Interview with Dr. Muhammad Umar Hafeez: telepharmacy advocate
Today\u2019s episode is an interview with Dr. Muhammad Umar Hafeez.\xa0 He uses his voice to advocate telepharmacy and educate pharmacists and pharmacy students online.\xa0 He\u2019s also the only pharmacist I know who occasionally has to take a helicopter to get to work. \xa0 \xa0
Dr. Umar loves his job.\xa0 His education, work experience, and personal sense of adventure led him to what he does today.\xa0 No matter what industry you are in, I hope you find a way to use your voice in a way that you love. \xa0
Telepharmacy and telemedicine have become essential during the COVID pandemic.\xa0 Using electronic information and telecommunication technologies, telepharmacy allows contact between patients and pharmacists.\xa0 Care, advice, education, reminders, monitoring, and more can still be provided when in-person interactions are not an option.
My guest is Dr. Muhammad Umar Hafeez (Dr. Umar).\xa0 We are physically more than 7,000 miles apart, but Dr. Umar and I were able to connect for an interview on June 15.\xa0 Because of his unique work setting, he has been using tele pharmacy since well before the COVID pandemic.\xa0
Dr. Umar is a pharmacist.\xa0 He graduated with his Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from the University of the Punjab in Lahore, Pakistan in 2012.\xa0 Then, he earned his MBA in 2019, from the Dubai campus of the Spanish institute Universidad Cat\xf3lica de Murcia (also known as UCAM or The Catholic University of Murcia).\xa0 Dubai is located in the United Arab Emirates (abbreviated UAE).\xa0 Over the past eight years, Dr. Umar\u2019s work experience has included roles in hospital, research, freelance work, quality audits, training, education, and tele-pharmacy.\xa0\xa0
Dr. Umar lives in Abu Dhabi, which is located in the UAE.\xa0 He supervises Pharmacy Operations for the leading oil and gas company in the UAE. He is a strong advocate of telepharmacy.\xa0 His telepharmacy practice sites include oil rigs (both onshore and offshore), remote sites in the desert, deep sea platforms, oil barges, and natural and man-made islands in the Arabian Gulf. \xa0
In his spare time, he volunteers online with a group called \u201cGiving Back To Pharmacy In Pakistan.\u201d\xa0 It can be described as an organization of volunteer Pharmacists from around the world aiming to refine the Pharmacy Profession in Pakistan by sharing best practices and engaging relevant stakeholders.\xa0 He helps both pharmacists and pharmacy students.
Mentioned in this episode
Giving Back to Pharmacy In Pakistan (https://www.linkedin.com/company/giving-back-to-pharmacy-in-pakistan)
Dr. Umar\u2019s LinkedIn Profile linkedin.com/in/muhammad-umar-hafeez-pharm-d-mba-997ab949\xa0
Highlights from the interview
During a typical week (pre-COVID), Dr. Umar is in the office 3 days/week and in the field 2 days/week.\xa0 He is a subject matter specialist on medications, but he also performs business roles, such as KPI review. \xa0
Dr. Umar supervises 150 sites.\xa0 Some sites provide emergency healthcare services.\xa0 Others are general practice clinics, first aid posts, and field hospitals.\xa0 Dr. Umar gets to visit ALL the sites.\xa0 He is adventurous!\xa0
Many of the pharmacists Dr. Umar supervises work 14-28 days on-site, then 14-28 days off-site, similar to the gas and oil workers.\xa0 Workers typically bring their own meds from home.\xa0 Because of COVID, the schedule has temporarily changed.\xa0 Chronic medications are transported to remote sites using a variety of vehicles, such as helicopters, jeeps, jets, etc.\xa0 There are travel restrictions in the UAE related to the COVID pandemic.\xa0 Using telepharmacy, secure and confidential counseling is provided, among other services.
As a supervisor, Dr. Umar oversees pharmacy operations across the UAE.\xa0 Depending on the site, formularies may be used if a pharmacist is not present.\xa0 Teamwork is important, and nurses dispense medications when a pharmacist is not present. \xa0
Communication can be a challenge in some of the most remote sites under Dr. Umar\u2019s supervision.\xa0 Radio communication is sometimes the only option.\xa0 Because telepharmacy was in place prior to COVID, Dr. Umar\u2019s practice sites have refined a system that was already in place.\xa0 It was working well, and now it is stronger.\xa0 Dr. Umar and his team are more confident in their ability to provide care. \xa0
Dr. Umar loves to learn.\xa0 He believes a continuous learning attitude is important.\xa0 What education is needed for Dr. Umar\u2019s job?\xa0 A Pharm D, a license to practice in the UAE, a management degree (MBA), and other safety certifications related to the oil and gas industry.
Giving Back to Pharmacy In Pakistan provides coaching and mentoring in the form of online webinars and lectures.\xa0 You may visit the link provided in the show notes for more information.\xa0 He mentors pharmacists and pharmacy students by exposing them to real-world scenarios so they can learn and gain more practical experience.
The Pharmacist\u2019s Voice Podcast has listeners in 23 countries and 39 US States.
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