In the final year, after the completion of all required courses, the students spend 15 weeks of professional training which   involves 7 weeks in a community pharmacy, 7 weeks in a hospital pharmacy and 1 week of industrial industry. Before   beginning their clinical rotations the students are given a white coat and recite the Oath of a Pharmacist during a   traditional White Coat Ceremony. In the academic year 2013-2014 a student-exchange program was initiated with West   Virginia University. Thereafter, every year 4 final year OMC students spent 4 weeks training in pharmacy   practice in the WVU hospital. Similar number of  Pharmacy Doctorate students from WVU spent four weeks at OMC  training in the Royal Hospital and the Directorate General of Pharmaceutical Affairs of the Ministry of Health to learn   about pharmaceutical care system  in Oman.

The Pharmacy department successfully organized Oman Pharmaceutical Conferences in 2009, 2010 and 2013 and 2015. These conferences involve presentations by internationally known   pharmacists/scientists as well as local pharmacists and provide an opportunity for our faculty and students to interact with   pharmacists from many countries. To inculcate research aptitude among the students and share the findings in the students’ research project, OMC organizes Research Day once in a year.  

All students in the Pharmacy program complete a research project under the supervision of a faculty member. Each   project is summarized in the form of dissertation followed by an open defense presentation of the research findings for evaluation. Often the studies performed in the research projects have been presented at pharmaceutical conferences both   in Oman and abroad. The research conducted by several students on a project has often resulted in the publication of these results in well-recognized scientific journals. Several faculty members are engaged in pilot research utilizing OMC Internal Research fund.

For introducing the awareness about the professional responsibility and competency of a pharmacist, the students are required to observe / shadow pharmacists in health centers and community in the first and second year of pharmacy.

 

After successfully completing the requisite course work, each pharmacy student has to undertake professional Practice Experience in hospital pharmacies, community pharmacies and industrial pharmacies. The active support from MOH hospitals, Armed Force hospital, SQU hospital, Directorate General of Pharmaceutical Affairs and National Pharmaceutical Industries in the training our students is thankfully acknowledged.

Excellent administrative support and encouragement from the management and deans has enabled the department to progress. Furthermore, the department has revised the B.Pharm curriculum in tune with the Oman Qualifications Framework and feedback from the stakeholder. The revised curriculum has more clinical courses and electives in clinical pharmacy and industrial  pharmacy. The curriculum has been approved by the MOHE and will be implemented from 2017-18 batch of students.

I am happy to place on record that the Oman Medical College recently signed memorandum of cooperation with Royal Hospital, Khoula Hospital, Higher College of technology , Al Khuwair, Waljat College of Applied Sciences and National Pharmaceutical Industries, Rusayl to share the facilities and competencies in research, training and quality assurance.

 Excellent administrative support and encouragement from the management and deans have enabled the department to meet our mission and vision.   I am very optimistic that with the help of dedicated faculty and staff, the department of pharmacy will develop further into a Center of Excellence in pharmacy education and research.