one student said through written feedback.
LAU students said they appreciated their exposure to state-of-the-art facilities, diverse patient population and innovative teaching methods. They enjoyed observing the differences in health care practices between Lebanon and the United States and were impressed by UNMC’s emphasis on patient-centered care, interprofessional collaboration and evidence-based practice.
Visiting students spent significant time on campus and interacted with their UNMC counterparts, both in educational settings and on rotation. They took part in a Phi Lambda Sigma pharmacy leadership society event and a special pinning ceremony. They were officially registered as non-degree students.
The experience was a success, Dr. Alsharif said.
“As an alumnus, I want to express my deepest gratitude and pride in this collaboration, which will contribute to the personal, cultural and professional development of our students. We look forward to further collaborations between our two institutions on student and faculty exchanges, faculty and staff development activities and residency and graduate education opportunities.”
At least seven of the visiting LAU students plan to practice pharmacy in the U.S., Dr. Klepser said.