It’s a pleasure to announce that Sarah KHAMIS, a PhD student in clinical pharmacy department,
faculty of pharmacy at Near East University (NEU), has won the FIP Academic Pharmacy Section
(AcPS) Grant for Research in Education and Mental Health in LMICs during the COVID19 pandemic,
for her research proposal entitled: "The impact of simulated continuing professional development
course on maintaining pharmacy students' mental health and well-being during COVID-19" This
project will examine the effectiveness and utility of a continuing Professional development (CPD)
training course in improving students’ competence in maintaining their mental health and well-being
during the current COVID-19 pandemic and similar crisis, along improving their lifelong learning skills.
A CPD simulation course will be delivered to a cohort of fifth year students in faculty of pharmacy at
NEU through the academic year 2020-2021. The course will be delivered as an interactive orientation
course, with a follow up of the impact of the course on students during their internship. The course
will be delivered by a trained instructor in CPD skills development and a specialist in mental health.
Validated questionnaire and scales will be administered to the students at the beginning and end of
the study period. The CPD simulation course will provide students with opportunities to practice and
develop skills in maintaining their mental well-being and prepare them to CPD.