In this first episode of our special three-part series, we introduce Leya Luhar, a medical student and the founder of OSCE Toolbox, a platform revolutionising OSCE preparation for pharmacy students across the UK. Leya shares her journey from considering various career paths to ultimately finding her passion in medicine. She discusses the challenges of medical school, including the intense workload and learning to maintain a healthier work-life balance.

As pharmacy education evolves – with significant changes coming in 2026 when all pharmacy students will qualify as prescribers – OSCE exams are becoming more interactive and clinically focused. OSCE Toolbox offers over 200 scenarios with detailed mark schemes, demonstration videos, and educational resources to help students navigate these challenges.

Key Takeaway Messages: 

1. Identifying gaps in education resources can lead to entrepreneurial opportunities, even while still studying.

2. Building the right team is crucial when balancing business development with demanding studies.

3. OSCEs are transformative for pharmacy students, becoming more interactive and including prescribing skills by 2026.

4. Practice is essential for OSCE success – resources that allow repeated practice in realistic scenarios can significantly reduce anxiety.

5. Career flexibility is increasingly valued by the new generation of healthcare professionals who want to pursue multiple passions.

Stay tuned for Parts 2 and 3 of our conversation, where we'll explore the medicine versus pharmacy debate and examine the significant changes coming to pharmacy education in 2026.

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PARTNERSHIPS and DISCOUNTS:

The Naked Pharmacy is a brand I LOVE and use daily. They are offering my podcast listeners a 20% discount on all their products. Use discount code PD20 at checkout to receive the offer.

⁠⁠⁠https://www.thenakedpharmacy.com/⁠⁠⁠

🚀 Check out our Amazon storefront dedicated to podcasting gear! We will keep adding/reviewing the list but there’s a selection of microphones, audio interfaces, and more to help you elevate your podcasting game. Explore Our Storefront⁠⁠ ⁠Here⁠⁠⁠

CONNECT WITH LEYA:

Linkedin: Leya Luhar

Website: https://www.oscetoolbox.com/ 

Instagram: @OSCEtoolbox

TikTok: @OSCEtoolbox

OTHER LINKS:

The music from this series has been created by a pharmacy student! BPSA’s president, Emeka Onwudiwe, is a talented student and incredible entrepreneur. I am so proud to share his music on my podcast. Go and check the music production company and the word that they do: Inplus Music 

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