Across my three years of pharmacy study, my favourite lecture has been 'Cardiac Glycosides of Digitalis', delivered by Dr James Barlow as part of the Stages of Life module in the second semester of third year.

Selecting a standout lecture from such a diverse and engaging curriculum was a difficult decision, but this lecture truly encompassed the depth and integration of knowledge that defines the pharmacy programme at RCSI.

Before coming to university, I was a fan of Leaving Certificate chemistry – one of the reasons I chose to study Pharmacy, alongside all the other benefits. I have always had a deep admiration for the natural world, which is why I felt I had struck gold when I came to study pharmacy and discovered the disciplines of pharmacognosy and phytochemistry. The basic concepts of these sciences were introduced in the first few weeks of first year and have since been progressively developed.

This lecture focused on two species of the Digitalis genus: Lanata and Purpurea (the latter can be spotted at the Botanical Gardens in Dublin and is also known as ‘Lus na mBan Sí’ – the Banshee’s herb). We started by looking at both the macroscopic and microscopic identification of both species and the potential for accidental mix-up with other plants. As the lecture progressed, we explored the chemical structure, extraction techniques and chemical tests used to identify the presence of cardiac glycosides. The lecture finished by examining the clinical applications and practical considerations for the use of cardiac glycosides in patient-focused care.

What made this lecture stand out to me was how it seamlessly merged the scientific and pharmacy practice worlds. It allowed me to fully realise the critical role of pharmacists as medicine experts – being a well-rounded healthcare professional who understands the origins, chemical properties, developmental techniques and clinical applications of drugs used in practice.