August 25, 2015
Brock Jackson (P3) and Blaise Ndukwe (P2) discuss the medications located in a local dispensary in Meru, Kenya.

Dr. Vicki Ellingrod, along with two P2 students (Blasie Ndukwe and Brian Pauls) and one P3 student (Brock Jackson) recently returned from Meru, Kenya, where they exchanged ideas about the practice of pharmacy and structure of pharmacy education, as well as worked on research projects. The purpose of this month-long trip was to contribute to the economy, health services, resource utilization, and quality of life in developing, rural communities of Kenya. Students were able to work alongside and shadow local physicians and pharmacists (chemists) within the region. Through this experience they were able to lay the framework for future research projects focusing on the high rate of chronic pain as well as non-adherence to antihypertensives. Over the summer they continued to work on projects related to these two themes, which will then be implemented on next year’s trip. Additionally, these students worked with Dr. Amy Tremper, Assistant Professor in the U-M School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, to provide sexual education for middle and high school students in the region. Given the ever prevalent risk of HIV in Africa, this education is a vital part of the region's effort to reduce this risk.

This interprofessional initiative partnered the College of Pharmacy with U-M’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, as well as Michiken, a local non-profit organization. 

Pharmacy practice and education in Kenya differs considerably 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. U-M students initiated this partnership through their relationship with KeMUs pharmacy leader Dr. James Ombega, BPharm, PharmD, as well as physician partner Dr. Peter Ndege, who is medical director at Consolata Hospital in the Meru region. Dr. Ndege is also currently a post-doctoral research fellow in the University of Michigan’s chronic pain program.