IMU is one of 17 institutions of higher
learning conducting the Bachelor of Pharmacy course
in Malaysia. The White paper on pharmacy student
professionalism by the Task Force of the American
Pharmaceutical Association Academy of Students of
Pharmacy together with the American Association of
Colleges of Pharmacy Council of Deans mentioned
10 essential traits of a professional, recommending
their early development. Since the beginning of the
IMU Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) (Hons) course
in July 2004 on Registration Day, IMU has adopted the
concept of developing professionalism in the pharmacy
student from the very first day of university, by having
the White Coat Ceremony where the entire class takes
the Pledge of Professionalism (adapted from the Task
Force) against the “Code of Conduct for Pharmacists
and Bodies Corporate” by the Pharmacy Board of
Malaysia in the presence of the Senior Director of the
Pharmaceutical Services Division of the Ministry of
Health, Malaysia and the President of the Malaysian
Pharmaceutical Society (MPS). Throughout their
4 years in IMU, the pharmacy students are exposed to
various aspects of professionalism in different subjects
in their curriculum. On 23rd April 2012, when the
fifth cohort of BPharm students received their final
examination results, “Pharmacy Professional Day” was
launched. The graduating students took the Oath of a
Pharmacist (adapted from the American Association of
Colleges of Pharmacy’s Oath with slight amendment).
Talks by alumni and speakers from MPS aimed to
facilitate the transition of the new graduate to working
life as a pharmacist.