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| Graduate and Pharmacy Programs Pharmacy Students Take to the Amazon This year, as you walk around the campus and hear the words “weeds and seeds,” you won’t be listening to a conversation about gardening. You’ll be hearing students and faculty talking about the College of Pharmacy’s medicinal plant program in the Peruvian Amazon. Each summer students from the College of Pharmacy travel to Iquitos, Peru to participate in this unique workshop on medicinal plants and natural medicine. The course combines on-campus study with a two-week field program in the Amazon rainforest. While in the Amazon, students attend classes in ethnobotany, pharmacology, pharmacognosy, and toxicology at the Hospital de la Luz and the National Institute for Traditional Medicine (IMET) and workshops on medicinal plants and agronomy at the National University of the Peruvian Amazon’s Institute of Research (UNAP/IIAP). In addition, they attend sessions with internationally known shaman, Rossana Nascimento and observe and interview patients of local shamans and clinics of natural medicine. A highlight of the program for students is a five-day journey down the Amazon River to visit tribes of Bora, Huitoto, and Yagua Indians and to lodge at the gallery of internationally renowned artist, Francisco Grippa. The program is hosted by the Global Awareness Institute, a Florida-based non-profit organization dedicated to developing medicinal plants of the Amazon as a sustainable industry. Founder, Dr. Barbara Brodman, explains that medicinal plants can provide the basis for a network of sustainable industries that will create jobs and income for residents of the region while, at the same time, teaching them that saving the rainforest is essential to their personal well-being now and for the future. Destroying the rainforest will eliminate those opportunities forever. “It is our mission as a non-profit organization - and my personal quest– to help prevent our reaching a point of no return in the next few years; an outcome that is all too probable if we don’t act now,” explains Brodman. To that end, GAI has brought groups of university students to Iquitos since 1999. “Once they have seen and experienced the rainforest, most students become deeply committed to saving it,” states Brodman, “and that is the other side of our mission as an NGO: to create a legion of young leaders and professionals worldwide whose values and visions reflect a genuine commitment to saving this beautiful planet of ours.” Dr. Dean Arneson, Associate Professor of Pharmacy and one of the program’s faculty escorts, explains that “students who have participated in the program have developed a better understanding and a deeper appreciation of the culture of Peru. They realize how important the rainforest is to the environmental health of the world. The students learn how the rainforest is a supply of medicines that have been used much longer than the traditional North American medicines that they learn about. “They enjoy the experience of being in a living laboratory and describe it as an educational experience that could never be duplicated in the classroom. The students describe that the experience they enjoy the most and will always remember is the warm and friendly people of Iquitos, and everyone claims they will come back someday to renew old friendships.” Professor/Escort Dr. Ruth Nemire emphasizes that “students who participate in this course begin to learn and understand medicine from its roots. The public is hungry for "natural medicine" information. Completing a course like this helps prepare the future pharmacist to feed that need with accurate and insightful information.” Students and faculty who participated in past programs on GAI’s 92-acre reserve and research center in Iquitos are already passing the word to others. Past participant, Jackie Sauve, points out that “a trip to the Amazon to spend two weeks in the heart of the Peruvian rainforest is a once in a lifetime opportunity. This rotation opened my eyes to the enormous possibilities for the use of medicinal plants in the treatment of diseases. We were witness to several patients of IMET who are continually being treated for serious disease, and these patients are becoming healthier. I now have a much deeper and profound appreciation for the rainforest and our planet as a whole. I understand the dire position that we as a population have put our planet in, and through this trip, I have learned several ways that I can help to improve our situation. I have made friends for life, I have made memories that I will cherish forever, and I hope many others will get the chance to experience the amazing adventure our group had this year.” Another student, Michelle Walker, points out that the experience is one that stays with students long after they return from Peru. “I am eager to share what I learned during my time in the jungle,” says Michelle. “Before I graduate in May, I will have written at least forty pages on my experiences and done a minimum of three separate presentations to three different audiences. Of course, I will also brag about my experiences to friends and family (and whoever else is willing to listen). Thank you for providing me with this amazing opportunity. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.” GAI looks forward to welcoming a growing number of participants each year to the medicinal plant program, for, as Brodman puts it: “Just when you think that hope is running out for the planet, you meet students like these and you rejoice.” |
| Sample Course Syllabus (NOTE: This is a sample syllabus only; check for your institution’s syllabus for this course) Course Title: Study of Medicinal Plants and Culture in Amazonia Course Number: PHA _____ Semester Offered: Winter- registration Off campus activities required during summer 24 classroom hours/39 lab hours/80-100 independent study-project Class Time and Place: Instruction is independent study for one week prior to trip, and one week post trip. Two weeks during the summer will be spent in Amazonia, in various towns and jungle locations. Approximately 20 hours are spent in class with various faculty from the National University of the Peruvian Amazon (UNAP), the national research institute for traditional medicine (IMET), local shaman, and accompanying U.S. faculty. Lab hours are completed on the reserve studying plants and while traveling down the Amazon river. Independent study involves research, reading and writing toward the completion of a paper. Course Description: This course provides the opportunity for “hands on” study in the rainforest of Peru. Students will live on a reserve, and travel to meet with botanists, taxonomists, pharmacists, shamans, and farmers. Time in the classroom will focus on the pharmacology, physical chemistry, and ethnobotany of five indigenous plants. There is an extra charge for this study abroad course. An application is required. Read the application carefully as costs of some meals and incidentals are the responsibility of the student. Rationale for proposed course: Making available the opportunity to learn the medicinal properties of plants will enhance classroom work, and provide students with some of the basic principles of medicinal plants that they will need for practice. Participation in this course will enable and encourage students to be proactive in the health care environment that is seeking “natural” remedies. Upon completion of this course, students should be better prepared to participate as active citizens in their community and world. Prerequisites: Familiarity with Spanish Language preferred. Fluency not required. Course Credit: 4 semester hours Goals: - Increase knowledge of alternative pharmaceutical resources. - Improve knowledge and skills in pharmacognosy, ethnobotany - Increase awareness of diverse of medical treatments. - Develop an awareness and sensitivity for cultural diversity. - Improve sense of environmental awareness and responsibility from a professional perspective. - Promote growth as leaders and encourage teamwork that will improve future practice. - Promote and develop interest in support of the sustainable development of Amazonia. Course Objectives: - Discuss the importance of sustainable development in any culture. Provide specific examples for Amazonia. -Name the pharmacological properties of at least five plants used in Amazonia, to include: - Myrciaria dubia (Camu Camu) - Unicaria Tomentosa (Uña de Gato) - Describe the process for preparation of medicinal plant extracts and formulation of usable product for each of the medicinal plants discussed. - Define ethnobotany. Explain the purpose and Amazonia cultural use of the medicinal plants studied. - Describe medicinal treatments used by the local shamans. - Compare and contrast the delivery of treatments in the United States vs. the belief in spiritual and plant treatments in Amazonia. - List five reasons for preserving the rainforest and culture and the affect on health and wellness. - Convince a traditional “western physician” to use Uña de Gato for treatment. - Lead and participate in a group effort to learn and live in remote primitive conditions. Format and Policies: All course guidelines and policies for students are maintained in the Advanced Practice Manual provided to students prior to beginning advanced practice courses. Students are required to read and follow the guidelines and policies as stated in the manual. Each preceptor (full time faculty or adjunct) may require additional policies that are site specific. These policies will be provided at the orientation completed by the site. When there are two policies (one home institution and one site) addressing a topic, the more rigorous policy applies. Students must be in good academic standing with their home institution. An application is required for the medicinal plants course and must be received with a deposit by February 15th of any calendar year. A copy of a valid passport must be submitted prior to the time when airline tickets will be purchased (generally, by late February). Maintain and submit copies of the following upon request to the preceptor and as dictated by the application: 1. Valid Passport 2. Proof of current immunizations, including Hepatitis Vaccine 3. Valid CPR certification 4. Health Insurance 5. Yearly negative TB test 6. Current physical examination (within last year) Students are responsible for providing all applications to GAI and their home institution, and the required lab fee to GAI per schedule: The lab fee is $2700.00. A deposit of $700.00 is due to GAI by January 15th. February 15th - $1000.00 April 15th - $1000.00 Students who are unable to go on the trip will receive 1/2 of the $700.00 deposit back if they notify GAI before it purchases airline tickets . There will be no refund beyond April 15 for any reason, including illness. REQUIRED TEXTS: The Witch Doctor’s Apprentice- Nicole Maxwell ISBN 1-56731-303-5 Looking for Mr. Guevara- Barbara Brodman ISBN 0-595-18069-8 The Global Warming Answer Book- provided by GAI One other book of choice about Ethnobotany, Pharmacognosy, Medicinal Plants, or Shamans Research five articles and send copies to instructor prior to trip. The five articles must cover topics related to course goals and objectives. Assessment Methods: - Reflective Journals: Daily entries must discuss each of the course objectives at least one time to answer how you have achieved that objective. Writing is required each day (except while rowing down the Amazon) in journal discussing the activities, learning and involvement in the course 10% (2 % lost for each objective not addressed at least once) - Daily participation in classes, reading assignment discussions (Witch Doctor’s Apprentice, Looking for Mr. Guevara, and the Global Warming Answer Book), setting up and tearing down camps, preparation for meals and clean-up, transport and all other team activities. 30%. Five points will be deducted from final score for each incidence where a student has to be asked to participate, or is not prepared, or causes the team to be late for class or other activity. Five point loss for each incident of disruption of sleep of the team or guardians of the reserve. Failure to participate in activities as scheduled, or impromptu, of the rotation will result in a failing grade. Student will receive one warning that participation needs to improve. Students who fail to fully participate will be required to return home early at their own expense. - Final quiz- 20%. This will be given on Thursday prior to the last day of the trip. - Final paper. Each student is required to write a final paper that will be both reflective and research oriented. (2 parts [15 pages]-Part 1: research on a chosen topic pertaining to the course discussions, with literature review that addresses the goals of the course and your achievement of those goals, Part 2 [no more than 4 pages] reflection on research and course opportunities- not daily activities) 40%. Each grammatical error will result in one point loss. Each reference to a daily activity that doesn't include a lesson learned will result in a five-point loss. Failure to properly reference will result in a failing grade or a rewrite. Topics to be include: - Integration of knowledge learned with information gained from books and primary source research - Discussion of goals and objectives and how those can be implemented into a practice. - Evaluation of the literature reviewed on medicinal plants and integration of that information into a discussion of the place in medicine for these treatments. - Discussion of the pharmacist’s role and potential for changing habits and attitudes of health care professionals and the public with respect to medicinal plants/research. Topics to be covered (see also calendar of class and lab) 1. Latin American Orientation 2. Orientation to Iquitos 3. Sustainable Development 4. Orientation to Reserve 5. Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical properties, Ethnobotany of plants 6. Meet with shaman for sharing of medical treatment strategies; class in the Belen market 7. Indigenous plant use and farming of medicinal plants 8. Cultural visit to Bora, Huitoto, and Yagua tribes of Indians 9. Medicinal plant topics and local treatments using plants found on the reserve 10. Visit to Medical and Pharmacy schools |
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