YPG Annual Report 2009-2020
Organisation
The 2009 - 2010 Steering Committee was elected during the 2009 FIP Congress held in Istanbul, Turkey:
Chair: Cairo Toledano, Mexico
Project Coordinator: Neveen Abdelghani, United States (U.S.)
Public Relations Officer: Luther Gwaza, Zimbabwe
69th FIP Congress, Istanbul 2009
The YPG Educational Forum main topic was "Pharmacy practice in the era of pharmacogenomics - Are we ready for the prime time?". The session was graced with the participation of four talented speakers, whom clearly discussed five different perspectives related to pharmacogenomics. There were participants and very good evaluations and comments were received. The YPG collaborated in a joint session with the CPS, IPSF and the APS: "Trends in Community Pharmacy - Debating the Future of the Profession". The content of the session included three central topics, each one had a speaker and three respondents, in the way the attendants were able to learn and analyse from the discussion. Very good comments and evaluations were received; the average attendance was 188 people.
At the exhibition hall the YPG had a very interactive booth which allowed direct contact with potential members, current members and the IPSF. The YPG hosted two successful social events, the welcome dinner at the Tike restaurant (40 persons in attendance); and the International Evening Party (co-hosted with IPSF) at the 360° Club (More than 50 persons in attendance).
70th FIP Congress, Lisbon 2010
The YPG Educational Forum topic for this year is "Contemporary challenges for the pharmacy profession" and will include five speakers. The YPG will be collaborating in the Learning to teach workshop with the Pharmacy Education Taskforce; Using clinical microbiology data to improve anti-infective utilization at bedside with the CBS and HPS; Forum of policy makers with the CPS, APS and IPSF. The YPG will be hosting the Dealing with special patients workshop". The YPG will be participating in the second edition of the First timers mentoring program and is planning to have two social events: Welcome dinner the International Evening Party.
Communication
The YPG currently uses a members-only e-list and an e-group open to both members and non-members. The e-list facilitated communication with our members (565, august 2009) and the e-group connected pharmacists worldwide (1731, January 2010). The new image of the YPG e-Newsletter was produced and emailed in November 2009, it is expected to have the second edition by the first week of March, and two more editions are going to be prepared, one for the June and the last one to be printed and delivered in site at the FIP International Congress. After Istanbul Congress the FIP website members-only area allowed us to use it as a new alternative of communication andwso far several topics directed to our members have been discussed with great acceptance.
YPG Grant for Professional Innovation
The 2009 grant recipient was Miss Claire O' Reilly, from Australia. The title of her research is "Reducing mental health stigma: Development of an E-learning programme for pharmacists". This project will develop an innovative e-learning program to reduce mental health stigma among pharmacists. Mental health stigma, a negative attitude based on prejudice and misinformation, is a global problem and is known to limit help-seeking. The Board of Directors of the FIP Foundation for Education and Research supported the award. So far the YPG is receiving applications for the 2010 Grant.
Mike How Travel Award 2009
This grant is a collaboration between the FIP Industrial Pharmacy Section, International Pharmaceutical Students' Federation and YPG. The 2009 grant recipient was Mr Ram Malis from Israel. Mr. Malis graduated from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel in 2006. He's currently employed as a Regulatory Affairs Associate at Megapharm Ltd, where he facilitates registration of new pharmaceutical products. His portfolio also includes pharmacovigilance responsibilities. Mr. Malis received the award at FIP Congress in Istanbul.
Collaboration with the FIP Sections
Communication with other FIP sections keeps flowing. The YPG appointed Gloriana Fernandez as observer at the Pharmacy Information Section meetings. With the Industrial Pharmacy Section, the YPG keeps the Mike How award, the YPG projects coordinator is in frequent contact with the section. The YPG has been working with the FIP Community Pharmacy Section, Clinical Biology Section and the Pharmacy Education Taskforce, reflecting a wide number of collaborations for educational sessions in the FIP Congress in Lisbon.
Future expectations
In terms of communication with current and potential members, the YPG in collaboration with the FIP staff is planning to re-launch the Facebook account. The Public Relations Officer has started the conformation of a database of the National YGP's all over the world (it is also expected to have an update in the National YPG Guideline document). YPG is also updating information about the previous steering committees members and promotional materials. YPG is also exploring with other FIP sections the creation of networks for young pharmacist.
