The Pharmacy Game Newsletter

Who are you?

My name is Maarten Lambert, I have been studying pharmacy at the University of Groningen for six years by now. I have chosen to study pharmacy to improve the safe use of medicine for patients, either on small scale in public pharmacies or on larger scale through research.

If you could choose between conventional education and GIMMICS® what would be your preference and why?

The study in Groningen consists of a diverse study program, including courses that focus more on theory and courses that focus mainly on the actual work environment. Of the latter category, GIMMICS® stood out both in originality and learning goals. The big difference between GIMMICS® and conventional educations makes the game both educational and fun to play for us, the students. Especially the opportunity to practice with real patients and doctors makes GIMMICS® unique and a valuable addition to the study program.

What was most useful during GIMMICS®?

During the course, mimicking a public pharmacy with a team of students creates a situation that is for large parts coherent with the actual practice, while at the same time it is a safe place for making mistakes.

Which skills did you improve during the game?

During the game, we have the chance to improve a broad range of skills, including working in a team during rather intense workdays, communicating with patients and other healthcare professionals and deepening pharmacological knowledge.

Would you like to share some interesting moment you remember while playing the game?

For me personally, there were quite a few interesting moments during GIMMICS®. The chance to talk to representatives of insurance companies, bank employees and the local government about developing and expanding our own public pharmacy is something that I appreciated a lot. Besides that, two specific moments were most valuable to me. Firstly, having job interviews with a group of pharmacy assistants was a great opportunity. To sit at the other side of the table, so to speak, did not only teach me about handling job applications in the future, but has also helped to better prepare for my own job applications. Secondly, guiding a general practitioner through the difficult process of euthanasia is something that will stay with me for the rest of my career. It is definitely an experience that cannot be gained through a lecture or a written exam.