As I sit down to prepare for this Thanksgiving time of year, I am able to reflect back on the many aspects and experiences of 2023 for which I am thankful and appreciative. I was able to spend time with friends and family, make meaningful impacts at work for patient care, and one of the year’s crowning jewels was presenting at the Medical Users Software Exchange (MUSE) 2023 meeting in Denver, Colorado.
What makes this even more exciting was that our presentation, “Expansive Preparation for Go Live, A Colorful Meditech Expanse Pharmacy Journey”, was selected as the International Education Exchange (IEE) winner! The participation and selection from the IEE meant that I had earned a ticket to the Meditech Users Network (MUN) 2023 conference to present the work we had accomplished over the past few years to our European counterparts in Liverpool, UK. Something else to be very thankful for!
After converting some numbers from imperial to metric and adjusting some American terminology, I was ready to head over the pond for the MUN 2023 meeting. It was an exciting time to travel in early October to a new destination. The ability to learn from experts from across Europe about all the new cutting edge work that is being done by our European colleagues while also being in such a historically rich city was a highlight of my year! Learning about new MUN topics and old historical city together was a great way enjoy the few days of the conference.
Some of the experiences at MUN2023 I was able to enjoy included being able to join a Pharmacy Peer Group discussion where I learned many of the same challenges, opportunities, and solutions in healthcare are similar at home and abroad, attending sessions and events where I was able to network with pharmacists from across the globe, able to meet some of my own company’s UK co-workers, and of course sharing my presentation to what ended up being a packed room! The engagement at MUN was energizing and made for an easy to learn environment and fantastic networking experience where I made lasting connections.
Not only did I have a great time at MUN, but I was able to add on a few days by taking some personal time to travel through more of England to experience the country and dive deep into its history. In the US we primarily use cars to get around, but with a UK RailPass, I was able to easily traverse the English country side from city to city. In addition to staying in Liverpool where the MUN 2023 conference was based, I toured the ancient Roman spas in Bath, heard the tales of progress in Canterbury, experienced in detail different eras of history from the early English Kings to more recent World War II endeavors at the Cliffs of Dover, and finished out the trip by relaxing in beautiful York. A few quick stops in London and Cambridge were fun as well! Whether it was experiencing the food, historically significant sites, majestic gothic cathedrals, or a proper tea time, I was always on the move and enjoying the ability to reflect on the MUN conference.
Of course, there was a long list of items to catch up on once I returned to the states, but the experience of attending MUN2023 and being a presenter for an international meeting was worth it all. So, as I look back on my trip, I am so thankful for those who facilitated the opportunity to attend and present at MUSE 2023, the IEE selection committee for selection to present at MUN 2023, and all the support I received along the way to make the conference and my presentation possible.
My experiences with MUSE and MUN this past year have been so beneficial this past year. I would recommend for anyone to present your work at MUSE 2024 not only to share with your colleagues the work you and your sites are doing to advance patient care, but to maybe be the next selected presentation for the MUN 2024 meeting!
Will S. Cooper, Pharm.D., CPHIMS
Manager, Clinical Pharmacy Informatics
HCA | Clinical Services Group
Nashville, TN
Photos from Will's travels
Roman Bath in Bath (with the Bath Abby in the background)
The Titanic Memorial monument and the Royal Liver Building in Liverpool.
The York Minster cathedral in York.