Eunice Law Xue Min

Course: Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours), 2013
Nationality: Malaysian
Current role: Regulatory Affairs Manager, Haw Par Corporation Limited

Why did you choose Monash?

I chose Monash University because I did South Australian Matriculation (SAM) during pre-university and transitioning into an Australian university was a more practical choice as there was a shorter wait time from the end of pre-university to the start of university. This enabled me to maintain my momentum and focus in my studies. Because of this, I was able to graduate and enter the workforce earlier than some of my peers. Apart from that, I chose Monash as it enabled me to obtain a foreign degree while still being close to my family in Malaysia. Besides these practical reasons, I chose Monash University because it is a Group of Eight university and it is internationally ranked for pharmacy studies.

My learning experience at Monash was fantastic as the course was very well structured. There was a good balance between lecture-taught and self-directed learning throughout the four years. The course encouraged us to discover and explore for ourselves instead of being spoon-fed. The virtual practice environment where we practised our pharmacy counselling was a good environment for us to hone our communication skills and build our confidence level.

How have your studies helped to prepare you for the working world?

Monash’s well-developed course structure, knowledge-rich content, work-based training and focus on developing strong communication skills helped equipped me to face the working world confidently. I particularly liked the Integrated Therapeutics modules and the Evidence-based Practice modules.

Each integrated therapeutics module was delivered in a coherent manner, exposing us to physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology and therapeutics sequentially. This way of delivery was effective in helping my understanding and has enabled me to better commit them to memory. The Evidence-based Practice modules were also very useful as they taught us how to critically appraise clinical papers when they are used to inform practice.

You went on a student exchange to the Parkville campus. What was most memorable about the exchange?

I am ever so grateful for the friendships I have made with fellow students during my student exchange in Melbourne. My fondest memories of the exchange are the shopping, cooking, eating, travelling and group study sessions with them. The friends I have made during the short exchange program are friends that I still keep in touch until today.

Did you go for any internship or placement programs?

Yes, I did. The exposure from internships and placement programs played a significant role in shaping my career path. Monash has a Professional Experience Placement (PEP) program as part of the Pharmacy degree (in the third and fourth years). I managed to secure placement positions at Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Hospital Serdang and Vitacare Pharmacy. Each placement was for a duration of 12 weeks. I recall being very excited about these placements as I was finally able to have a taste of pharmacy practice in both hospital and retail settings.

In addition to PEP, I was very privileged to be selected by Pfizer for a one-month internship program with the Medical Affairs Department. My learning curve during these placements and internship was very steep. The experience was an eye opener for me as it gave me a picture of possible career opportunities as a pharmacist.

It was through the exposure from my PEP that motivated me to pursue my provisional pharmacist registration in the hospital setting. During my pre-registration, I was coincidentally placed to serve at Hospital Serdang. Due to my prior PEP exposure, I was able to adapt very quickly. After two years in hospital practice, I finally decided to make a turn in my career path by moving into the pharmaceutical industry.

What are your career goals?

In the short term, I aim to develop deeper knowledge in regulatory sciences so that I am able to be more strategic in my regulatory affairs role. I am also looking to gain varied experiences within the pharmaceutical industry, such as in marketing and medical to become a more well-rounded employee. In the long term, I aim to take on a leadership role within the organisation.