Ask Your Pharmacist First

Promoting the role of pharmacists as providers of healthcare in the community

Across Europe, Governments and the general public are expecting pharmacists to play a more active role in the
provision of healthcare in the community. More than ever before, pharmacists have a primary care role and are the
Þrst port of call for consumers with a minor health problem.
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Consumer Healthcare is working with pharmacists across Europe to support their role as
primary care experts through its ÒAsk Your Pharmacist FirstÓ initiative.

Ask your Pharmacist First is a unique partnership between GSK and pharmacists currently operating in more than 20
countries in Europe. Its objectives are to:
¥ Help promote pharmacists as experts
¥ Encourage people to visit pharmacies more frequently
¥ Provide training for pharmacists and assistants so they can offer the best professional advice to their customers

This support programme incorporates consumer advertising and extensive pharmacy training materials.
The most recent example of GSKs Ask Your Pharmacist First initiative in action can be seen in the area of obesity.
In January 2009 GSK received a non-prescription licence for alli (orlistat 60mg). alli is the Þrst non-prescription weight
loss aid to receive a licence from the European Commission. The centrally granted marketing authorisation means alli
is being launched in all EU member countries by the end of this year followed by its launch in other European
countries as well.

Facts on obesity
The prevalence of obesity has risen three-fold or more in many European countries since the 1980s. In 2005, the
World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that by 2010, 150 million adults in Europe would be obese1.
Obesity is fast becoming a public health issue of epidemic proportions and presents pharmacists with an unrivalled
opportunity to support those wanting to lose weight, helping to elevate their role in public health.

What is alli?
alli is a weight loss aid for adults who are overweight with a BMI of 28kg/m2 or more and should be used with a
reduced calorie, lower-fat diet. alli can help people lose 50 percent more weight compared to dieting alone. So for
every two kilograms lost by dieting, alli could help lose one kg more. Pharmacists are ideally placed to help provide
customers with information and support whilst they are
undertaking a weight-loss programme.

Pharmacy support and training through Ask Your

Pharmacist First
GSK is offering comprehensive training to ensure that
pharmacists and pharmacy assistants are fully informed
about alli and the support programme. To date more
than 182,000 pharmacy staff in over 57,130 pharmacies
across Europe have been trained, whole training has
also taken place in more than 14,212 ÒAmbassadorÓ
pharmacies. The training includes workshops, distance
learning and comprehensive detail aids.

This is a great example how GSK is working closely

with European pharmacists to help people to live a
healthier and longer life.

! References
1WHO. The challenge of obesity in the WHO European region.
Fact sheet Euro/13/05. 2005. Available from: www.euro.who.int/document/mediacentre/fs1304e.pdf

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Table of contents and Editor’s words

Presidential words 4 EPSA favourite LS 18

33rd EPSA Annual Congress 6 IMP Coordinator of the Year 19

EAFP Annual Conference 7 3rd Leadership Summer School 21

ArmPSA - Armenia 9 Dealing with Proscratination 23

EPSA 12th Summer University 11 EPSA Annual Topic 2010 24

2nd Parkinson’s Disease Summer School 14 Twinnet Program 26

70th World Congress of Pharmacy and 46th EDSA Meeting 27

Pharmaceutical Sciences 15
IMP Placement Testimonial 29
IPSF 56th World Congress 17
EPSA Executive contacts 30

Dear Reader, I would like to thank to all of those who have

contributed to this Newsletter, especially to António
As EPSA Vice President of Public Relations, I am truly Valério, our Design officer, who has design every single
honoured and proud to present you the first EPSA page of this publication. Due to everyone’s effort the
Newsletter of the mandate 2010/2011. EPSA Newsletter will reach, once again, all pharmacy
students around Europe!
The first EPSA Newsletter was published in December
1979 and we took efforts in order to ensure that 31
years later, the EPSA Newsletter has the same quality Enjoy your reading!
and variety of content that always characterized it. This
issue of the EPSA Newsletter reveals the memories
and testimonials of the latest EPSA events such as the
33rd EPSA Annual Congress, the Summer University
as well as all the other events where EPSA has been
represented by its team and members. You will be
able to read amazing articles from our members, Mariana Fróis
professionals’ interviews, and so much more! EPSA Vice President of Public Relations 2010/2011
vp.pr@epsa-online.org

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Presidential Words
Dear EPSA friends,
I am very happy to introduce you to the first issue of
the EPSA Newsletter of the EPSA team of 2010/2011.
Each Newsletter created is the result of a lot of hard
work from several people, especially from the Vice
President of Public Relations and the Design Officer. I
can surely appreciate the work done by the VP of PR,
since I had this position last year. I would therefore like
to congratulate this year’s VP of PR, Mariana Fróis, for
her first edition of the Newsletter. I would also like to
thank each person that has contributed to the making
of this Newsletter, especially the regular members that
have dedicated of their time to give us an insight in
their experiences.
The EPSA team of 2010/2011 was elected
during the 33rd Annual Congress in Krakow in May this
year, and the vacant positions were filled during the
2nd Executive Meeting in Brussels in June. After some
rather radical changes in the EPSA structure were
approved in Krakow, the people elected to fill these
newly introduced positions have a big challenge with
shaping their tasks and visions for the coming years,
and it is very interesting to explore the potential of
these positions during this mandate. Last EPSA year
was a very fruitful year for our association in terms of a
strengthened professional image, and this year’s aim
is to focus on continuing this development, as well as
bringing forward our educational projects even more.
We also want to get as close as possible to all our
members throughout the year.
I believe that the content of this Newsletter shows the
diversity of our association, from an article about the
Annual Topic of 2010/2011, a training article about
procrastination (apparently a very common problem
amongst pharmacy students), and also an introduction
of one of EPSA’s newest member associations –
ArmPSA Armenia.
4
This summer has been a very eventful, and you can
find descriptions of the EPSA Summer University,
Leadership Summer School, the 2 nd Parkinson
Summer School and the IPSF World Congress. The
EPSA team has also been present at several
professional events, and you will find articles describing
the FIP congress and the EAFP conference.
The next EPSA event will be the 7th Autumn
Assembly in Helsinki in October, which will gather
almost 250 EPSA members for six days of developing
themselves as individuals, as well as EPSA as an
association. I am looking so much forward to experience
the EPSA Spirit again, which is so amazingly present
at these big events. But there are a lot of other ways of
experience the EPSA Spirit throughout the year. Take
part in one of our numerous and diverse projects – for
example the TWINNET project or the Training project -
and you will understand what I mean.
Almost six months have passed since the elections
in Krakow, and the team has reached many goals
already – with such an enthusiastic and skilled team
I am really looking forward to see what we will have
achieved by the end of this EPSA year. Our webpage
is going through some radical improvements, so visit it
often and check out the continuous updates. You can
now also follow the Team’s activities through our new
Blog on the webpage.
Yours in EPSA,
Anette Aaland Krokaas
EPSA President 2010/2011
president@epsa-online.org
5
33rd EPSA Annual Congress
Kraków, Poland 2010

The 33rd EPSA Annual Congress took place this

year, in Poland, on the beautiful city of Kraków
between the 26th of April and the 2nd of May. The
topic of the congress was “Patents, generics
and counterfeits – facing the pharmaceutical
challenges of today“.

During sightseeing we also saw the amazing Kraków

full of history! The Gala dinner was held, probably, in
the deepest place of EPSA history, the Salt Mine.
For me the congress gave also new perspectives
about EPSA because, for the first time, I really felt I
photo:Eeva Ryynänen
got involved. I was honored to be one of the meeting
Educational program consisted of two symposium secretaries during General Assemblies - it gave me an
days, workshops and trainings. My personal favorite insight on how it is to be part of the team and made
was the workshop held by Paul de Roos which was me realize how huge is the work needed to keep things
about developing oneself. It gave me new insights and running. Besides that, I attended HELP Campaign
Project with some other participants and some EPSA
we really had fruitful discussions about the matter.
team members. We dealt scarves and gloves to the
During this congress took place the 2nd Science Day
youth of Krakow in the Wawel Castle. The aim of the
with poster presentation from students and young
campaign was to prevent smoking among European
graduates and Meet me Fair – a poster competition
youth.
between members of EPSA on their national/local
activities. EPSA members were also invited to present
Big thanks to Reception Committee which did a great
their posters about the EPSA Annual Topic.
job making sure we all enjoyed our visit in Poland! And
Besides this, the 39th EPSA General Assembly was held
to the EPSA team 2009-2010 that came up with a
and many important decisions were made, namely, the
great educational program!
changes introduced in EPSA structure and the election
See you in the second most important EPSA event of
of the 34th EPSA Team.
the year – 7th EPSA Autumn Assembly that will take
One should also not forget the great parties in the
place in Helsinki, Finland!
evenings where EPSA Spirit took over every participant.
We saw the coolest club in Krakow, tasted foods and
Jenni Hirvonen
beverages from all over Europe, drank Polish beer and
FiPSA, Finland
raised money for the Support Fund.

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EAFP Annual Conference
Catania, Italy

Between the 24th and 26th of the past month of some students from Catania that gave their views
June, the European Association of Faculties of on the Conference topic and presented the Italian
(namely the Catanian) pharmacy curriculum and its
Pharmacy (EAFP) and all its members gathered
pros and cons. From this students’ meeting resulted
in Catania, a beautiful city in the island of Sicily, a Statement of Opinion embraced by EPSA with some
Italy, to hold their Annual Conference, which topic recommendations for EAFP regarding the Conference
was “Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary Aspects and its topics for the future in order to increase the
of Pharmacy Education: Learning Across Health students’ participation. EPSA also presented a poster
Professions”. named “Multidisciplinar Education in Pharmacy: are
students aware of its importance?”, following a survey
EPSA was once again invited by EAFP to present carried online through all EPSA members and student
the students’ vision on the topic and to discuss with partners like EMSA, EDSA and IPSF.
academics from all over Europe the importance of Mul-
tidisciplinary Education and related areas in pharmacy Next year, the EAFP Annual Conference will be hold in
curriculum. Lisbon and once again EPSA will take part on it. We’ll
keep you posted and we hope to meet you in Lisbon
The Conference had a great variety of speakers, in 2011, after the 34th EPSA Annual Congress for this
going from pharmaceutical scientists to industrial great event!
pharmacists, passing through medical doctors and
biologists, which made this a unique event to discuss João Duarte
how professionals from such different backgrounds EPSA Vice President of Education 2010/2011
can collaborate in order to improve the outcomes for
the patient and to fulfill the responsibilities of what being
an excellent healthcare professional is. Most of the
speakers presented to the audience a variety of good
examples of multidisciplinary collaboration in higher
education pharmacy institutions, either in pregraduate
and postgraduate education, such as the GIMMICS
project on Pharmacy Practice in Vrije Universitëit
Brussel, the Masters in Pharmaceutical Engineering in
the Faculty of Pharmacy of University of Lisbon or the
Modular Pharmacy Education in the University of Oslo,
among others.

This event gathered also the Pharmine Consortium in

a joint meeting to discuss the path of the project and
further steps that should be taken. Anette Krokaas,
EPSA President and Aja Petrikova, EPSA HLM
represented EPSA in this meeting. There was also a (EPSA also presented a Poster with the title “Multidisciplinary
Education in Pharmacy: are students aware of its importance?” -
students’ session moderated by myself together with page nr 7)

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ArmPSA - Armenia
Meet the newest member of EPSA
ArmPSA (Armenian Pharmaceutical Students’
Association) was founded by pharmacy students
of the Yerevan State Medical University after
M.Heratsi in 2001 and in the same year it became
a full member of IPSF. ArmPSA represents more
than 300 pharmacy students. The main aims of
our organization is to ensure professional growth
of pharmacy students by organizing lectures,
scientific conferences, seminars and workshops
in the frames of Students’ Scientific Society
and Students Parliament of YSMU and arrange
practical training of students and young graduates
in domestic pharmacy facilities and abroad.
ArmPSA has long life in IPSF, but before 2009 we never
got the chance to meet EPSA. Fortunately, during that
year, I attended the 55th IPSF World Congress in Bali
where I met for the first time some members of the
EPSA team. They explained me all the details and main
activities of EPSA. I was so excited about idea of being
a member of EPSA that decided to do my best to
realize this idea. The prime purpose of our organization
to work with EPSA was representation of ArmPSA in
an European level, promotion of exchange program
among Armenian pharmacy students and, of course,
to become a member of EPSA family and feel it’s  spirit
everywhere in Armenia as well. The best chance for
us to join it was EPSA Autumn Assembly convened in
Genova, Italy. Our organization worked hard and made
a lot of effort to fulfill all necessary requirements in due
course. Our first EPSA AA was really unforgettable
and acquits itself. Our team represented ArmPSA in a
proper way, on the result of which, ArmPSA Armenia
became a member of EPSA.
Becoming a member of EPSA was a very important
achievement for us. It was new stage for us through
which we had to go. Now we are feeling more special
because we overcame this obstacle ourselves. Of
course it is merit of our association because all over
the year we work very hard and put a lot of effort to
overreach all the goals and tops. This is the main
keystone of success and prosperity of our association.
Members of ArmPSA are very excited about new
exchange programs which are available now after joining
EPSA. We are looking forward to have twinnet project
with EPSA member-associations. ArmPSA guarantees
great exchange: Armenia has very developed fields of
9
industrial, community and University pharmacies which
gives great chance to everyone to get acquainted
with the attainments of modern pharmacy, as well as
with high professionalism of advanced and leading
Armenian pharmacy companies.

Besides educational programs, we will organize

amazing social activities as well. It is marvelous
opportunity for all of us to meet new people, to create
strong partnership, to get more experienced and just
to have fun!

I am very grateful to administration of my University

especially to the rector of YSMU Professor G.Kyalyan
for her big support, sponsorship and eternal help. I
want to say thank you to members of my organization,
especially to Maria Demirtshyan, for their excellent and
faithful work, for their huge sense of responsibility and
immense brainstorming ideas.

Now you know everything about ArmPSA Armenia and

we hope that our collaboration will last for many years.
We are grateful to all EPSA member-organizations and
Executive for the fact that they have given us such a
magnificent feasibility to become a part of EPSA family.

Anzhelika Makinyan
ArmPSA President

10
EPSA 12th Summer University
Bourgas, Bulgaria
Between the 18th and 24th July 2010, the
Bulgarian Reception Committee welcomed 240
pharmaceutical students from 19 European
countries to Bourgas, for the latest edition of
EPSA’s Summer University.
That week, many quality lectures about marketing
were provided to the students, as well as workshops
and presentations of EPSA and its activities. The
participants also had the opportunity to discover some
of the hottest spots on the Bulgarian coast, such as
Sunny Beach, sightseeing in the old city of Nessebar
and Sozopol. Those who wanted to relax a little more
could stay at the fancy hotel, enjoying refreshing drinks
at the bar, playing ball in the swimming pool or
sun-tanning on one of the numerous white long chairs
by the pool.
At night, everybody was invited to get along with each
other in bars, party in the best nightclubs of the area,
and also enjoy the themed-nights prepared by the RC.
The Bulgarian night in the old village of Bata introduced
us to the finest Bulgarian traditions, including Bulgarian
cuisine and dances. Obviously, an EPSA Event would
not be the same without its now famous European
evening, during which every delegation bring their
own traditional drinks and food in order to share their
culture with the attendees. This year was no exception,
and the finest products were brought on tables for
everyone to taste.
The Gala dinner took place the last night at the hotel, and
the participants had the opportunity to dress fancily to
spend their last moments altogether. For the last time,
we shared a traditional Bulgarian meal, before heading
to the dancefloor for another Muevelo and many other
traditional dances from Europe. However, the RC had
one last surprise for us, and as we left the dining room
and head near the pool, fireworks illuminated the dark
sky, leaving everybody unforgettable memories of an
amazing week spent together.
For all of the new-born friendships and reunited ones,
for everything that we learned from the lectures and
from the other students, and for all of these everlasting
memories, on behalf of the 240 participants, I would
like to thank the RC for their hardwork, availability and
fun spirit
They revived EPSA Spirit, now it is our task to keep
it alive! Let’s meet again in Helsinki for the next EPSA
Autumn Assembly in October!
Kelly Seng
EPSA Publications Officer 2010/2011
11
2nd Parkinson’s Disease Summer School
Ljubljana, Slovenia
“Work hard, play hard” - it is in every PDSS’ essence.
The second PDSS was not an exception! The 2nd
Parkinson Disease Summer School took place in
Ljubljana, Slovenia, between the 19th and 28th July
2010. Twelve students from 7 countries created
3 proposals for further research, made long
lasting friendships, memories and professional
connections. The event was organised by EPSA,
ENSA, EMSA and EFPSA.
The daily morning walk from the student hostel until the
Neurology Department of University Medical Centre of
Ljubljana made us aware on how refreshing summer
mornings actually are. This walk included crossing the
bridge over the Ljubljanica River, where looking on the
left one can see one of numerous small and tempting
bridges, and on the right a well-balanced set of willow
trees stretching their branches towards the calm water.
While arriving at the university, the swirl of brainstorming
sessions, mind mapping activities and time limited
tasks would begun. Twelve students from 7 different
countries worked on describing facts about Parkinson’s
disease. First, the facts known to science, then the
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unknown. The choice made lead us in the direction of
continuing summer journey into unexplored science
areas.
Healthcare students from different fields of expertise
were present – Medicine, Pharmacy, Technical
Medicine, Physiotherapy and Molecular Engineering.
They worked with accent on team spirit and collegiality.
Every morning there was pressure to finish one part of
the big final task. Then, during the afternoon, lectures
were given by experts from Slovenia and abroad.
Experts reviewed current work and gave advice for the
next steps. Mutual advising, exchange of ideas and
creative and argumentative discussions were part of
students’ lives for 9 days. Paul de Roos, MD from The
Netherlands and the idea creator of the PDSS, Krzysztof
Nesterowicz, PhD student at the Faculty of Pharmacy
in Poland and Federico Pisanu, student at the Faculty
of Management Engineering in Italy, as trainers, guided
participants towards the final goal. Three proposals
for research were created and evaluated by many
reviewers including medical professionals and patients
who received reports via Internet during the Summer
School. A final presentation of research proposals was
transmitted in an online session and viewers were able
to ask questions in a live chat.
Next year, PDSS will be host in the Technical Medicine
Department, Twente University in Enschede, The
Netherlands. Its preparations have already begun,
there are lots of ideas, so I am warmly inviting everyone
who is interested to follow the website: www.parkin-
sonsummerschool.com.
Registrations will open in January 2011!
Vladimir Stojoev
Faculty of Pharmacy, Belgrade
70th World Congress of Pharmacy and
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Lisbon, Portugal
As the very last few days of summer were passing,
Lisbon was hosting a scientific event of utmost
importance, the 70th FIP Congress (28th of August
– 2nd of September).
The International Pharmaceutical Federation is the global
federation of national associations of pharmacists and
pharmaceutical scientists, encompassing two million
pharmacists and scientists through its 124 Member
Organizations.
Therefore, it was only natural that EPSA team members
would want to be there for an enriching and rewarding
congress experience, as the organizers described it
would be. The EPSA executive was well represented,
most of its members were present : Anette Aaland
Krokaas (President), João Duarte (Vice President of
Education), Katja-Emilia Lillsunde (Secretary General),
Mariana Fróis (Vice President of Public Relations),
Sanziana Marcu (Vice President of External Affairs).
Other EPSA team members have also joined them:
Miguel Ribeiro (Parliamentarian), Raluca Negricea
(Parliamentary Council Member), Cristina Parau (Social
Services and Public Health Coordinator), Inkatuuli
Heikkinen (Training Coordinator), Bruno Marques
(34th EPSA Annual Congress RC Chairperson).
The congress venue was the Lisbon Congress Center
with lecture halls that hosted the scientific sessions,
but also an exhibition of pharmaceutical companies
and service providers to pharmacy and a poster
exhibition. The main theme of the congress was “From
molecule to medicine to maximizing outcomes:
Pharmacy’s exploratory journey”. In addition, sessions
with adjacent themes took place : “From Sciences to
Practice”, “Pharmaceutical Sciences”, “Envisioning
and Preparing Future Practice”, “Pharmacy Education”,
“Meeting Specific need of patients and population”,
“Collaboration to ensure safety and efficiency of
treatments for patients”, etc.
During the congress, events were organized especially
for young pharmacists and first timers, so that first time
visitors of the congress would easily integrate amidst
their colleagues. In consequence, FIP brought back
the First-Timer Mentor Programme, due to its success
from the previous year. Why is this programme so
successful? Which benefits did it brought for the first
timers? “Congress Mentors” are people who have
already attended the FIP Congress and are willing to
help the new participants to make the most out of their
first experience. This is why first-time participants were
paired with a “Congress Mentor” who would guide
them throughout their entire congress, introducing
them to both new and experienced attendees and
connecting them with others in their field of interest.
15
The YPG (Young Pharmacists Group) offered a special
programme of scientific and educational events, for
the young pharmacists, consisting of the following
sessions : “Contemporary challenges for the pharmacy
profession”, “Using clinical microbiology data to
improve anti-infective utilization at bedside”, “Trends
in community pharmacy – debating the future of the
profession”, “Competence in pharmacies – the role of
internships and lifelong learning” and a workshop with
the theme : “Dealing with special patients”.
Let’s meet in future FIP Congresses for a fruitful
experience, personally as well as professionally that will
help us grow as individuals and most importantly – as
professionals.
Raluca Negricea
EPSA Parliamentarian Council Member 2010/2011

The philosophy leading the FIP Congresses is growth;

Growth in the pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacy
practice and how we as pharmacists, in the case being
future pharmacists, need to grow both personally
and professionally in order to meet the continuously
changing and evolving needs of the profession, the
society we live in and the global health care we are
part of. Fortunately, I had the chance to experience
this during the Congress in Lisbon, my first congress,
the first of many more to come, as I am now proud
to be a newly registered member of FIP. In the year
2011, the 71st International Congress of FIP will
take place in Hyderabad, India and will focus on
“Compromising quality and safety – a risky path”. FIP
will celebrate its Centennial from 3rd – 8th of October
2012, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, with the Dutch
Government hosting a Minister’s Summit on Medicines
at this important occasion.

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IPSF 56th World Congress
Ljubljana, Slovenia . 2-12 August 2010
After being the host of an amazing Leadership
Summer School in July, Ljubljana was one more
time in the centre of attention with the organisation of
the 56th IPSF World Congress, which gathered 300
world pharmaceutical students on August 2-12.
Right before the congress, some students had the
chance to attend the Leadership In Training program,
which was the fruit of a successful collaboration
between IPSF and EPSA trainers. Many topics such
as Team building, Communication skills, and Project
management were approached during these 4 days,
allowing the participants to learn designing their own
trainings as well as improving their personal skills.
Trainings were also part of the program of the
congress itself, which started with an amazing opening
ceremony in the castle of Ljubljana. During 10 days,
the participants had the opportunity to attend general
assemblies, various workshops, and trainings held by
the LIT attendees. An awareness campaign about the
Human Papillomavirus was also organised for the first
time in a world congress. Bringing brochures, t-shirts,
badges and posters with them, participants went to
inform locals about the threat caused by the virus and
ways to prevent infection. The educational program was
not in rest with a very interesting two-days symposia.
Famous speakers were invited to give lectures and
workshops about leadership and gene therapy, such
as Ian Bates, member of the EPSA Board of Trustees.
Member associations also had the opportunity to
sit and discuss IPSF’s future and projects, including
EPSA and IPSF’s collaboration. It was decided that
both organisations would improve the communication
between them in order to facilitate the implementation
of their own projects in Europe, as well as considering
collaboration on similar projects. To reach this aim, an
EPSA/IPSF e-group was created, and the Executives
of both organisations agreed to have more joint
meetings. The outcomes of their discussions will serve
as a base for a new Memorandum of Understanding.
After working hard all day, everybody was invited to
relax and party at the best bars and clubs of Ljubljana.
The social program included the visit of Bled and its
famous lake, a typical Slovenian night, and the usual
Auction night, International night as well as the fancy
Gala dinner to close this amazing congress.
We wish good luck to the new IPSF Board, and look
forward to EPSA/IPSF brand-new collaboration!
Kelly Seng
EPSA Publications Officer 2010/2011
17
EPSA Favourite LS
Heaven Bereket
Name:
Heaven Bereket
Country / Association:
SNAPS (Swedish National
Association of Pharmaceu-
tical Students) - Sweden
University:
Uppsala University
Year of studies: 3rd
Why and how did you become LS for your
association? Since I can remember I have always been
interested in humanitarian projects and when I started my
studies at the University I also got my eyes open for other
questions, especially the ones about the quality of the
education. After a year commitment to the Pharmaceutical
Student Union (FaS) in Uppsala I ran in to a person called
Suzan Mahdi (I bet most of the people involved in EPSA
know her! ). She showed me what EPSA is all about and
had a genuine trust that I could contribute to changes. Short
after I joined Robert Söderbaum and Hanna Wärners in the
leadership of the team for Quatrino project and decided to
apply for LS in Sweden. I LOVE to meet people and get
easily excited over others cultures, traditions and to discuss
about the differences of the education system. In short, I
saw the huge opportunity by becoming LS for EPSA where I
could get inspired and lead it to other students. After a short
presentation about myself the SNAPS board voted for me
so here I am! 
Have you held any positions earlier in your local/
national association or in EPSA?
LS is my first position within EPSA. Earlier I have been IPSF
delegate for my local pharmaceutical Student Union at the
International Committee. By being a part of the International
committee I have been working close to all the international
and European affairs.
What did you do to promote EPSA to the students in
your country?
First thing I did was to start a facebook group to provide
updates as often I can and send messages. Recently, to get
the Swedish students know about EPSA and SNAPS I wrote
18
together with SNAPS treasurer, Sara Linderson, an article
about the association and the opportunities we can offer. An
article from the two Swedes (Haly Matii and Namer Michael)
who participated in the 12th EPSA Summer University will be
published in our magazine for pharmacists called Reptilen.
I also promoted EPSA events through personal contact so
a lot of effort has been talking to people during their lunch
breaks, etc. The new project is to upgrade the website which
will be a good tool to reach our students.
In the future I hope we will organize an international event
in every local association where we can promote EPSA and
other associations.
What is your best experience from being a LS?
This is not an easy question to answer… I will attend my
first EPSA Autumn Assembly in Helsinki, Finland and from
the rumours I have heard, I am positive that it will be one
of the best experiences I will have as LS. The great thing
about being LS is that you gain so much from just being a
part of the skype meetings and to attend congresses. So far
the best experience I have is to be part of the Quatrino with
Portugal, Bulgaria and Turkey. The establishment of new
contacts has resulted to future cooperation and a lot of new
friends. 
Are you planning to continue working in EPSA after
your LS mandate?
I would love to continue working for EPSA; There are still a
lot of things to do!! I am trying to start a new Quatrino project
and I am very interested in the Training Project. But I have
started my own humanitarian project about the rotavirus in
Africa. The project aims to train health workers, to provide
them medicines and hopefully, in the future, the vaccine.
This commitment will be a restriction on how much time I
can use for EPSA. But even without having a position or
function I will try my best to attend the events and share my
ideas and thoughts. 
Asked by
Mariana Fróis
EPSA Vice President of Public Relations 2010/2011
IMP Coordinator of the Year
Jaroslav Semerad
Jaroslav Semeradjoined IMP team in April 2010
and within 2 months already showed outstanding
results! He is the first Czech IMP Coordinator and
also the first one to provide a paid traineeship
opportunity to EPSA members in his country. The
new EPSA partner is Contipro Group which covers
a wide range of products used in pharmacy and
cosmetics. EPSA team has chosen Jaroslav
Semerad as the IMP Coordinator of the year.
Jaroslav Semerad and Daniel Pecek
1. Why did you decided to join the IMP team?
I am the Vice-President of Brno students’ organisation.
I went to Slovenia for a „last moment“ Erasmus and I
wanted to keep doing something for USF while I was
absent. IMP was quite stuck within USF and nothing
was really happening on this subject in my organization.
I was lucky that I already knew Jurij Obreza: We met in
Ljubljana, he introduced me to IMP and gave me tips
for the beginning.
2. What motivates you to work on this project?
After the meeting with Jurij, I realised that IMP project
is based on really good platform and that everything is
thought into details and hopefully has a good future.
The other thing that makes me happy is that I can
finally see some connection and application between
our education and practice.
3. How did you find your first IMP placement?
It was four or five years ago when I heard on radio an
interview with the owner of the company. Later on, due
to the fact that I remembered their products, I found
out what was the name of the company. Then, when
I arrived back in the Czech Republic, Contipro had an
exhibitor at a job fair in my faculty and I proposed them
our offer.
My colleague Daniel Pecek made also a list of few
other companies to whom we want to offer IMP.
4. Did you had some difficulties arranging this
placement?
There were no real difficulties, as mentioned above.
Fortunately, there were rather more lucky coincidences.
6. Is there someone helping you on the local level
of IMP work? If yes who is s/he and how is s/he
helping you?
Yes, the Past President of USF, Daniel Pecek, is
helping me and he did a really good job while we were
negotiating this placement.
19
7. Do you think that IMP partners would be
ready to pay for their traineeship candidates’
documentation (e.g.: CVs), promotion and
EPSA member association services (e.g.:
accommodation provision, help with logistics
and formalities)?

This „service“ is useful for the IMP partners, so I

think they would understand this step and take it
as a necessary support. Anyway, it will bring them
later bigger benefits, if the promotion would be more
efficient.

8. What have you gained with IMP?

It opened my eyes to future possibilities and improved

my communication skills. I am glad that I am taking
part of it!

9. Do you think it is possible to find your future

career through IMP?

Yes, from the communication with our IMP partner I

clearly see that it is possible. And I think that most of
the other partners will have the same approach and
will use this as a possibility to find young and skilful
employees.

10. How do you see the future of IMP project?

IMP seems to me as a very perspective and useful

project. Let´s say the motto could be «Bringing
Pharmacy, Students and Companies together». At
least what makes me even more optimistic about it
is that it is built on a good basis and already has the
appropriate infrastructure.

Asked by Jurij Obreza,

EPSA Vice President of Mobility 2010/2011

20
3rd Leadership Summer School
Ljubjana, Slovenia
Between the 16th and the 25th of July 2010 the
3rd Leadership Summer School (LSS), an event of
IFISO (the Informal Forum of International Student
Organisations), took place in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
This event was attended by 3 members of the
EPSA Executive (Anette Aaland Krokaas, President;
Guilherme Monteiro Ferreira, Treasurer and Mariana
Fróis, Vice President of Public Relations), one EPSA
Official (Inkatuuli Heikkinen, Training Coordinator) and
one EPSA Member (Anne Windfeldt, SOP – Denmark).
EPSA was also represented by two past EPSA
Team members that participated as Trainers of this
event: Louise Winnecke Jensen, Denmark, EPSA
Honorary Life Member, who was also the LSS Training
Coordinator, and Riccardo Hesse, Italy, EPSA Vice
President Partnership Development 2009/2010.
The LSS is a 10-days event where the leaders of many
international student associations gather to develop
their leadership skills and share their knowledge and
experience with the other participants and the trainers.
Each day included 8 hours of training covering several
topics, such as Feedback, Leadership Styles, Group
Dynamics, Facilitation, Presentation Skills, Conflict
Management and Motivation. All the participants were
divided in groups on the first day, and they had to work
as a team from then until the last day - where they
presented their final work as a team in the end of a “Case
Study” Session. All the groups had a group facilitator,
an LSS Trainer. The opinion was unanimous regarding
the outcomes of these sessions: Participants had the
chance to develop their leadership skills, to learn more
about how to work efficiently in a team, to understand
how a conflict arises and how to solve it, how to be a
facilitator in a discussion, the most important guidelines
on how to give a public speech, what kind of tools you
can use to manage your time, etc.
An Organisational Fair took place on the 22nd of July,
where all the associations had the opportunity to
present themselves and their work, share their projects
and aims. Anette Krokaas, EPSA President, presented
EPSA to our colleagues and a small brochure of
EPSA and its work was handed out. After that, group
discussions to brainstorm on different topics provided
by the participants were formed. This session was
called Open Space Technology (OST).
21
On the same day, during the evening, a TEDx session
took place. 12 speakers had the chance to share
some inspiring words with the audience and make their
voice heard. This was definitely a great session, very
inspiring and exceeded the expectations of everyone in
the audience. On the behalf of EPSA Team, Guilherme
Ferreira, gave a speech on “Entrepreneurship”.
As in any youth event there were also amazing
parties during this congress. A city tour and a visit to
the lakes Bled and Bohinj were also included in the
social program of this event. This was also a great
opportunity to experience and see all the beauty of
Slovenia. Besides this, the participants of LSS 2010
had the opportunity of taking part in a Flash Mob in
Ljubljana – Shakira’s hit Waka Waka was played in the
main square and everyone danced a choreography
learned during the event.
22
The receiver of the 2nd Sebastian Oltmanns Award was
announced on the last day of the event by the LSS
trainers. Sebastian Otlmanns was a participant of the
first LSS in 2008 and President of IAAS (International
Association of Students in Agricultural and Related
Sciences), but passed away on the 17th of May 2009. He
gave a lot to IAAS and to IFISO. This award is meant to
honor Sebastian’s memory as an extraordinary person,
with strong leadership skills as well as a deep interest
for other people’s wellbeing. In this 2010 edition the
awarded participant was Joost Brillemans (Salus), from
The Netherlands.
LSS was definitely a great event for all the participants.
I strongly recommend everyone to attend such an
event!
Mariana Fróis
EPSA Vice President of Public Relations 2010/2011
Dealing with Procrastionation
Training Project

Have you ever postponed any responsibility When is the deadline?

for the other day? Do you have problems in
meeting deadlines? Maybe you will feel more
relaxed after reading this corner. Couple of
months ago I learned that I´m not a bone lazy
guy as I thought but I´m suffering from the
medically acknowledged disease – the pro-
crastination. What a relief! :-)
If there was no procrastination affecting our daily
lives, most of us would become a successful and
experienced graduates ready to get a highly paid job.
Apart from many other obstacles, the procrastina-
tion seems to be one of the most annoying one. Our
own fear is holding us back. An American self-help
advocate Wayne Dyer once stated: “Procrastina-
tion is one of the most common and deadliest of
diseases and it gives us an impression that having
the success and happiness is hard to achieve”.
During our studies we mostly have to deal with
so-called academic procrastination. Most of my
co-trainers at TNT admit that the most difficult is
to overcome the procrastination not the given task
itself. How many times have you checked you e-mail
or skimmed walls of your friends on Facebook before
you started writing up a paper? And that is just a mild
What is motivating and limiting me in finishing the
paper?
Divide your task into smaller chunks and write
these down.
What do I have to do before starting writing up?
Choose one activity from 3 and work on it for
exactly five minutes. Think how you reward
yourself after finishing it.
How would I like to entertain myself after handing
the paper?
How will I benefit from finishing this task?
Step 4 is the deal breaker. If you finish your first five
minutes, you win! You have already started and there
is a solid chance that you will go on further. Another
vital aspect is developing a habit. Work on your task
in the same every day until you get used to it. In my
experience I like to use my paper calendar where I
write down all chunks I wrote down in No. 3. Each
day I enjoy scoring them out with a pen leaving just
a fully blacked box there. And finally make the area
where you work more comfortable: make yourself a
tea, play some calm music, etc.
Good luck guys! Stop being dragged by your
laziness! :-)
HAVE FUN .
.outcomes
fly
to
aÊhigher willÊcomeÊnaturallyLEARN Daniel Pecek
GROWpace
LEVEL
aim for

procrastinating. Many of my friends get seriously

breathe

higher
BETTER
TNT 2 Participant
and

EP friendship
SA
depressed from feeling useless because they are not skills breakÊtheÊice
keepÊupÊwithÊthe
head towards

challengeÊyourself

ÊHIGHenjoy
keepÊyourÊmotivation
define your goals
able to fulfil their aims. The most important step to take care of what
LIVE NEXT interveine
.step experience
you gained so far

overcome the procrastination is to GET STARTED!

branch

During the TNT we performed an easy group exercise seed

pourÊaÊlittleÊwaterÊonÊit
start something ROOTS

to learn how to get rid of our procrastinating habits. PLANTFRESH

absorb open your
INSPIRATION
eyes
set

mind

EPSA
Imagine you have to hand a paper in a week and
you struggle to start writing up. Try to answer these
questions.
t r a i n e r

23
EPSA Annual Topic for 2010
Pharmacovigilance – “Keeping our eyes open
and our medicines safe”
During the past two years, EPSA had two major relevant data from each country can be centralized
topics on what concerns the Pharmaceutical and rationalized in order to prevent adverse events
or to block unknown threats in a much quicker and
panorama in Europe: Information to Patients,
smoother way, improving the patients’ safety.
in 2008-2009, and Drug Counterfeiting, in
2009-2010. When EPSA faced the time to At the level of the Community Pharmacy, the role of
choose another topic, several ideas rose up but in the Pharmacist regarding Pharmacovigilance is one of
the end there was one of them gathering a large the crucial ones in the chain of safety. However, is the
consensus: Pharmacovigilance. population aware of the procedures and how important
it is to count with the Pharmacist or the Physician when
experiencing an adverse reaction? This is also that
Now we need to ask: why Pharmacovigilance? Why
needs a careful and thorough discussion.
did the General Assembly opt for this topic, which is
not an easy one at all to explain to the students or to
trigger interest by itself? We believe we have some
answers for this question:

The Pharmaceutical Package, meaning the group of

laws and regulations that the European Commission
has been analyzing for the past years, includes
three main branches of the Pharmaceutical practice:
information to patients, counterfeiting and phar-
macovigilance. Taking into account that two of the
three branches have been already discussed within
EPSA, now seems the right time to start discussing
the Package as a whole and see what do Pharmacy
students know and think about this.

Also on the professional side, most of the medicine

These are the main reasons for choosing this topic.
manufacturers and the industry in general has taken
We hope that we can count on you, your doubts and
a strong bet on Pharmacovigilance and drug clinical
contributions in order to clarify all the students about
safety. With this, new important changes and positions
this very important topic in Pharmacy.
starting appearing in the industry, such as the Qualified
Person for Pharmacovigilance (QPPV) or the Pharma-
covigilance Officer, which are nowadays also an option
João Eduardo Duarte
of employment for students and young graduates in
EPSA Vice President of Education 2010/2011
the industry.

The strenghtning of the regulations and the creation of

new platforms like the EudraVigilance in the European
space are new opportunities to assure that the

24
TWINNET Program
TWIN between Leiden and Geneva
The Royal Dutch Pharmaceutical Students
Association, the K.N.P.S.V. organises every year
a TWIN, an exchange between two groups of
pharmacy students in two European countries.
This year we had an exchange with students from
asep, Switzerland.
Leiden, 21 - 23 May 2010
On Friday, the 21st of May, ten Swiss and over thirty
Dutch (bio-)pharmacy students arrived at the Gorlaeus
Laboratory in Leiden, for the opening of the TWIN.
After the welcome speech there was an interesting
presentation about the Bio Science park (BSP), followed
by a tour around alongside the various biopharmaceu-
tical companies on the BSP. After a delicious lunch
it was time for a number of integration games! The
students were divided into different groups to compete
against each other in some traditional Dutch games.
The atmosphere was good and there was plenty
interaction between the students.
For our evening meal we went to ‘Augustinus’, one of
the students’ association of Leiden. In the evening we
enjoyed ourselves with SingStar, playing karaoke.
The next morning it was time for the symposium. First
we were told about the K.N.P.S.V. and the curricula
of the various studies in Leiden, Groningen and
Utrecht. The second part of the symposium focused
on oncology. Professor Noteborn and Professor Van
de Water gave interesting lectures about new research
on cancer.
In the afternoon there was sightseeing in Leiden and
there was a cruise through the canals of Leiden. After
the boat trip it was time for the barbeque, with lots of
hamburgers, bacon and sausages. The day ended at
Club City Hall where we partied until the early hours in
the morning.
On Sunday it was time for departure. On to the next
weekend!
26
Geneva, 25 - 27 June 2010
After a twelve-hour bus ride thirty Dutch students
arrived in Geneva where we were warmly welcomed
by the Swiss students and enjoyed an interesting tour
around the Red Cross Museum. Next we headed to
our hostel, were we could rest for a bit. The hostel was
located in an old bomb shelter, which was a perfect
location for accommodating a large group of students.
In the afternoon we took a cable car to Mont Saleve
at 1100m altitude! We went up the mountain were we
had a breathtaking view over Lake Geneva and Mont
Blanc Massif. There we had a nice barbeque. Back in
the hostel we had a great party and the music stayed
on till late at night.
On Saturday there was a symposium planned. This
time we were told about the developments in the
curriculum of the Swiss pharmacy education and there
were a number of educational presentations about
counterfeit medicines.
The afternoon consisted of free time to explore the
beautiful city of Geneva. At dinnertime we enjoyed the
traditional Swiss raclette. After this feast we left by bus
for a great celebration. The next day we had to say
goodbye again.
We have established a good relationship with the Swiss
students, now being pursued through facebook. The
TWIN was very successful!
Annemarie Trapman
K.N.P.S.V. President 2010/2011
46th EDSA Meeting
22nd - 28th August, Amsterdam
The Summer meeting of the European Dental
Students’ Association (EDSA), traditionally joint
with the Association for Dental Education in
Europe (ADEE) was held between the 22nd and
28th August 2010 at the brand new building of
the Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam
(ACTA).
Participants from 40 dental schools were present at
the meeting presenting projects on the local level,
developing projects on the European and global levels,
fostering collaboration with professional organizations
and discussing common dental students’ issues.
The meeting was a great chance to become familiar
with new developments in dentistry. For the first time
ever, the President of the American Student Dental
Association was present at the EDSA meeting.
Every year the main topic of the joint EDSA-ADEE
meeting is dedicated to a trend or some important topic
of dental education. This year’s meeting entited “Digital
Dentistry- A Space Odyssey”, taking place in new,
high-tech building was the opportunity for participants
to learn more about the digital support of dental
education, virtual reality technologies, ergonomics
in dentistry and participate in hands-on workshops.
Students could make virtual tooth preparations using
Simodont dental simulators and practice taking digital
impressions for dental restorations. In addition, there
was an exhibition of dental equipment, especially
equipment used in teaching.
Upon completion of production of EDSA’s printed
publication “Dental Guide Manual”, providing contact
details and information about dental schools and
professional organizations throughout Europe, launch
of online interactive version of the manual is planned.
The new, digital manual will be connected with social
networks and should facilitate networking between
dental students and professionals. Another digital
project, announced by Croatian dental students’ for
spring 2011, is the 1st Virtual World Congress of Dental
Students that will gather dental students and teachers
from all over the world and give every dental student a
chance to present a scientific paper and be awarded.
Social part of the meeting programme included theme
parties and “EDSA vision” song contest during which
each country performs a song and dance.
During the Amsterdam meeting, the EDSA Executive
Committee for academic year 2010-11 was elected:
Maja Sabalic, Croatia (President), Matthieu Wipf,
France (Vice-President), Ana Stevanovic, Serbia
(Secretary General), Diarmuid Coffey, Ireland (Treasurer),
Cristina Diana Rizea, Romania (Magazine Editor) and
Dimitris Tatsis, Greece (Web Editor). Plans for 2011
include encouraging and supporting students’ active
involvement in research and volunteer work. New
projects will be directed towards usage of modern
technologies, innovation and sustainability.
The new EDSA Board looks forward to continuing
collaboration with EPSA and sending representatives
to EPSA Annual Congress 2011. Possible collaboration
include exchanging experiences of setting up volunteer
project in Africa and sending volunteers to missions in
Guinea-Bissau and Cameroon as well as in the field of
student mobility, organizing soft and hard skills training
for members of EPSA and EDSA teams.
Maja Sabalic
EDSA President 2010/2011
27
IMP Placement Testimonial
One adventure at GlaxoSmithKline in London

Looking back one year ago, I would never have and shopping! The best thing about London is that it
thought that I’d be in London working within the is a big city which provides many opportunities where
you can meet new friends.
headquarters of one of the biggest pharmaceutical
companies in the world. I had just finished University Personally I have never regretted my decision to
and I was entirely clueless as to what I wanted participate in this IMP placement. I believe that
to do in life. However, one thing was for sure. I experiencing work abroad gives you a really good start
definitely wanted to travel and experience living life to your career. Also, most importantly, it makes you a
abroad. And when EPSA provided me with that stronger person as you get out of your comfort zone.
I would definitely recommend to anyone with a strong
opportunity I was entirely ecstatic! sense of adventure for life and travel to give it a try and
apply for these IMP placements!
The GSK IMP placement is quite an interesting
position. It is an internship level job within the European
Consumer Healthcare Sales Team at the GlaxoS-
Ruth Gatt
mithKline Headquarters in London. In short, the area
IMP Trainee at GlaxoSmithKline, London
in which the placement is based in is Consumer
Healthcare. Consumer Healthcare deals with the
more commercial products such as over-the-counter
drugs and oral health care products. Honestly, my first
day at the job I had no idea what I would be doing
for the next couple of months. It was such a scary
thought for a Pharmacist coming from a background
of dispensing drugs to old ladies to suddenly forming
part of a Consumer Healthcare Sales team! However,
after a couple of weeks, I started to settle down. The
Sales team is such a great team that it’s difficult not
to feel at home with them! Also, I was happy to be
learning so many new skills. In general, my job involves
assisting the Sales Team with their projects, for
example by working on Sales reports, extracting data
from intelligence sources, attending Project meetings,
be involved in the discussions etc.

One big advantage of this placement is that it is set

in London! London is such a vibrant, multi-cultural
city and its worth to have experienced living here.
You get to meet people from many different countries
(OK, so maybe not as many as you would at an EPSA
International Evening!). There is also quite a diverse
night life scene and it’s a really great place for theatre

29
EPSA Executive Contacts
EPSA President
Anette Aaland Krokaas
president@epsa-online.org
EPSA VP of Education
João Duarte
vp.edu@epsa-online.org
EPSA Secretary General
Katja-Emilia Lillsunde
secgen@epsa-online.org
EPSA Treasurer
Guilherme Monteiro Ferreira
treasurer@epsa-online.org
30
EPSA VP of Public Relations
Mariana Fróis
vp.pr@epsa-online.org
EPSA VP of Mobility
Jurij Obreza
vp.mobility@epsa-online.org
EPSA VP of External Affairs
Sanziana Marcu-Lapadat
vp.ea@epsa-online.org
EPSA Office
Rue du Luxembourg 19-21,
1000 Bruxelles,
BELGIUM
epsaoffice@epsa-online.org
www.epsa-online.org

31