Jaskaran Singh Attwal (he/him) is a fourth-year Pharmacy (PharmD) student. He shares his experience working in various healthcare fields and maintaining a work-life balance as a young professional.
Jaskaran's co-op journey:
Work terms one and two: Jaskaran worked at Cambridge Memorial Hospital for his first two work terms. In his first work term, he managed medication reconciliation which consisted of accurately documenting patient's medications (BPMH) and gave a presentation on how to complete a BPMH.
Across various departments, such as ICU, emergency, pediatrics, and medicine, he conducted numerous BPMHs and patient workups with pharmacists, demonstrating exceptional adaptability and contributing to improved health outcomes. This allowed him to establish strong relationships with various healthcare professionals and patients.
In his second work term, Jaskaran shifted his focus to medication distribution within the hospital. Tasked with ensuring medication availability across departments, he worked alongside pharmacy technicians and pharmacists to overcome challenges of medication shortages to maintain optimal inventory. He also analyzed narcotic dispensing in surgery, endoscopy, and birthing departments which involved collaborating with anesthesiologists and resolving discrepancies.
Work term three: At Shoppers Drug Mart central office, Jaskaran gained valuable insights into healthcare operations at a provincial and national scale. Collaborating with cross-functional teams, he led the creation of the company's first Natural Disaster Standard Operating Procedure. This guide equips over 1300 pharmacies across Canada to navigate natural disasters (e.g., wildfires) and provides uninterrupted pharmacy services to millions of individuals.
Demonstrating proficiency in a variety of skills, he reviewed weekly communications, presented on initiatives to stakeholders, and led pilot projects in Toronto and Cambridge, ON. He also contributed to the revision of National Naloxone Guidelines for pharmacies across Canada to address the opioid epidemic. Lastly, he assisted with the design and implementation of Ontario's new Pharmacy Care Clinics in Mississauga and Burlington, which provides access to a variety of pharmacy healthcare services.
Q&A with Jaskaran:
What advice would you give to people in their first co-op term?
“When applying, you see many job postings and ask yourself whether you’re interested in a particular job. I believe the best way to approach co-op is as a learning experience and I would encourage others to explore any job they can. Co-op is a unique opportunity that the University of Waterloo provides. Even if the co-op ends up not aligning with your interests, it’s still a valuable experience. You’re able to connect with individuals from different disciplines and develop new skills. No matter what job you take on, there's going to be a learning curve and transition. Co-op is the right time to try new experiences, learn more about your career interests, and create meaningful connections.”
“In all my co-ops I shared my interests with my preceptors and team. If you take initiative and allow yourself to get out of your comfort zone, I think that's going to have positive impact on your career. I encourage others to look at long term growth and skill development, that's the best way to learn.”
What is one accomplishment you’re proud of from your work terms?
“Creating the first Natural Disaster Standard Operating Procedure for Shoppers Drug Mart was a unique experience. Wildfires were occurring in Canada during the co-op, so it was a time sensitive project. This guide ensures that millions of individuals will have access to their medications and pharmacy services, even if their pharmacy must close due to a natural disaster. I enjoyed collaborating with cross-functional teams and drawing from my frontline healthcare experiences to create a comprehensive guide that will support over 1300 pharmacies across Canada.”
What would you say about your work-life balance?
“I’m very fortunate to have been involved in multiple extracurriculars since elementary school all the way to university. I was a multi-sport athlete, having played basketball, football, track and field and soccer to name a few. Including being involved in many different clubs, such as the school band, athletic council, student council and a student mentor. As a result, these diverse experiences allowed me to develop time management and prioritization skills.”
"After my second co-op term at the hospital, I decided to continue working there part time during my academic terms as well. I even decided to stay on when I was working at Shoppers Drug Mart central office on my co-op term. In addition to these roles, I was also involved in extracurricular activities in my local community which meant that I was quite busy commuting across the GTA and Waterloo Region. But I really enjoyed the positive impact I was making and have always taken initiative to seek new opportunities to learn.”
What do you think of the pharmacy industry right now?
“Pharmacists have the clinical expertise to address the diverse healthcare needs of individuals, so it’s exciting to see the different career opportunities. Most recently, pharmacists’ scope of practice has expanded to prescribe for minor ailments, such as musculoskeletal sprains and strains. Also, you see pharmacists in various healthcare settings, such as hospital, long-term care, family health team, industry, and corporate healthcare. We’ve seen so many revolutionary changes in pharmacy recently which shows the positive impact the profession can make on our healthcare system.”
What’s next for you?
“Currently I’m in my final year of pharmacy school completing patient care rotations in different practice sites. So far during rotations, I have been able to contribute to various community outreach events. For example, I’ve taken part in a local Science Fair where I provided education and point of care testing for diabetes, while also giving presentations on Insulin Pump Management in Hospital. I’m fortunate to take part in such impactful initiatives and find this aspect of community outreach very rewarding.”
“I’m grateful to have gained experience in diverse areas of healthcare, from the frontlines interacting with patients to the corporate setting, working alongside stakeholders. This has allowed me to gain knowledge of various sectors of our healthcare system. I’m always eager to learn new skills and as a soon to be graduate, I appreciate that the opportunities are endless and I'm really looking forward to exploring them.”
