December 13, 2019, by Mei Kee Lee
Alumni Testimonial: Toh Phang Sum (2016)
Hi I’m Sum, a Diana Princess of Wales Hospital pre-reg pharmacist. Honestly, pre-reg training is not easy but manageable, as you have to work in the day and study at night. I am very grateful to have close friends, caring family and supportive parents to help me get through this year. The key is balance; work hard, study hard and play hard.
My pre-reg has been eventful. Every day on the hospital wards, I speak with patients, perform medicines reconciliation and clinically check prescribed drugs. I wrote an article “The Role of Hospital’s Pharmacists Explained” for the local newspaper, presented my antimicrobial orthopedic prophylaxis audit to consultant doctors and learnt from different healthcare professionals such as Dieticians, Speech and Language Therapists and Diabetes, Pain, Parkinson’s and Respiratory Specialist Nurses.
I have shadowed advanced clinical pharmacists in paediatrics, medicines information and chemotherapy; witness a junior doctor insert an intravenous cannula, a team of doctors resuscitate a crash call epileptic patient fitting with seizures and a consultant doctor diagnose bronchiectasis using X-rays, MRIs, spirometry and peak flow test.
I understand some of you, my lovely super juniors, might be worried that getting a UK pre-reg is nigh impossible. Truthfully, competition for pre-reg places is fierce as there are many schools of pharmacies across the UK, as well as having visa requirements for us but it is still possible. The thing you need to do is stand out from the crowd and consider things from a pharmacy employer’s perspective. Most employers want a well-rounded individual – what makes you special and different from the rest and why you could be the most suitable person. In my cohort year, I was not the smartest, nor the strongest academically nor the best in any aspect; I started out average just like you. Therefore, if someone like me can get a pre-reg, I’m sure you will be able to as well.
My advice would be to start now and prepare for the future, go the extra mile, put yourself out there, network, meet new people, do everything within your power and capabilities to raise your standards and value, acquire new skills, get involved in a society, summer placements, part-time work or pick up a unique hobby.
My final piece of advice is to learn from your mistakes and experiences. In my first two years at UNMC, I failed to become a PharmNotts Committee member as I lacked public speaking skills during elections. Hence in my third year, I joined a club to improve myself. Since then, I have spoken numerous times in front of hundreds of people, was elected as TravelSoc President and PharmSoc BPSA Contact Rep as well as lobbied for a motion at a national level BPSA annual conference. It was a motion suggesting that international students should be supported to obtain a pre-registration place in the UK and this motion was passed unanimously.
Sum is pioneering the start up of Aalsum Pharmas Compounding Pharmacy, specialising in tailor-made medications.
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