Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Pharmacy professor receives Minister's Award of Excellence

This article was originally published on the School of Pharmacy website.

Waterloo Pharmacy's associate director of clinical education and professor Dr. Nancy Waite won the 2022-23 Everyday Hero Minister’s Award of Excellence from the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities, awarded by Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities at First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI) in Deseronto, Ontario. This award recognizes faculty and staff who have made a difference in the lives of their students, colleagues or the public. Dr. Waite's dedication and years of research to understand the feasibility and acceptability of pharmacist-administered immunizations has led to over 7.5 million doses of administered COVID-19 vaccine by community pharmacists.

Everyday Hero Minister’s Award of Excellence 2022-23: Nancy Waite

Dr. Waite is the associate director of clinical education and professor at the University of Waterloo’s School of Pharmacy. Dr. Waite completed her MScPhm at the University of Toronto, her PharmD at Wayne State University and Posdoctroal Fellowship at Wayne State University.

Dr. Waite’s research program examines medication/vaccine management and pharmacy practice with a focus on innovation in an evolving health-care landscape. Her research focuses on the impact pharmacists and pharmacy technicians have on improving vaccine uptake, addressing vaccine hesitancy and vaccine monitoring. This includes ensuring that marginalized and underserved communities have access to vaccination and pharmacy services. She also examines the impact of other pharmacist scope of practice changes, pharmacy curricular renewal, including novel experiential education models, and technology implementation.

She is co-founder of the Ontario Pharmacy Evidence Network (OPEN), a platform for medication management and health system research across several institutions, with over 50 researchers and strong collaborations with government, payer, and healthcare professional organization knowledge users.

"It is an honour to nominate Dr. Nancy Waite for an Everyday Hero Award," wrote Dr. David Edwards of the School of Pharmacy. "Her leadership and unique skillset as a pharmacist and researcher have positively impacted vaccination rates and improved the health of Ontarians."

Future-Ready Workforce Series event looks at building inclusive workplaces for 2SLGBTQIA+ students

A message from the Work-Learn Institute (WxL)

Recognize Pride Month and join the Work-Learn Institute (WxL) in exploring how employers can foster workplace inclusion for Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (2SLGBTQIA+) co-op students.

David Drewery, PhD, associate director of WxL will share research that gives insights into the experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ co-op students. Waterloo co-op employer, Ciena, a global leader in optical and routing systems, services and automation software, will join Drewery to discuss how to create a supportive and safe work environment. 

Session participants will:

• Better understand the challenges faced by 2SLGBTQIA+ co-op students at work.
• Learn tips to make workplaces more inclusive for 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.
• Gain strategies to create a work environment where everyone feels accepted and valued.

This online event takes place on June 5 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Learn more and register.

Find out where the garbage goes in the latest Uncharted alumni podcast

By Jennifer Ferguson.

Michelle Li (BSc ’05) has always been interested in sustainability and took a leap in 2017 to become vegan when she wanted to do more to decrease her own carbon footprint.

Today, she’s the founder of Clever Carbon — a playful, educational website with the goal of increasing carbon literacy amongst consumers.

“When we don’t understand the impact, it’s easy to ignore it.”

Michelle is also passionate about empowering other women working in climate and has founded a global network of over 4,000 people.

On the podcast, Michelle shares how her dream of studying optometry brought her to the University of Waterloo, an interest in business drew her to Silicon Valley and a side project to make a user-friendly carbon footprint quiz grew to a successful career in sustainability.

Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Buzzsprout.

Check out the podcast page for the show notes

Matthews Golf Classic coming up, Renison Reports, and other notes

Are you teed off yet? You will be by June 17 as the 32^nd annual Matthews Golf Classic takes place at the Foxwood Golf Club in Baden. The annual golf tournament, named for University of Waterloo President Burt Matthews, is open to Waterloo employees, retirees and their guests. "Grab your clubs, your lucky socks, and your sense of humour, because this is one tee time you won't want to miss!" says a note from the organizers.

Registration opened on Monday, May 13. The tournament will take place on Monday, June 17 with a check-in time of 11:00 a.m. for the BB@ Q lunch, with a shotgun start at 1:00 p.m. sharp. The cost for a full day ticket is $150 and includes said BBQ lunch, golf and cart, with banquet dinner to follow. Golf, cart and lunch only will cost $96.
 
See you on the fairway!

Renison University College has announced that the 2024 Renison Reports publication is now available online for the University community.

"In this edition you’ll find news of Renison over the last year, alumni and student profiles, and an announcement about the award winners being honoured at our Founders’ Day event next week," says a statement from Renison.

Today marks the deadline to register for Centre for Extended Learning "Getting Ready to Facilitate Online Courses: TA Training – Spring 2024" course. "This 4-week, online certificate course is suitable for any current or future Waterloo teaching assistant (TA) wishing to build skills and knowledge of best practices in facilitating fully online courses, says the course description," says the Centre for Extended Learning (CEL). "You will discover how to successfully contribute to the facilitation of an online course, foster student engagement, support student outcomes, and build a sense of community using various forms of interaction. Participants will also learn how to use LEARN LMS tools to create presence and connection, assess student learning and work effectively in their TA/Preceptor role."

Also in the deadline department, today is the deadline for Warrior Rec Instructional Registration. Registering for an instructional program grants you access to a weekly class throughout the duration of the term. There are all kinds of weekly classes available from dance to martial arts to climbing and more.