When MacKenzie Van Loon (Rx2023) learned about the Student Exchange Program (SEP), she immediately knew this was an experience she couldn鈥檛 pass up.聽
She first heard about the program through an event hosted by the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Students and Interns (CAPSI)聽and organized by the International Pharmaceutical Students鈥 Federation (IPSF).
The Netherlands, her first choice, only accepts three pharmacy students each year.聽MacKenzie was grateful to be chosen because after her grandparents passed in 2019, MacKenzie knew she wanted to visit their homeland, The Netherlands, someday but wasn't sure when she'd be able to do so.
"This exchange allowed me to experience a one-on-one view you typically don鈥檛 get as a tourist. I was able to connect with my roots and learn about my profession," she says.
With the help of Anthony Miller, co-op experiential coordinator at the 蓝莓视频 Pharmacy, and funding available through the School of Pharmacy Student Success Fund, she was able to take this opportunity.
"International experiences give the students the opportunity to see how other countries practice pharmacy. Canada is聽after all one of the most diverse multicultural countries in the world so this experience is invaluable!"" says聽Anthony Miller, Experiential Learning Coordinator/Instructor at the聽蓝莓视频 School of Pharmacy.
MacKenzie and the Amsterdam pharmacy team at a Nieuwendammer Apotheek.
During her two and a half week stay, MacKenzie worked at different Nieuwendammer Apotheek sites in Amsterdam.
MacKenzie learned how to compound new medications she normally wouldn鈥檛 come across in Canada, due to different regulations, and saw how pharmacy is evolving in Amsterdam by witnessing their shift into family health care teams.
Watching pharmacists interact differently with patients and medications was eye opening for MacKenzie.
Her mentors were welcoming and encouraging. They told us: 鈥測ou are here to learn and we are here to help,鈥 she says.
Her biggest success during this exchange was compounding over 100 tubes of a specific Dutch medication, something she鈥檚 never prepared before. As a result, the pharmacy had a two-week supply of the medication that would normally take one person six hours to complete.
She was happy to have made an impact and grateful to give back to the pharmacy.
Zaanse Schans windmills in The Netherlands.
In her spare time, MacKenzie visited museums she always wanted to see as a child, including Museum Van Loon that may have an extended family relation. She also visited a more traditional Dutch village that maintains a more historical way of living, churches and the Zaanse Schans windmills.
I also loved experiencing the food on a deeper level. One traditional Dutch food is herring freshly caught from the sea, cleaned and garnished with salt. I grew up eating this from a jar from Costco but experiencing it personally really connected me to my grandparents, it felt like home.
The exchange pushed MacKenzie beyond her comfort zone. She was nervous to travel internationally alone because she didn鈥檛 speak the first language and she had never done something like this before.
鈥淚鈥檓 so glad I pushed through my nerves. I now feel more prepared to help patients from other countries and cultures. I feel more comfortable to immerse myself in a patient鈥檚 medical history and connect with them to make a difference in their lives,鈥 says MacKenzie.
MacKenzie and fellow exchange students in front of Hooglandse Kerk, Leiden.
MacKenzie鈥檚 advice to students considering an exchange who are聽on the fence is to take the leap.
鈥淚t can be scary going to a country away from home on your own but this is the time to do it. You never know what you鈥檒l learn and it will change your view of pharmacy for the better. It is one of my favourite experiences I鈥檝e had at 蓝莓视频 Pharmacy so far,鈥 says MacKenzie.