A Hospital-based Pharmacy Internship Program in Jordan

Objective. To develop a hospital-based pharmacy internship program in a comprehensive cancer care center in Jordan and review its outcomes over a 10-year period. Methods. King Hussein Cancer Center developed a two-year internship program for pharmacy students in Jordanian universities. The program included training in operational and clinical settings during the academic year and school holidays. In addition, the students completed rotation-related assignments and met weekly with the program director. During the rotations and at the end of the program, interns were asked to assess their level of satisfaction with the program and to comment on its content and structure. Results. From a pilot phase with only three interns and a simple training structure, the two-year internship program has become more structured now training six interns annually. During the first 10 years of the program, 51 students from four universities in Jordan enrolled in the program, with six current interns, 34 graduates, and 11 withdrawals. Graduates reported improved academic performance and satisfaction with the program's structure and the skills obtained. Their main challenge was time management during the academic year. Conclusion. A hospital-based pharmacy internship program is feasible and sustainable. Participation in the program improves interns' academic performance and clinical and professional skills, despite the challenges of highly demanding conditions on both the hospital and the students.