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Home  »   Publications • PDA Students   »   Student e-newsletter – July 2020

Student e-newsletter – July 2020

In this issue, we hear what it is like to be a student during a pandemic, we share some resources which may help you to look after your wellbeing, plus find out how you can become a PDA Student Rep.

Thu 23rd July 2020 The PDA

Welcome to the latest PDA Student update

In this issue, we hear what it is like to be a student during a pandemic, we share some resources which may help you to look after your wellbeing, plus find out how you can become a PDA Student Rep.

If you would like to share your story, or if you have a key topic that you feel we should include in a future mailing, please email your thoughts to: students@the-pda.org. We welcome all feedback.

Please also feel free to share this mailing with a fellow student who might like to read it.

How the coronavirus crisis has impacted on pharmacy students?
In the first article in our ‘coronavirus and its impact on pharmacy students’ series, we talked to Hasan Gaffar-Karim, a MPharm student at Brighton University who works part-time at a hospital.

I feel my mental health was affected during the early weeks; it was completely draining trying to stay on top of my university work while doing extra shifts at the hospital.
READ MORE ABOUT HASAN’S EXPERIENCE
In the second instalment of this series, we spoke to Osariemen Egharevba-Buckman, a second-year MPharm student at Medway School of Pharmacy.

No organisation could really have been fully prepared for the pandemic. I feel some students have struggled with not having the same levels of interactions. I definitely have.
READ MORE ABOUT OSARIEMEN’S EXPERIENCE
In the third instalment of this series, we spoke to Jagraj Thandi, a final year MPharm student at Birmingham University. Find out about Jagrag’s experiences and why he decided to join the PDA and become a union rep.

We’re making the best out of a challenging situation. I’ve been engaging with friends and studying from a variety of courses – having a broad network and seeing how everyone is coping, is good.
READ MORE ABOUT JAGRAJ’S EXPERIENCE
In the latest instalment of this series, we spoke with Mona Badawy, who at the point of writing this article, was a final year MPharm student at Robert Gordon University. After being a PDA Student Rep for four years, Mona is now a PDA Pre-Reg Rep and shares her journey with us.

My work has been a lot more self-directed and I’m relying more on my peers; we’re relying more on each other rather than our lecturers or course leaders, which has developed our teamwork skills. It felt good to handle things with other people at my level.
READ MORE ABOUT MONA’S EXPERIENCE
Would you like to become a PDA student rep?

Are you interested in getting more involved in helping to give pharmacy students a voice? Find out how you can become a PDA Union student rep, by heading to our PDA Student Rep section of of our website and registering your interest.

PDA member networks began with our student members and we encourage members at each pharmacy school to have a student representative who can be part of the national network. The views of student members and the issues of concern to them are of importance both because they are the profession of tomorrow and because they already matter today.
LEARN MORE
Look after your wellbeing
As part of their ACTNow campaign, Pharmacist Support is encouraging those working and studying in the pharmacy profession to prioritise their own mental health and wellbeing, and to check in on their colleagues. Learn more about the campaign and access a wealth of resources, including this video by signing up to their Wellbeing Hub.
LEARN MORE

Reflecting on the PDA’s work to help in the fight against COVID-19
We caught up with PDA Head of Organising & Engagement, Collette Bradford as she reflects on how the PDA has helped to support members in the fight against COVID-19. Here, Collette gives an insight into how the team have been supporting students, pre-regs and pharmacists across the profession during the pandemic.
READ COLLETTE’S ARTICLE

Join a PDA Network 

In January 2020, the National Association of Women Pharmacists (NAWP) started it’s 115th year by becoming part of the PDA and NAWP became our first Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) network. In April 2020 we launched three further networks: the Black Asian and Minority Ethnic Pharmacists Network (BAME Network), Disabled Pharmacists Network (Ability Network) and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pharmacists Network (LGBT Network).

We encourage all PDA members to get involved in the networks that are of interest to them.
JOIN A NETWORK TODAY

Share with your peers

Download our student flyer and please share it with your peers so that they can also benefit from FREE PDA membership and support.
VIEW THE PDA STUDENT FLYER
 
*The insurance included with PDA membership is arranged and administered by The Pharmacy Insurance Agency Ltd (PIA) who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Register No 307063).

The Pharmacists' Defence Association is a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England; Company No 4746656.

The Pharmacists' Defence Association is an appointed representative in respect of insurance mediation activities only of
The Pharmacy Insurance Agency Limited which is registered in England and Wales under company number 2591975
and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Register No 307063)

The PDA Union is recognised by the Certification Officer as an independent trade union.

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