Have you ever wanted to make your own gummy bears? Last month, pharmacy students from Mukogawa Women’s University (MWU) in Japan had the opportunity to do just that while visiting Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CPPS).
Every year, students from the Mukogawa pharmacy program travel from Nishinomiya, Hyōgo, Japan to visit the university’s Spokane extension, the Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute. This four-week visit allows fifth year students to learn about differences between the United States and Japan in pharmacy practice.
The trip included a day spent at the CPPS learning about pharmacy education at the college and taking part in compounding, simulation and health screening activities. During the compounding activity, Japanese students mixed ingredients into alternate forms. This common practice makes medication more palatable — for example, children who are unable or unwilling to swallow large pills, can be given medication in the form of gummy bears. Mukogawa students were guided by CPPS students in the creation of gummy bears (without medication) and lip balm to take home.
