Making an Rx-traordinary impact on your community in co-op
Qamar Mobayed (she/her) is a second-year Pharmacy student who explains how she implemented individual learning during her co-op term, how to land a job outside of WaterlooWorks and how to create a lasting impact in your workplace.
Qamar’s co-op journey:
Work terms one and two [prior to pharmacy school]: Qamar’s first two co-op roles during her undergrad biology program were working as a pharmacy assistant, first at an independent pharmacy and then at a Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacy.
Here, she helped manage the pharmacy workflow, the packaging of different medications as well as flu shot & COVID-19 administration consent forms.
Work term three [first co-op in pharmacy school]: Qamar worked as a pharmacy student at a Costco Wholesale pharmacy for her first co-op term of the pharmacy program.
She counselled patients when they received a new medication or a dose change, answered drug information questions and gave COVID-19, RSV, and SHINGRIX vaccines just to name a few. Qamar also performed more professional clinical services like medication reviews and minor ailment assessments and prescribing under the pharmacist's supervision.
Q&A with Qamar:
What did you find most rewarding about your experience?
“Working in the health care field is extremely rewarding. You gain firsthand experience assisting patients who actively seek your expertise. You also get to apply the knowledge that you learned in school.”
"It was especially rewarding when patients explicitly mentioned that I was helpful or said “Oh, now I understand what my medication is for”. Many patients are on medications without either knowing their purpose, how to use them correctly or what the common side effects are. I was able to address those issues and improve their quality of life.”
It can be a long and challenging day at times, but when I reflect on everything that happened and all the patients, I was able to help, I always feel deeply humbled to be in a position where I can serve the community.
Did you feel unprepared for any aspects of your co-op?
“During my first pharmacy school co-op, there were many patients who had chronic conditions that my schooling hadn’t yet covered like diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, ischemic heart disease or acute coronary syndrome so I had to learn about these conditions while on the job.”
“Luckily, my pharmacist supervisors were very helpful. They gave me different topics and medications to research and supported me as I learned.”
“Still, it was a challenge having to get up to speed quickly and apply what I've learned to the different patients.”
“Overall, I found that it was a good challenge as it helped me understand that pharmacists must be lifelong learners.”
“There's always a new medication, treatment or clinical trial emerging and we must constantly be up to date to provide the best care for our patients.”
What advice would you give to other students?
“Try to enjoy yourself and make the most of your co-op. You're there to learn, so ask questions, be curious and look for feedback. I deeply valued the feedback assessments from the pharmacists as they have been in the field for way longer than me.”
“Also, when looking for a co-op, don’t limit yourself to only searching on WaterlooWorks. Before pharmacy school, during my undergrad, I got my first co-op by just walking into independent pharmacies and connecting with the pharmacists there. For my second co-op at Shoppers Drug Mart Pharmacy, I reached out after I saw the position posting on LinkedIn.”
“If there's something you specifically want, go out there and arrange it yourself.”
“As for co-op positions during pharmacy school, we have amazing placements arranged for us on WaterlooWorks by our incredible Pharmacy Co-op Coordinator, Anthony Miller! He is always arranging exciting and diverse co-op positions for us pharmacy students.”
What was the most memorable part of your co-op experience?
“I did my co-op term during Ramadan, which is the fasting time for Muslims. I knew other Muslims were working in the same Costco as me, so I organized a little display with information about Ramadan and some date fruits for people to take.”
(Check out my Pharmacy News Story feature of my Ramadan co-op initiative)
"While pharmacists are generally informed about the need for medication adjustments during fasting, I aimed to enhance awareness and ensure this consideration remains top of mind."
"With the most recent legislation effective October 1, 2023, which expanded pharmacists' prescribing authority to include 19 minor ailments such as mild acne, dermatitis, canker sores, and nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, I had the opportunity at Costco Pharmacy to assess patients for various minor conditions including allergic rhinitis, cold sores, and pink eye."
"As appropriate I prescribed treatments and conducted follow-ups to ensure an optimal care plan. These clinical services reflect the ongoing advancements in the scope of pharmacists."
What's next for you?
“I’m excited to share that for my next co-op term, I will be working with the Ontario Ministry of Health as a clinical review pharmacy student.”
"My previous work terms were with community pharmacies, where I gained valuable experience in direct patient care and in-person work."
"For my upcoming second pharmacy co-op term, I was eager to explore different aspects of the profession, such as insurance, regulatory, and policy roles. These positions often offer remote or hybrid options, providing a new and exciting opportunity for me to experience."
“In a future co-op term, I’d also be interested in a hospital position to gain extensive interprofessional collaboration with different healthcare providers. It would be a great opportunity to work closely with physicians, nurses and possibly social workers.”