Pharmacy students take in global experience in Thailand

Developing expertise through experience, two Harrison College of Pharmacy students recently completed Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences in Thailand.

Gaining a global experience, Class of 2026 members Haley Davis and Autumn Edwards were at Mahasarakham University in Thailand from Jan. 5 through Feb. 6.

“Thailand has universal healthcare, so most appointments and healthcare needs are taking place at their hospitals,” said Davis. “They also don’t have what we would consider community pharmacies, so their prescriptions are being filled at the outpatient pharmacies at the hospitals.”

Through their time in Thailand, the students experienced the core global differences between healthcare environments in both Thailand and America.

“We’ve become more aware of how fast-paced and individual-focused our (American) systems can be, especially in healthcare, compared to the strong sense of community and collective responsibility we have observed in Thailand,” said Edwards

The biggest initial culture shock that they both experienced was adjusting to the language barriers and becoming climatized to a place in which few people spoke English.

“The students and professors have been so kind and helped with this,” said Edwards.

Despite the language barrier, Davis and Edwards highlight the transcendence of nonverbal cues in the healthcare setting.

“Even when verbal communication was limited, empathy and human connection extend beyond language and cultural barriers,” said Edwards.

Throughout their duration in Thailand, both Davis and Edwards came across numerous cultural differences, spanning deeper than language barriers. They quickly learned the “wai,” a polite gesture used when greeting others. Other cultural norms they learned included becoming accustomed to taking off shoes prior to entering buildings, covering knees and shoulder in temples and having community-based dinners.

“What we didn’t expect was how quickly those differences would begin to feel familiar,” said Davis. “The openness, kindness, and willingness of people to teach and include us made our transition far smoother than anticipated.”

Their time at the Harrison College of Pharmacy (HCOP) laid the clinical and professional groundwork that shaped their global experience and provided them with the skillset utilized during their time in Thailand.

“HCOP emphasizes strong foundational knowledge, evidence-based decision making and patient-centered care, which we have used throughout our time here,” said Edwards. “Being in Thailand has highlighted differences in medication availability, guidelines, and healthcare systems, but HCOP trained us to adapt by focusing on core pharmacotherapy principles.”

A usual day consisted of a variety of rotation activities, some included joining the students for labs or patient home visits, presenting on a patient case, visiting Thai museums and touring hospitals. Evenings consisted of free time dedicated to exploration of the local area, getting a massage or grabbing dessert from 7-Eleven.

One particular activity they completed was the creation of herbal compress balls, which are a traditional Thai medicine consisting of local herbs which help reduce inflammation.

On weekends, Davis and Edwards have been able to explore the country, visiting locations such as Phuket, Phi Phi Islands, Chiang Mai and Bangkok.

“Similar to the United States, each region of Thailand has new food, places, and cultures to see,” said Davis.

Both students speak highly of their global experience, and how it was an opportunity not only to grow their pharmacy skills, but to also experience new cultures and experiences.

“We very much enjoyed our time in Thailand,” said Edwards. “Thailand is beautiful and the people are known for their kindness. We made sure to travel, try new foods and explore as much as we can.”

Davis and Edwards outline that through their time in Thailand they have gained a new lens through which to view American culture.

“It has made us more thoughtful about how cultural values influence patient interactions, expectations, and care delivery,” said Davis. “Professionally, it has strengthened our adaptability, humility, and ability to build trust across differences, and personally, it has reshaped how we view global healthcare and our role within it.”

The immersion in different cultures has allowed both Davis and Edwards to gain a new compassion towards differing healthcare systems across the globe.

“One of our biggest takeaways from our time in Thailand has been how deeply empathy and openness shape meaningful healthcare experiences. Immersing ourselves in a new culture challenged us to listen more intentionally, observe carefully, and approach patients and colleagues without assumptions,” said Edwards.