Briefly introduce yourself (The person and your academic qualifications so far)
I am a clinical pharmacist specialist trained from The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R Medical University, India.
I am currently pursuing a master of science in Health System Strengthening.
Where are you currently working, and what does your job entail?
I am a critical care pharmacy consultant at The Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi (AKUH, N).
There are two main hospital areas where pharmacy services are in high demand: the intensive care units and the emergency department. These two dynamic environments place a premium on pharmacy services that provide appropriate medication therapy promptly. My work involves offering therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and conducting appropriateness reviews for medications, including renal dosing, anticoagulation dosing and monitoring, verification and recommendation of off-label indication of drugs. I also respond to medical emergencies (stroke, MI, code blue, intubation, etc).
I serve on a few hospital committees, such as the hospital ethics committee and a few boards, including the Africa Institute for Health and Development (AIHD), which deals with health advocacy and research in NTDs, NCDs, Mental and environmental health.
Having attained your core qualifications in Pharmacy abroad, how would you compare that Curriculum to the Kenyan BPharm and MPharm one? Are there elements that the Kenyan Curriculum could borrow?
There isn’t much of a difference; the training content is more or less similar in these two setups, and the only point of departure is their approach. In Kenya, our program empowers the learners for hospitals, whereas the Indian program prepares the learners for industrial setup owing to the many industries in their country.
What was your experience in Academia like? Is this space reserved for very experienced Pharmacists? How would you advise a young Pharmacist passionate about Academia?
I worked as a clinical pharmacy lecturer in one of the local universities for over five years, an incredible experience that impacted knowledge for young and budding colleagues in the profession. Academia is not a preserve of the experienced only but for anyone passionate about pursuing it.
What prompted your shift from Academia to Hospital practice?
Working in a hospital has allowed me to apply my academic knowledge and clinical skills more directly and tangibly, whereby my immediate interventions have directly impacted and made a difference in patient’s clinical outcomes.
My current role provides a suitable collaborative environment with a multidisciplinary healthcare team. This teamwork and exchange of ideas have immensely stimulated my clinical intellect and agility, thus fostering my tremendous growth in the profession.
Given that Clinical Pharmacy is still a developing area in Kenya, how would you advise Pharmacists, especially in the counties, to position themselves in this space?
Clinical pharmacists in counties can impact patient clinical outcomes by directly participating in patient care and offering sound clinical solutions.
Issues like inadequate resources should not hinder them from providing their utmost expertise under those strained circumstances. Some strategies they can deploy include providing MTM services, developing clinical guidelines & practice protocols and conducting in-hospital research.
At the forefront of handling COVID-19 cases as a Pharmacist, how was this experience? What were your key takeouts, and how can Pharmacists be prepared for emergency response?
COVID-19 posed a serious test to our healthcare systems, especially the supply chain of health commodities like COVID vaccines.
During COVID-19, information overflow was rife all over. As a pharmacist, one was required to read widely and be ahead of the curve to sieve through the information and separate truths from myths and evidence from anecdotal data.
One had to stay informed and updated on the ever-emerging new knowledge by participating in training and educating colleagues. For instance, I was a member of the PSK COVID-19 case management and IPC sub-committee tasked with developing COVID-19 treatment guidelines and conducting CMEs and webinars for the same.
A pharmacist must stay agile and foster collaborations with other healthcare workers and should not shy away from providing their expert opinion during an emergency response.
During COVID-19, pharmacists were faced with ethical dilemmas regarding medication access and allocation due to scarcity. They were involved in making tough decisions about prioritising medication distribution, ensuring fair and equitable access and balancing individual patients’ needs with public health considerations during emergencies.
Based on your experience as the Lead Pharmacist in the interdisciplinary team that pioneered the First Stroke Centre in Africa, what opportunities exist for Pharmacists in guidelines, protocol and formulary development and review?
It is indeed a great honour to be part of this achievement, the first centre of excellence in managing acute primary stroke as accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI). This program has greatly empowered our clinicians and enhanced their knowledge of the approach and best practices in managing ischemic and haemorrhagic stroke.
It is important to note that opportunities don’t happen by sheer luck but by deliberate effort to create them. PSK has been mapping and updating us on the current opportunities, as charted by some of our colleagues.
What is the role of a Pharmacist in Bioethics? What opportunities can one leverage in this area?
Bioethics is the study of ethical, social and legal issues that arise in medicine and biomedical research.
A Pharmacist with bioethics knowledge can find opportunities in Research & data science, Lecturing, Hospital Practice, Pharmaceutical Industries, and healthcare consultancies.
As pharmacists, we contribute to bioethics by:
Ensuring that patients have a clear understanding of the prescribed medications thus promoting and encouraging patients to participate in making decisions about their health most safely and effectively.
Upholding and maintaining patients’ privacy, dignity, and confidentiality by protecting sensitive medical information from unauthorised disclosure and ensuring that patients feel safe and secure in sharing their health information.
Pharmacists involved in research have an ethical responsibility to protect the rights and welfare of the trial participants.
One of the soft skills a Pharmacist needs is navigating the Leadership and Management space. With your vast experience in leadership, what insights would you share?
A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor!
In many respects, leadership is like strategically shifting your course, not in big dramatic announcements or bold claims, but subtle 3-degree choices and intentional shifts “cpt. JJ Cummings”
What drives/motivates you in life?
I want to become a better version of myself by developing a new skill, doing one thing daily that scares me, engaging in meaningful relationships, and contributing my energy to more equitable public health.
Apart from Pharmacy, what else are you passionate about?
Healthcare quality, advocacy, supply chain and strengthening the health system in general.
What are your key takeaways for an early career pharmacist?
Integrity as a pharmacist is vital; give your best at your current duty station and don’t compromise on excellence and patient safety.
Be proactive in developing tangible pharmacy-related solutions because the future depends on your current work.
Collaborate widely with healthcare and non-healthcare colleagues because you may attract your next opportunity and possibly your next milestone.
In conclusion, communicate your documentation and document your communication.
Insightful