Dr. B. Rama is the Head of the Department of Bachelor of Pharmacy at the Malla Reddy Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences. She has a total of 17 years of experience in the teaching sector. She earned Ph.D. in 2013 from Dr.MGR Medical University. Chennai, and also holds an M.Pharmacy from Dr. MGR Medical University. Dr. Rama has published 50 Papers at national and international conferences. She has attended and organized many international conferences and is a lifetime member of APTI.

Malla Reddy Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences[MRIPS]

What inspired you to pursue a career in pharmaceutical education, and how has your experience shaped your approach to leading the department?

I love to study science and one of my uncles was working in the pharmaceutical field. His experience inspired me to choose this field rather than medicine. I have four years of industry experience and 17 years of teaching experience in this field. During this time, I have interacted with a lot of people, which has helped me lead a department successfully.

Could you please provide an overview of your roles and responsibilities as the Head of The Department of B.Pharmacy at MRIPS?

My roles and responsibilities are to run the B.pharmacy course smoothly and ensure high career prospects. I will talk to the faculty to let them know what their responsibilities are and make sure they are performing them to the best of their capacity. I also make sure that the teachers have updated knowledge and are upskilling themselves regularly. At the same time, I interact with the student to find their problems and solve them on time in regards to teaching or any other activities.

How does the B-Pharmacy department under your leadership prepare students for practical applications in the pharmaceutical industry or for further academic pursuits?

We work as a team and guide the students on their projects. I make sure students attend conferences to learn about the applications of the knowledge they learn in classrooms. For the fourth year students, we give industrial training and teach them the pros and cons of every area in the field, which makes them prepared to search for jobs.

What are the current biggest challenges in the field of Pharmaceutical education domain in general, and how do you plan to address them as a HOD?

When we talk about B.Pharmacy students, the current curriculum needs to be changed to give them more exposure in the field. Students don’t have exposure to the industry, hospital, or retail pharmacy like Pharm.D students. These students nowadays have a lack of practical experience in their field so they tend to go for medical coding and medical writing. Our curriculum should be updated to make sure these students get the right experience before they graduate.

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How do you plan to collaborate with industry professionals and organizations to provide real-world experiences and opportunities for students in the B-Pharmacy department at MRIPS?

We are collaborating with industry professionals to provide guest lectures and seminars to inspire and educate our students. Now we have started sending fourth year students to the industry to get real experience with the equipment and work experience in the industry. We also have our alumni members to help us towards this goal.

Can you explain us about the infrastructural facilities available with respect to B.pharmacy Department at MRIPS?

All of our departments are well equipped with the right equipment and infrastructure that are useful for practicals. Some of the areas of Pharmacy our students work in are pharmaceutics with tablet punching, capsule filling, ball mill, disintegration, dissolution, brookefield viscometeretc., chemistry, analysis with UV,HPLC etc., We also have an animal house, a well-furnished library and computer laboratories.

How do you envision the B-Pharmacy program evolving in the next few years to keep up with advancements in pharmaceutical sciences and education?

Our goal is to research newer molecules and to be a top-ranked institute that is globally recognised in pharmaceutical science. We also need to collaborate with foreign universities to exchange knowledge. In addition, establishing strategic partnerships with leading pharmaceutical institutions worldwide will further enhance our research endeavours, facilitate the exchange of cutting-edge knowledge and foster a collaborative approach towards groundbreaking discoveries. This global perspective not only elevates our standing in pharmaceutical science but also contributes to advancing the frontiers of medical innovation on an international scale.

Any suggestions you would like to give to the current youth and the aspiring students?

Students and youth should be more service oriented and need to concentrate in depth on this field. Encouraging students and youth to engage in community service fosters a sense of civic responsibility and cultivates empathy and a deeper understanding of societal needs. It's crucial to nurture a genuine passion for service, guiding them to explore diverse avenues and make a meaningful impact in their chosen fields.