Combining theory with practice: students’ internship activity at the Pharmacy Faculty

Students of the Faculty of Pharmacy of Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy carry out their didactic internships at the Scientific and Practical Center in the field of Medicinal Plants, where over 200 plant species from 15 pharmacotherapeutic groups are cultivated. Future pharmacists develop their practical skills, analytical spirit and professional responsibility, applying knowledge and accumulating valuable and relevant experience for their future career. 

Irina Pompus, head of the Scientific and Practical Center in the field of Medicinal Plants, specified that the institution she represents is the place where students have various opportunities: a diversity of species from different ecological groups and a lake with aquatic plants. 

The educational process is guided by teaching staff, who ensure thorough practical training based on academic excellence, scientific rigor and dedication to the development of pharmacy professionals. Here, future pharmacists explore the diversity of medicinal plants and discover their properties and therapeutic uses, transforming theory into practice. 

"Students begin studying pharmacognosy in their third year. The center offers the opportunity to learn about, study, evaluate and identify medicinal plants. The pharmacist is the primary specialist in the field of medicines, possessing knowledge of the entire process - from the source and chemical compounds to the pharmaceutical product. He provides information about medicinal plants, about the plant product, about phytotherapeutic products, because he is the best connoisseur of plant products," added Maria Cojocaru-Toma, Associate Professor at the Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany. 

In the opinion of Cornelia Fursenco, Assistant Professor at the Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, one cannot practice as a pharmacist based solely on theoretical knowledge: "It is one thing for a student to see these plants in the herbarium, during laboratory work, but quite another thing to study them in their natural habitat. They can easily be confused. Lily of the valley leaves – a medicinal plant product with a toxic risk –closely resemble wild garlic, also known as ramsons, used as food. Mistaking the two can lead to acute, potentially fatal poisoning. Therefore, it is crucial for pharmacy students to know how to correctly identify these plants and be able to advise patients." 

Iulian Chistol, a third-year student, highlighted the opportunity offered by the Faculty of Pharmacy to combine theory and practice: "Now that we are doing our practical training, we have the chance to study natural and synthetic chemical compounds, to be able to identify, analyze and use them in traditional medicine." 

Another pharmacy student noted that the Center is also well-suited for conducting future scientific research. 

The Scientific and Practical Center in the field of Medicinal Plants was founded in 2002 and is located near Bardar commune, Ialoveni district.