Reaching Across Borders with The International Pharmaceutical Federation

Marsha K. Millonig B.Pharm., M.B.A. MY TRAVEL ADVENTURES OVER THE YEARS HAVE provided me the opportunity to stop in and visit with pharmacy colleagues across borders, regardless of where I may be headed. I am always curious how the pharmacy looks, where it is located and the physical footprint, what products the pharmacy carries, and what it’s able to provide over the counter and behind the counter. I also try to make a purchase to help the business side of my colleague’s endeavors. And while there may be some differences in the practice, the common elements across all my visits are the practice’s focus on the patient and its core place as a health center in the community. These themes are the common language that bind us together no matter our country. My interest in international pharmacy started as a student at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy. Dean Lawrence Weaver was an internationally respected scientist who became a leader in innovative pharmacy practice. His kn…