Building its portfolio of partnerships across the globe, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences recently signed two international academic agreements with Taipei Veterans General Hospital in Taiwan and the SingMed Clinic, DKI Jakarta, in Indonesia.
Since its inception, ACPHS has sought after and benefited from extending its reach through well-chosen partnerships. These collaborations are increasingly important as students’ needs become more diverse, the industries for which they are educated become more complex, and communities adapt to social change.
“The right collaborations leverage the strengths of the partners to everyone’s benefit. They empower our students, solidify our institutions and strengthen our communities,” said ACPHS President, Toyin Tofade MS, PharmD, BCPS, CPCC, FFIP. “In this regard, we are pleased to partner with Taipei Veterans General Hospital in Taiwan and the SingMed Clinic in Indonesia, two institutions who exemplify our mission for excellence.”
Partnerships such as these are designed to develop the academic research links/collaboration and cultural interchange between institutions through mutual assistance in the areas of education, research and capacity building in the areas of:
- Curriculum development
- Research institutional development
- Professional development
- Student exchange
- Faculty exchange
- Joint course offerings
- Continuing education
ACPHS Vice President for Academic Affairs, Sibdas Ghosh added, “We at ACPHS believe there are no boundaries for learning, promoting internationalization that exposes our students to global progress and prepares them to deal with issues beyond national interests.”
Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
(ACPHS President Toyin Tofade pictured above with Dr. Yuh-Lih Chang, President of the Taiwan Society of Health-System Pharmacists)
Taipei Veterans General Hospital, a premier medical institution in Taipei, Taiwan, was founded in 1958 to serve veterans and their families, as well as the general public. Renowned for its exceptional care, Taipei VGH is the top national public teaching hospital in the country providing tertiary patient care, undergraduate medical education programs, and residency programs. In parallel with clinical excellence, Taipei VGH has also established itself as a regional benchmark in international pharmacy education.
“At Taipei Veterans General Hospital, we are dedicated to advancing global pharmacy education through innovation and collaboration,” said Chian-Ying Chou, Ph.D., RPh., Director of the Department of Pharmacy at Taipei VGH. “By integrating digital health technologies and AI into our clinical training, we prepare future pharmacists to deliver safe, evidence-based, and globally oriented patient care.”
“The opportunity for our pharmacy students to experience the profession in other countries contributes significantly to their personal and professional growth as future pharmacists,” said ACPHS School of Pharmacy Dean Elena M. Umland, PharmD, FNAP. “It provides them with perspective that is not afforded by the majority of other pharmacy programs.”
SingMed Clinic, West Jakarta, Indonesia
Launched in November 2023, the SingMed Clinic is an innovative healthcare facility in West Jakarta, Indonesia. With an unwavering commitment to international standards of healthcare excellence, SingMed is the first clinic in Indonesia to house a team of multi-accredited healthcare professionals, setting a new gold standard for medical care in the region. Fusing global best practices, cutting-edge medical technology, and a patient-centric approach, SingMed offers a range of medical services that are second to none in the nation.
“SingMed Clinic believes that world-class health care should be accessible to all,” said SingMed Founder Kevin Ben Laurence, RPh, APT, PH, BCMTMS. “With a passion for excellence and a deep understanding of the dynamic healthcare landscape, SingMed and ACPHS will endeavor to expand access and further develop a word-class team of health-care professionals.”
These newest agreements are the latest international partnerships that ACPHS has forged over the past 12 months in India, the Philippines, Nigeria, Brazil, Indonesia, Taiwan, Seoul and The Bahamas—with more in progress across Asia and Australia to support global learning, faculty research, collaboration and experiential opportunities. They expand opportunities for students to complete rotations abroad, conduct research with their international peers, and be exposed to new ideas.
“Our significant growth in international partnerships provides our students with unique learning opportunities and the ability to showcase their talents around the world,” said ACPHS Vice President for the Student Experience, John Felio.
ACPHS students find these partnerships valuable. Caden Dang ’26, a microbiology major and president of ACPHS’ Student Government Association adds, “The connections ACPHS has built with institutions and hospitals around the world allow students not only to grow their skills in pharmacy and health sciences, but also to grow the necessary social competencies and awareness needed to become leaders in their fields – and beyond.”
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