Pharmacy

I like that Pharmacy does not solely intend to answer 'What is wrong with the patient?'. Instead, it pays attention to why something is wrong, which processes in the body are behind it, what happens on the cellular level, and how that can be influenced.

At the same time, this knowledge can be used in everyday life: at the pharmacy, in research, or in the industry. In addition, theory and practice are combined in this degree programme. For example, I really like working in the lab. I chose the research-oriented Medical Pharmaceutical Sciences major because I enjoy achieving results through trial and error. If the research is finally successful, its results can really mean something for the world!

I am hoping to follow a minor in Rome because I love travelling and would enjoy visiting Italy. Once there, I would also like to follow research course units. After finishing my Bachelor's degree, I definitely want to pursue a Master's programme focused on conducting medical-pharmaceutical research. I find it to be the most interesting topic.

Besides my studies, I am a member of my degree programme's information committee. I also give exam tutoring and I work in elderly care. On top of that, I play tennis every week and am active within UNICEF. Luckily, I have time to combine all these things with my degree programme.

'Since 2013, I have lived in the Netherlands. After passing the Dutch civic integration test, I enrolled for a BSc in Pharmacy in September 2018. Because I already have a BSc in Pharmacy from Kabul University, Afghanistan, I have been given the chance to complete the programme in a shorter period.

Studying pharmacy gives me the chance not only to master medicinal/pharmacological knowledge, but also the fundamentals of all scientific subjects, like biology, chemistry and mathematics. Pharmacology is of course the main subject, but I’m also interested in ethics and the social science in pharmacy.

Pharmacy is the profession that gives me the knowledge and power to plan a wide and bright future. My plan is to finish my study and to work in public health aspects of pharmacy, or maybe in research.’

During my last year in high school, I couldn't choose between several programmes, including Chemistry. Because I found healthcare very interesting, I decided to go for Pharmacy, a very broad degree programme.

On the one hand, it can sometimes be real organic chemistry (so very much chemistry-like) but, on other hand, it’s really focused on providing care, in which communicating with the patient takes centre stage. This broad spectrum really attracted me to the degree programme because it means that I have a lot of options after I graduate.

During my first year, I became an active member of Pharmaciae Sacrum (P.S.), the study association, because I wanted to get to know more people who were also studying Pharmacy. The various activities hosted by P.S. also really attracted me. These are very diverse and range from study supervision (through tutoring) to parties and drinks. I was a part of three committees (the Editorial committee, the Foreign Trip committee and the Introduction committee).

The time commitment varied per committee and per week. When I was a part of the Foreign Trip committee, the week before the trip was very stressful but I could still easily combine this with my studies. Sometimes, the weekly committee evening focused mostly on having fun, and sometimes we had long meetings but that was not bad either. It’s a lot of fun to work towards a common goal that you can later be proud of, such as a trip abroad with a group of people. Next year, I'll be a member of the Board of the association. I won’t be taking any classes but rather will devote all my time to the association.

What being part of a committee teaches you is how to work together with different people. A board year teaches this even more. This is, of course, something that’ll come in handy during the rest of your career and life. During my board year, I’ll take on the role of Treasurer. This means that I’ll learn a lot about bookkeeping, taxes and contracts with potential sponsors. This will surely help me when I have my own business or apothecary later in life. And you get to know people in a whole different way.

I’m not yet sure what I’ll do after my degree programme, and I still have some time before I’ll make a definite choice. For now, I’m keeping all my options open. P.S. organizes symposia and lectures with a diverse range of speakers. This allows you to gain insight into what the possibilities within pharmacy are. I think the Master’s placements will help me to discover all of the possibilities as well.

Marjolein Kroonen does clinical medicine research with PRA Health Sciences in Groningen. Pharmaceutical companies who wish to test a new substance go to PRA Health Sciences to have trials conducted with human subjects.

As project manager, Marjolein ensures that the various departments do what is required of them after an order for a trial has been received, so that volunteers can be recruited, funding can be arranged, a protocol can be drafted, the medical staff in the clinic can be instructed and the results can be processed. She maintains contact with the client throughout the entire research project.