On April 18, 2024, Gulf Medical University (GMU) College of Pharmacy, in collaboration with Creighton University’s School of Pharmacy & Health Professions, hosted a significant event titled “Harmless, Beneficial, and Deadly Medication Side Effects.” This forum marked another milestone in GMU’s ongoing commitment to advancing healthcare education, following a series of successful collaborations, including a preceptor showcase series with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.
The forum attracted over 200 participants from the UAE, other Arab countries, and some Asian countries, emphasizing its reach and impact across regional healthcare professionals and students. The participants praised the forum highly for its educational value and practical insights into medication side effects, a crucial aspect of pharmacy practice.
Prof. Muhammad Al-Shorbagy, Dean of GMU College of Pharmacy, opened the forum by highlighting its importance in improving pharmacists’ practices across the region. “Today’s discussion is not merely about sharing knowledge but about transforming our practice in ways that directly benefit patient safety and care,” he stated.
Keynote speakers from Creighton University, Dr. Darren Hein and Dr. Shana Castillo, delivered engaging talks filled with memorable examples of medication side effects that pharmacists must be vigilant about. Their expertise provided invaluable insights into the complex nature of pharmacological treatments and the critical role of pharmacists in managing patient outcomes.
Adding to the richness of the discussions, Dr. Dixon Thomas along with PharmD interns Joshua Thomas and Bilal Nemmar from GMU shared their experiences and strategies in patient counseling and the importance of empowering patients to participate in pharmacovigilance.
The sessions encouraged active engagement, rigorous questioning, and creative thinking, fostering an environment of learning and professional development.
This forum not only served as a learning platform but also as a dialogue space where professionals and students shared experiences, discussed challenges, and seeked collective solutions to enhance patient care and safety. The success of this event has set the stage for future collaborations between GMU and Creighton University, promising further advancements in global healthcare education and practice.
