Sedona Wikar, Class of 2026

Aburi, Ghana

During my final advanced pharmacy practice experience, I had the extraordinary opportunity to travel across the globe to Ghana for a three-week healthcare mission. This rotation was unlike any other I had completed, as it extended far beyond the traditional pharmacy settings in the United States. It immersed me in global health, community outreach, and interprofessional collaboration.  

Throughout my time in Ghana, I worked closely with both a local healthcare team and healthcare professionals from the United States. We conducted home visits and hosted large-scale community health events. These events were designed to screen for and treat some of the most common and pressing health concerns within the community, including hypertension, diabetes, malaria, dermatological conditions, cervical cancer, breast cancer, and vision. Patients were also offered the opportunity to consult with medical providers about any individual concerns they had. Interprofessional collaboration was imperative to the success of all the events we hosted. I was able to learn from and work alongside nurses, midwives, physician assistants, occupational therapists, and other healthcare students, each bringing invaluable expertise and cultural insight. 

I was also able to observe and participate in maternal and newborn care, directly assisting in weighing infants, conducting child development assessments, and administering vaccinations. Having the opportunity to provide hands-on care was incredibly rewarding and a unique experience I may otherwise not have had. Additionally, the opportunity to participate in home visits within the community was incredibly meaningful. Being invited into patients’ homes to deliver healthcare provided a deeper understanding of the social determinants of health that influence medical outcomes, including access to reliable resources and clean water, transportation challenges, medication availability, and health literacy. The nurses providing care always took these factors into account when suggesting solutions, tailoring therapy to each individual, whether that involved suggesting a medication, a nonpharmacological treatment, or further consultation with a medical provider based on the individual’s ability to follow through with the recommendations. These experiences broadened my perspective on patient care and reminded me that effective treatment plans must consider far more than just clinical practice guidelines. 

When our clinical responsibilities were concluded for the day, we were able to immerse ourselves in the culture of Ghana. We explored beaches, visited art markets, stopped at roadside fruit stands, and enjoyed traditional Ghanaian food with friends we made along the way. Touring the country in our 26-passenger bus, which was often filled to the brim, was the ultimate way to bond over shared experiences throughout our time there.

I am incredibly grateful for the healthcare team in Ghana and the WNE experiential education program for granting me this experience. It challenged me to adapt to limited resources and strengthen my communication skills. It also reminded me of why I chose to pursue a career in pharmacy – to serve all communities, advocate for patients’ individual needs, and improve health equity for all. 

Pictured right: Sedona Wikar, Class of 2026, providing pediatric care
at community health events in Ghana.