In June of 2020, Irish Pharmacy News published an article written by Aaron Koay documenting personal experiences of racism during experiential work placement and Collegesettings shared by his fellow pharmacy students. One student described feeling alienated after an inappropriate comment was directed towards them by a lecturer, whilst others reported being actively overlooked on placement as patients displayed a clear preference to be served by their “white co-worker”. The prevalence of microaggressions was also highlighted, with one student recounting patients expressing shock at their fluency in English.
Koay’s article addressed the commonly felt discomfort that so often prevents students from reporting such instances, instilled by their obligation to “Put the Patient First”. He firmly concluded that “one should never underestimate the difference a supportive environment can make”.
