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Cross-Cultural Exchange in Pharmacy Practice: An International APPE Experience in Japan
Mikiko Y Takeda1, Tracy Hunter1, Barry E Bleske1
1University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Objective:
International collaboration between pharmacy schools enhances understanding of pharmacy practice, operations, and health care challenges across countries. Since 2020, our institution has partnered with Nagasaki University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (NUSOP) in Japan on research and education initiatives. Through this partnership, both institutions identified similar challenges, especially in preparing students to provide rural health care to aging populations. In 2023, the inaugural International Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) was launched in Nagasaki to address these needs. This article outlines the development and design of the International APPE and evaluates its alignment with Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) Standards 2025 to ensure program quality and relevance.
Methods:
The experiential course was arranged into 4 week-long phases: pretravel orientation; on-site learning in an urban area, with shadowing and observing a Japanese traditional herbal medicine (Kampo) pharmacy; on-site learning in a rural area, including delivering home-based health care with a pharmacist preceptor in a patient's home; and the final week for summary reflections to present at our college.
Results:
By April 2025, 5 students had completed this APPE. The International APPE immersed the students in the pharmacist role in the Japanese health care system and met elements of the elective APPE in ACPE Standards 2025. In addition to providing valuable insights for global health care and cultural exchange, this educational experience strengthened the relationship between the 2 institutions. Further, students at both institutions established a strong bond.
Conclusion:
The International APPE has provided students with unique opportunities to exchange ideas between 2 cultures facing similar health care challenges, enriching their future careers.
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