July 11, 2014
U-M College of Pharmacy students worked with local Kenyan pharmacists and pharmacy technicians at Consolata Hospital.

A University of Michigan Partnership with Kenya Methodist University and Consolata Hospital

Dr. Vicki Ellingrod, along with three P2 students, Charlotte Buckley, Craig Michael, and Emily Van Wieren, recently returned from Meru, Kenya, where they spent 4 weeks learning about the practice of pharmacy , exploring the structure of pharmacy education, and working on research projects. This interprofessional initiative partnered the College of Pharmacy with UM’s Medical School, School of Dentistry, School of Nursing, and School of Social Work, and were supported by the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (MICHR) Global Summer Research Program. 

The purpose of this trip was to improve the economy, health services, resource utilization, and quality of life in developing, rural communities of Kenya. Students designed research projects that explored the occurrence of counterfeit medications, how insulin is stored in a region where refrigeration is not common, and acetaminophen use by local Kenyans. 

Pharmacy practice and education in Kenya are very different from the United States, Therefore this program partnered with the pharmacy school at Kenya Methodist University (KeMU) to promote best practices in clinical pharmacy with their faculty and  students.  UM students initiated this partnership through their relationship with KeMUs pharmacy leader Dr. James Ombega, BPharm, PharmD.