The EPSA - European Pharmaceutical Students' Association Twinnet Exchange with National & Kapodistrian University of Athens took place last month, with eight pharmacy students from Trinity College Dublin, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and University College Cork travelling. We received six students from Greece led by Maria Rodia as part of this exchange and organised a series of educational and cultural activities for them. This was only possible due to our sponsors Irish Pharmacy Union and Xpress Health as well as the tireless work of our committee members, particularly Kirsten Soney-Ituen, our Twinnet Officer. This sponsorship helped to cover the Irish students’ food, accommodation and internal transport costs. The Greek students landed on Monday 24th February, and attended the Old Library in Trinity College. The next day, they attended an information session by the IPU, a talk by Fabio Boylan on the role of a pharmacist in public health advocacy and a lecture on antimicrobial resistance by Ellen Martin of the HSE AMRIC team. On Wednesday, they completed the Howth Cliff walk, went to the Natural History Museum and saw famous historical sites in Dublin City Centre such as the GPO and statue of Jim Larkin. The evening ended with a talk in collaboration with Pharmacists In Industry Education and Regulatory delivered by Rosemarie Tully, Bernard O'Sullivan and Dino Muravec on the various roles of the industrial pharmacist. On Thursday, the students travelled to RCSI where they received a tour of the SIM and the library, before attending the DUPSA Trinity College Dublin Pharmacy Ball. Due to an air traffic controller strike in Greece, the students were delayed in returning home, but capitalised on this by travelling to Bray. The next week the Irish students travelled to Greece. They were immersed in Greek culture, visiting the Pantheon, Acropolis and Parko Eleftherias. They received a tour of National & Kapodistrian University of Athens and its philosophy library, a mental health first aid session from the Red Cross, a presentation on AI in Healthcare from Maria-Ileana Theofili and training from the GPSF on anxiety. They also went to the Greek Parliament, National Gallery of Athens and attended a Greek dancing class. Thank you to everyone who made this possible, be that through delivering a talk or tour, organising an event or travelling. This was the first Twinnet Exchange to take place in Ireland since 2019 and was undoubtedly a success. We hope to carry out this Exchange once again next year!
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