I recently spent one week volunteering at the Bernard Mevs Hospital in Port Au Prince, Haiti.
As a result, the School of Pharmacy was able to secure a hospital pharmacy IPPE (introductory pharmacy practice experience) at this site for one or two D’Youville students.
At present there are approximately 1.7 million people living in tent cities in Haiti as a result of the January 2010 earthquake. Very little has improved since the initial devastation. Bernard Mevs Hospital provides outpatient clinics, ER, med-surg, and ICU as well as pediatrics and NICU services. Since there is a limited formulary at the pharmacy, the pharmacist’s role involves conservation of resources and consulting with physicians about therapeutic interchanges. Other tasks include compounding of IV preparations and compounding dosage forms and strengths not readily available.
I entered the pharmacy profession to make a difference in people’s lives. I am now teaching to give back to the profession that has meant so much to me. I truly enjoy shaping the future of pharmacy by educating our future practitioners.
Robert H. Leopold, M.D., PharmD
Associate Professor; Chair,
Department of Pharmacy Practice
D'Youville College School of Pharmacy