Department of Pharmacy - Shaheed BB University, Sheringal

Professional Training

As a core component of the Pharm.D. program, professional training ensures that students gain hands-on experience across a variety of pharmacy practice settings. The training includes clinical clerkships during the 4th and 5th professional years and a mandatory internship in a specialized track. A total of 350 contact hours is required for the award of the degree.

Clinical Pharmacy Clerkship

4th Professional Year
  • Duration: 150 hours:

  • Location: Hospital wards under supervision
    • Activities::
      • ○ Group-based patient case monitoring
      ○ Identification and resolution of drug-related problems
      ○ Dose adjustments in renal/hepatic impairment
      ○ Drug-drug and drug-food interaction assessment
      ○ Lab Work: 2 hours/week in departmental laboratory
    • Evaluation:
        • ○ External examiner review of collected cases
        ○ Written exam on clinical pharmacy practice
        ○ Viva-voce for application of clinical knowledge

    5th Professional Year

    • Duration: 200 hours
    • Location: Hospitals, clinical departments, and pharmacy units
    • Activities:
        • ○ Participation in medical rounds
        ○ Use of Hospital Management Information Systems (HMIS)
        ○ Weekly patient case presentations aligned with Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs)
        ○ Completion of a clinical pharmacy research project
    • Project Goals:
        • ○ Develop interpersonal and communication skills
        ○ Build competencies in project design, data analysis, and literature review
        ○ Present findings through structured reports and oral defense
    • Project Evaluation:
        • ○ Supervised and assessed by an External Examiner
        ○ Focus on scientific rigor, research organization, and analytical interpretation
        ○ Includes both written and oral components for a comprehensive assessment

      Internship (Professional Training)

      • Requirement: 350 hours (minimum)
      • Eligible Tracks:
          • ○ Pharmaceutical Industry
          ○ Community Pharmacy
          ○ Hospital/Clinical Pharmacy
          ○ Pharmaceutical Marketing
          ○ Regulatory Affairs & Management

        Completion of the clinical clerkship and internship are mandatory for the conferral of the Pharm.D. degree. Students gain supervised, real-world exposure to their chosen area of interest, aligning academic preparation with practical demands of national and global pharmacy practice.

        Training Outcomes

        Pharm.D. graduates will demonstrate:

        • Real-World Preparedness: Confidently manage clinical outcomes, medication-related complications, and complex therapeutic regimens.
        • Medication System Navigation: Proficiency in pharmacy informatics, medication validation, safety principles, and handling of sterile/non-sterile preparations.
        • Pharmacist-Led Care: Effective patient assessment, therapy follow-up, and prevention of drug-related issues.
        • Clinical Competency: Practical exposure in diverse departments (e.g., pediatrics, psychiatry, cardiology, dermatology, gynecology).
        • Dose Adjustment and Monitoring: Capability to adjust dosages in organ impairment and monitor for significant drug interactions.
        • Hospital Operations Insight: Familiarity with drug procurement, distribution, and healthcare delivery systems via HMIS.
        • Research Proficiency: Competence in literature appraisal, research design, statistical interpretation, and scientific communication.
        • Effective Communication: Professional interaction with patients, healthcare teams, and regulatory entities to improve pharmaceutical care outcomes.