2024-2025
Ashley Masys and Andrea Wist
Avalon Nazareth and Carla Beaton
Mentee: Avalon Nazareth, BSc, BScPhm, Pharm D, RPh
Shortly after graduating the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy vanguard class in 2011, Avalon moved out west to launch her career in Alberta. Her experience spans retail, hospital and assisted living. She works as a clinical pharmacist on a Cardiac Surgery unit at a large academic hospital in Calgary. Her inpatient experience also includes Internal Medicine, Intensive Palliative Care and Cardiology. She also previously enjoyed her time working in elderly care at a specialty pharmacy in assisted living, where in addition to clinical activities she supported onboarding new facilities for a growing company.
Avalon holds a Doctor of Pharmacy and a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from University of Waterloo, along with a Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences from McMaster University.
“I am grateful to be a part of the Women in Pharmacy Leadership Program and have connected with an amazing mentor who has also made transitional leaps in her career. I hope to gain guidance navigating career paths and build my confidence in leadership skills.”
"If you don’t see a clear path for what you want, sometimes you have to make it yourself” – Mindy Kaling
Mentor: Carla Beaton, BScPhm
Carla Beaton is Vice President Quality Improvement and Innovations at Think Research (TRC) / Pharmapod. Her career spans over 30 years in health care within the private and public sectors; including community, post-acute and long term care. She has also been involved at university and college levels in curriculum design, teaching and student mentorship. Carla has built on her Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy, advanced learning in Quality Improvement and Certificate in Geriatric Pharmacy, creatively intersecting the art and science of healthcare with innovation, technology, and industry. Carla is a thought leader in the area of innovation, blending design thinking, practice research, knowledge translation and quality improvement to enhance patient safety in medication management systems with workflow efficiencies. Carla currently drives business development through patient safety and clinical pharmacy innovations at TRC Pharmapod, a patient safety software and global digital healthcare company.
Claire Ishoy and Barbara Gobis
Mentee: Claire Ishoy, BScPhm, PharmD
Claire Ishoy is a dedicated clinician and leader committed to practice and health system improvement in her career. Claire has experience in a number of health contexts including management, regulatory and personal business. She is excited to be part of the Women in Pharmacy Leadership Program to develop and hone her skills with mentorship support. Claire believes formal and informal mentorship are an invaluable part of professional growth.
Claire Ishoy received her bachelor of science in pharmacy in 2012 from the University of Waterloo. Following that she completed an ambulatory care residency at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Claire also completed her bridging PharmD program in 2015. Claire has worked as a clinical pharmacist for over 10 years. Claire functioned as the Chapter Chair for the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists and a board member and Chair for the College of Pharmacists of BC.
Claire is currently working as the only pharmacist for BC Emergency Health Services supporting over 5000 paramedics in the province as they expand their role in patient care. She is working in policy change as well as providing clinical guidance. She is also a co-owner of a successful community pharmacy, Pivot Rx, with two locations in BC. She is excited to expand her skillsets with these two roles.
Mentor: Barbara Gobis, BSc(Pharm), RPh, ACPR, MScPhm, PCC
Having worked for over 30 years as an executive, consultant and entrepreneur, Barbara’s specialty is in developing, implementing and managing large-scale change initiatives within pharmacy organizations and front-line pharmacist practices. She uses her unique mix of courage and kindness to get things done and move people to do new work differently.
Barbara completed her undergraduate pharmacy degree at the University of British Columbia, her Residency at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Toronto) and her Master of Science in Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Toronto. Barbara is credentialed by the International Coaching Federation as a Professional Certified Coach and specializes in supporting new leaders. In a further effort to support all pharmacists in being effective in difficult conversations, Barbara will complete her Certificate in Collaborative Conflict Resolution at the Justice Institute of BC in August, 2024.
Barbara has worked in a variety of settings including hospital practice, research, community practice, government and advocacy. Since 2013, Barbara has been in the role of Director, Pharmacists Clinic at the UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. As a person of action, Barbara often says when introducing herself, “I put the Go in Gobis”.
Fatimah Jaffer and Pawandeep Sidhu
Mentee: Fatimah Jaffer, PharmD
Fatimah completed both her Bachelor's of Science (Major in Biology, Minor in French) and her Doctor of Pharmacy degrees at the University of Waterloo. She worked as a consultant pharmacist in elderly care, before moving to the UK where she studied for two years to obtain her British pharmacy licence. She then completed a Postgraduate Certificate in General Pharmacy Practice at University College London. In the UK, she worked as a specialist pharmacist in elderly care in hospitals and long-term care facilities, as well as a medicines information, clinical trials and formulary pharmacist. Upon her return to Canada, she worked as the MCQ Coordinator at PharmAchieve and is currently the Director of EE and MCQ courses at PharmAchieve. Her passion for teaching and sharing knowledge has allowed her to connect with students from all over the world, and understand their diverse experiences.
'I have been very fortunate to have had excellent managers and mentors throughout my pharmacy career. They have shaped the way I think, work and, in turn, manage others. I am a firm believer in leading with compassion and integrity, and allowing independent thinking to foster creativity and innovation. I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in this program and look forward to developing my leadership skills.'
Mentor: Pawandeep Sidhu, BScPhm
Pawandeep graduated from the College of Pharmacy at the University of Manitoba in 2013 and spent the first three years of her professional career in Northern Manitoba. She possesses extensive experience in pharmacy operations, including management at the community pharmacy level and district leadership at the provincial level. Currently, she serves as the Manager of Pharmacy Advocacy for Sobeys National Group, where she oversees a national portfolio with a strong focus on enhancing the scope of practice for pharmacists across the country. Driven by a passion for improving the health of our communities and advancing the role of pharmacists, Pawandeep served as a Board Director with Pharmacists Manitoba for six years including two years as President. She was most recently appointed to the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba Council and Executive Committee. In pursuit of continual professional development, she is completing her Master of Business Administration at the Asper School of Business.
Karleen Girn and Debra Yearwood
Mentee: Karleen Girn, PharmD, HBSc
Karleen completed both her Honours Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees at the University of Waterloo. Since graduating, she has worked in multiple indirect patient care settings, including pharmacy benefit management, medical information, and pharmaceutical policy.
She started her career working as a Clinical Specialist at ClaimSecure, focusing on special authorization requests, new drug requests, and formulary review. Then she went on to work in global medical information for Indegene, focusing on answering drug safety and drug effectiveness questions about breast and ovarian cancer drugs for AstraZeneca. Currently, she works as a Program Development Officer for CDA-AMC in the Post-Market Drug Evaluation (PMDE) team. In her current role, she focuses on developing, scoping, refining, and overseeing drug health policy queries and she interacts with many different stakeholders.
She is committed to lifelong learning and she is grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of the WIPL Mentorship Program! She is excited to connect with women leaders in healthcare, and to learn the knowledge and skills to open up more possibilities for the future.
Mentor: Debra Yearwood, CHE
Debra is a senior communications professional with over twenty years of experience as an executive in the health sector. She has extensive experience in social marketing, advocacy, internal communications, membership management and crisis communications. She is the Director of Marketing and Communications at the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) and is a Health Partners board member.
She earned her CHE certification in 2023 and has been on an advisory board for the Top Sixty Over Sixty since 2020. In 2018, she co-developed ReSet, a program designed to reduce internalized ageism and support the development of personal and professional potential. Debra is a strong advocate of equity and diversity in its many forms.
Debra is a past recipient of the Top 40 Under 40 and the VON Award for Innovation. Before joining the MHCC, Debra was the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Canadian Optometrist Association, the Senior Director of Communications and Relations with VON Canada and the Senior Director of External Relations with the Canadian Pharmacists Association.
Kara Wright and Jenn Metzloff
Mentee: Kara Wright, BScH, PharmD, RPh, CDE
Kara completed her Bachelor of Science at Queen's University then went on to graduate with her Doctor of Pharmacy from University of Waterloo in 2017. Kara is presently pursuing her Master of Health Science in Health Administration at University of Toronto Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation. She hopes to gain skills and knowledge to navigate our complex healthcare system in present and future roles.
Most of Kara's career has been spent as a pharmacist in community and primary care settings. Over the past year, Kara has shifted her focus towards management and leadership. Recently, Kara stepped into the role of Executive Director at North Durham Family Health Team. She is passionate about interdisciplinary, team-based care and is excited for the opportunity to make a difference in the way primary health care is delivered in her community. Kara is also a new board member for the Alzheimer Society of Durham Region. In this position, she hopes to give back to an organization she holds close to heart, and also learn new skills along the way.
As Kara embarks on her leadership journey, she is excited to have the opportunity to grow with the support of the WIPL Mentorship Program!
Mentor: Jenn Metzloff, MHRM, BBA
Jenn is a healthcare leader in primary care for the last 15 years. She has a Masters in Human Resources Management from York University. Jenn has been the Executive Director of the Centre for Family Medicine Family Health Team, leading some of the most awesome healthcare professionals. She loves being part of this dynamic team, and supporting our local community in the healthcare space.
“To me, mentoring women is a way to show gratitude for all of the amazing mentors I have had in my career. It is needed now more than ever, as we try to navigate the increased complexities of our current healthcare system. We need to work together and connect to make our system a better one for all.”
Kelsey-Ann Prior and Jen Bowser
Mentee: Kelsey-Ann Prior, BSc, PharmD, RPh
Kelsey-Ann Prior graduated from the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Afterwards, she started her pharmacy internship in rural community pharmacy where she developed her clinical skills in medication management, diabetic education, and vaccine administration. There she transitioned to a staff pharmacist role where she implemented minor ailment prescribing, managed covid vaccine clinics and started to develop pharmacy management skills.
A few years later, she had the opportunity to purchase the pharmacy and make it her own. An opportunity she couldn’t pass up. While navigating the next chapter of her career as a pharmacy owner, she realized she had so much more to learn about managing people, designing functional workspaces, and how to streamline efficiency.
Currently, she is in the process of building a new pharmacy to relocate the business to. Together her pharmacy staff have worked tirelessly to design a dispensary that maximizes productivity while also facilitating direct patient care.
To Kelsey-Ann, mentorship is building a mutually beneficial relationship on shared knowledge. The mentor and mentee both bring past experiences and new perspectives for tackling challenges and new ideas.
Mentor: Jen Bowser, BScPhm, RPh
Jennifer Bowser is the dedicated owner of Laclie Pharmacy, an esteemed independent community pharmacy located in Orillia, which also specializes in compounding. With a rich legacy spanning over 40 years, Laclie Pharmacy has consistently earned the Reader’s Choice Favorite Pharmacy award.
Jennifer’s journey in pharmacy began at the age of 14, working at her hometown pharmacy—a pivotal experience that fueled her passion for the field. She later graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Toronto in 2005, embarking on a fulfilling career that has encompassed various roles including community pharmacy management.
In 2020, Jennifer took on the role of pharmacy owner, leading a dedicated team of approximately 30 staff at Laclie Pharmacy. Known for their expert advice and problem-solving skills, Jennifer and her team are trusted pillars in the community, providing top-notch care and personalized service.
Jennifer’s leadership is marked by a deep commitment to advancing community health and fostering a supportive environment for her staff. She is also a member of various community networks focused on improving the care for patients in her region. Her hands-on approach and wealth of experience ensure that Laclie Pharmacy remains a cornerstone of healthcare excellence in Orillia, embodying Jennifer’s vision of compassionate and quality-driven pharmacy practice.
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples.” - Mother Theresa
Marzie Khavandi and Mira Maximos
Mentee: Marzie Khavandi, PharmD, MSc
Marzie Khavandi is a pharmacist but not a traditional one! She is currently a Clinical Safety Data Associate at Everest Clinical Research, serving clinical trials for pharmaceutical companies worldwide. With over five years of experience in clinical studies, pharmaceutical regulatory affairs, and medical affairs, she has dedicated her career to advancing drug discovery and improving patient outcomes.
Starting her career as a pharmacist, Marzie quickly discovered her passion for public health, health equality, and improving medication access for low-income communities. This passion led her to various roles, including Clinical Research Coordinator at Hamilton Health Sciences, where she managed large-scale clinical studies. In addition to her diverse clinical practice, including hospital, community, and telehealth settings, her experience also spans roles as a Regulatory Affairs Manager, providing her with a comprehensive understanding of the pharmaceutical industry.
Marzie is deeply committed to empowering the next generation of women leaders in pharmacy. To her, leadership is about inspiring and guiding others to reach their full potential in terms of knowledge, skills, and attitude. She believes in creating an environment where women can thrive, innovate, and make significant contributions to infinity and beyond!
Mentor: Mira Maximos, BHSc, BScPhm, MSc, PharmD, ACPR, PhD Candidate
Mira Maximos is a pharmacist in the Acute Ambulatory Care Unit (AACU) and Early Career Scholar at Women’s College Hospital, as well as a lecturer at the University of Toronto. She is currently completing a PhD with a topic in infectious disease pharmacoepidemiology related to beta-lactam allergies.
Mira’s research interests centre around health equity and knowledge mobilization of therapeutics research that considers sex, gender, and equity across the entire population. She is interested in sex and gender-based analyses + that focus on the safety and efficacy of pharmacotherapeutics, as well as sex and gender related variables associated with adverse medication event reporting and pharmacovigilance.
As a hospital pharmacist, she has an interest in pharmacist-guided pharmacotherapy and drug therapy optimization in the ambulatory care setting. Previously, Mira was an inpatient and Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist specializing in Infectious Disease at a community hospital and continues to focus a part of her research on antimicrobial stewardship initiatives in the ambulatory care and hospital settings.
"Mentorship is the ability to help budding leaders become confident in themselves, their skills, and their ability to be change makers.” - Mira Maximos
Sarah Fallis and Rose Patodia
Mentee: Sarah Fallis, BSc, PharmD, RPh
Sarah Fallis received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Guelph before completing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Waterloo (UW) School of Pharmacy in August 2023. After graduating, Sarah started as a Clinical Pharmacist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in their Outpatient Nephrology and Hemodialysis program. In June, Sarah transitioned into a new role at Sunnybrook’s Veterans Centre caring for Canadian Veterans and patients admitted to the Medically Complex Transitional Care Unit (TCU). In addition to her clinical role at Sunnybrook, Sarah is a Teaching Assistant at the University of Waterloo school of Pharmacy and a co-author for a CASCADES Medication Optimization playbook. During her studies at UW, Sarah held several leadership positions in student government and advocacy organizations both locally and nationally. In these roles, Sarah discovered her passion for leadership and the power of creating a supportive team environment. Sarah is thrilled to be a part of UW’s Women in Pharmacy Leadership Program and hopes to learn how her mentor overcame internal and external challenges when pursuing leadership opportunities.
"Mentorship is a symbiotic relationship where both the mentee and mentor have the opportunity to share their past experiences, perspectives and insights to promote professional growth in a supportive, safe environment." - Sarah Fallis
Mentor: Rosemarie Patodia, BScPhm, BCGP, CDE
Rose graduated from the University of Toronto in 1991 and completed a hospital pharmacy residency. She has been a board-certified geriatric pharmacist since 1998 and has worked in various practice settings in Toronto, including community and teaching hospitals, community pharmacy and long-term care. She also held a management position in the corporate office of a national pharmacy chain. Rose is currently a consultant pharmacist, serving as Editorial Director with Pear Healthcare Solutions, and Regional Clinical Coordinator with the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy. Rosemarie has been actively involved in pharmacist education throughout her career. She has developed several continuing education programs and has delivered numerous in-person presentations to the media, pharmacists, pharmacy students, other healthcare professionals and public groups, on various patient care-related topics. With the shift to virtual meetings and education, Rose has enthusiastically taken on the role of moderator and facilitator for several live programs. She recently obtained the Certified Diabetes Educator credential to enhance her ability to address the growing needs of people with diabetes and the healthcare professionals who care for them.
"Getting involved in this program has been a wonderful opportunity to support my peers and reflect on the gifts that this profession has given me. It is a reminder that we can all make a difference for others and that part of our individual growth occurs when we support the growth of others."
2023-2024
Elena Salgado and Rose Patodia
Mentee: Elena Salgado, BScPhm, RPh, CDE (she/they)
Elena graduated from Waterloo's School of Pharmacy in 2015 and is the current Regional Clinical Coordinator (RCC) for fourth-year Patient Care Rotations in the London/Rural Region. They coach pharmacists as part of the Quality Assurance Program at the Ontario College of Pharmacists, act as clinical preceptor to co-op and PharmD students and serve their local community as a Certified Diabetes Educator. She has always strived to educate, guide and mentor students and colleagues to push the profession forward.
After acquiring a repetitive strain injury in July 2020, Elena's expectation of continuing to work the frontlines was no longer realistic. She could no longer work many hours in a dispensary and it became obvious that it was time to consider pursuing other avenues of the pharmacy profession. The Women in Pharmacy Leadership program has allowed them to keep an open mind and explore non-traditional pharmacist options. Elena is grateful for being accepted as a mentee in the program as she navigates potential business, academia, and consulting experiences while being supported by a mentor with invaluable insight, experience, and wisdom. The opportunity for collaboration through shared learning has already presented itself and they are confident that all pairings will establish fruitful and long-lasting professional relationships within the pharmacy community.
Mentor: Rosemarie Patodia, BScPhm, BCGP, CDE
Rose graduated from the University of Toronto in 1991 and completed a hospital pharmacy residency. She has been a board-certified geriatric pharmacist since 1998 and has worked in various practice settings in Toronto, including community and teaching hospitals, community pharmacy and long-term care. She also held a management position in the corporate office of a national pharmacy chain. Rose is currently a consultant pharmacist, serving as Editorial Director with Pear Healthcare Solutions, and Regional Clinical Coordinator with the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy. Rosemarie has been actively involved in pharmacist education throughout her career. She has developed several continuing education programs and has delivered numerous in-person presentations to the media, pharmacists, pharmacy students, other healthcare professionals and public groups, on various patient care-related topics. With the shift to virtual meetings and education, Rose has enthusiastically taken on the role of moderator and facilitator for several live programs. She recently obtained the Certified Diabetes Educator credential to enhance her ability to address the growing needs of people with diabetes and the healthcare professionals who care for them.
"Getting involved in this program has been a wonderful opportunity to support my peers and reflect on the gifts that this profession has given me. It is a reminder that we can all make a difference for others and that part of our individual growth occurs when we support the growth of others."
Minh-Thu Nguyen and Miranda So
Mentee: Minh-Thu Nguyen, BSc, PharmD
Minh-Thu Nguyen earned both her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the University of Waterloo. Her interest in patient education began early on, and she continues to be passionate about the role of pharmacists in medication management. With an enjoyment of teaching and empowering patients to manage their chronic conditions, she began her career as a community pharmacist before becoming an ambulatory oncology pharmacist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Her focus is on systemic therapy in the outpatient setting, including standard of care treatment and clinical trials.
Minh-Thu is a strong advocate for medication safety and inter-professional collaboration to improve patient outcomes. She is actively involved with initiatives related to quality improvement.
"I am incredibly grateful for this program. Having a mentor has been valuable in guiding me through my career path and strengthening skills that will allow me to navigate challenges. It is inspiring to participate in a program with esteemed female pharmacists."
Mentor: Miranda So, BScPhm, PharmD, MPH (Epidemiology)
Dr. Miranda So is the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Lead at the University Health Network, and Research Director of the SH-UHN ASP in Toronto, Ontario. She is a Clinician-Investigator with the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute. She is an Assistant Professor (Status-Only) at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, and Lecturer(Clinical) at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia. Miranda received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the University of Toronto, and Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from Harvard University. Her clinical practice and research focus on antimicrobial stewardship in haematology-oncology patients and organ transplant recipients. She is also pursuing research to understand the intersection of antimicrobial use, resistance, public health, and social inequities in our population.
What does this mentorship program mean to me, leadership and/or the future of women in pharmacy leadership?
Mentorship is crucial to our professionally development and success as an individual, irrespective of the stage of career one may be in. I wholeheartedly believe we should mentor women in pharmacy leadership positions, and any woman aspiring to be a leader. We have to do this for the health of our profession, the sustainability of our workforce, and to address the gender gap at the leadership level in the healthcare system. For that, I highly commend the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy for establishing this unique program to formalize mentorship support for its alumni. I believe in “paying it forward.” I have benefited from being mentored by others, and the best way to repay that debt is to mentor other women in our profession to help them accomplish what they aspire to do.
Mirabella Chan and Aska Patel
Mentee: Mirabella Chan, PharmD, RPh
Mirabella Chan is a recent Rx2022 graduate. Aside from community pharmacy, Mirabella has explored unique roles in specialty pharmacy, corporate pharmacy head offices, and health-tech startups. Currently, she is completing an industry pharmacy residency in Medical Affairs at Sanofi. Mirabella also manages The Dosette, a digital pharmacy column that provides educational content and resources on health topics for both patients and health professionals.
“The Women in Pharmacy Leadership program empowers women to share and learn from each other’s experiences and break down barriers that have traditionally limited women's advancement in pharmacy leadership roles.”
Mentor: Aska Patel, BScPhm, PharmD, RPh
Aska Patel is a pharmacist, entrepreneur, patient advocate, and a thought leader in healthcare. Aska is a graduate of the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy and has worked as a pharmacist in community, hospital, government, and home care settings. She launched her entrepreneurial venture, Acuvise Consultancy Inc., providing healthcare consulting while joining a digital health venture as a startup advisor.
Aska is passionate about creating opportunities for women in STEM and is an advocate for equitable healthcare. In her spare time, Aska enjoys creating interesting podcast conversations discussing the future of pharmacy, healthcare, and healthtech with global industry leaders, for her podcast, Diverse Conversations with Aska Patel.
Parnian Ghafari and Shelita Dattani
Stacey D'Angelo and Diane Stanley-Horn
Mentee: Stacey D'Angelo, PharmD
Stacey D'Angelo is a Pharmacist and Founder of Your Simple Health, where she works directly with patients to help optimize, streamline, and reduce medication use. She specializes in pharmacogenomics and deprescribing. She brings together her knowledge of medication, entrepreneurial spirit, and a passion for holistic care to this innovative practice.
Since graduating from the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy in 2012, Stacey has had a windy career path encompassing diverse roles. She started her practice as a clinical pharmacist in long-term care and was heavily involved in advocacy as a board director for the Ontario Pharmacists Association. She has had several entrepreneurial endeavours including previously owning a compounding pharmacy and clinic, as well as working as a consultant developing educational content for pharmacists.
“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to participate in the WIPL program. I have been connected with an incredible mentor who has been providing me with guidance around strategy and a unique perspective that is helping me to take my business to the next level. I also love that the program brings together a supportive community of women leaders and provides unique professional development opportunities.”
Mentor: Diane Stanley-Horn, MSc
Diane Stanley-Horn is an entrepreneur that is passionate about driving and supporting positive systemic change in the areas of social welfare, climate change and gender equality. With a diverse background in psychology, environmental biology and social entrepreneurship, Diane co-owned a sustainable, health and social services software company for 20 years until it was acquired in 2021, at which point she was able to retire and focus on other interests in the areas of climate action and gender equality.
The Women in Pharmacy Leadership Program provides a wonderful opportunity to support emerging leaders. Though equally skilled and as capable as their male counterparts, female leaders are underrepresented in many professions. One of the barriers for female leaders is a relative lack of role-models and mentorship opportunities. As a female business owner who helped start and build a mid-sized company, and who was fortunate enough to benefit from mentorship myself, Diane understands many of the challenges leaders face, the tools that can help them succeed as they grow and the value of having someone in your court helping you along the way. She is excited to support a brilliant aspiring female leader in pharmacy in achieving her goals.
Tima Turjman and Carla Beaton
Mentee: Tima Turjman, PharmD
Mentor: Carla Beaton, BScPhm
Carla Beaton is Vice President Quality Improvement and Innovations at Think Research (TRC) / Pharmapod.
Her career spans over 30 years in health care within the private and public sectors; including community, post-acute and long term care. She has also been involved at university and college levels in curriculum design, teaching and student mentorship. Carla has built on her Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy, advanced learning in Quality Improvement and Certificate in Geriatric Pharmacy, creatively intersecting the art and science of healthcare with innovation, technology, and industry. Carla is a thought leader in the area of innovation, blending design thinking, practice research, knowledge translation and quality improvement to enhance patient safety in medication management systems with workflow efficiencies. Carla currently drives business development through patient safety and clinical pharmacy innovations at TRC Pharmapod, a patient safety software and global digital healthcare company.
2022-2023
Agatha Dwilewicz and Barbara Prime
Mentee: Agatha Dwilewicz, BSc, BScPhm, PharmD, RPh
Dr. Agatha Dwilewicz holds Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the University of Waterloo. During her training, she gained experience in academic research, hospital, pharmaceutical industry, and government settings.
As a compounding pharmacist in community practice, she took initiative and developed patient education materials and resources for health-care professionals. She also presented a pharmacist’s perspective on access to medications at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress. Currently, Agatha serves on committees at the Ontario College of Pharmacists. She is a peer reviewer for pharmacy journals and an active member of several pharmacy associations.
“Dynamically evolving the pharmacy profession requires us to always be ready to step up and take on new roles. Meeting women in various leadership positions, learning about their journey, and ways of overcoming obstacles is inspirational and empowering.”
Mentor: Barbara F. Prime, BScPharm
Barbara Prime (previously Jovaisas) practised in both community and hospital pharmacy before embarking on a twenty-two-year career in medical publishing at the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA). She worked first as a clinical editor and later as editor-in-chief of CPhA’s drug and therapeutic publications, which collectively inform clinical decision making by thousands of family physicians, pharmacists, nurses and other primary care practitioners daily. During her career in publishing, Barbara honed her skills in critical appraisal, writing, and editing; as editor-in-chief she oversaw the release of several editions of CPhA’s publications including CPS, Compendium of Therapeutic Choices, and Compendium of Therapeutics for Minor Ailments.
After leaving CPhA in 2017, Barbara was a member of the team from Health Canada and Canada Health Infoway that created a highly standardized database of Canadian drug products – the Canadian Clinical Drug Dataset (CCDD) – whose mission was to optimize interoperability of health systems and, in particular, to facilitate e-prescribing in Canada.
“Wherever important decisions are made, the contribution of the collective female voice provides a critical and nuanced perspective that uniquely reflects at least half of the humans affected by those decisions. Actively inviting and welcoming women into leadership roles benefits all stakeholders of every organization or profession, including pharmacy.”
Read more about Agatha and Barbara's experience in the program.
Alina Rashid and Sheri Digiovanni
Mentee: Alina Rashid, HBSc, BScPhm, PharmD, ACPR, RPh
Dr. Alina Rashid is a health-care leader in oncology pharmacy practice. She is results-driven and passionate about quality improvement. She has background in working with both pediatric and adult patients at large teaching centres. She recently developed and launched the award-winning Oral Anticancer Therapy (OAT) program at William Osler Health System – a proactive pharmacist-led call-back program empowering patients on OAT to take charge of their medication management.
Alina holds a Doctor of Pharmacy and a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from University of Waterloo and has completed an Accredited Canadian Pharmacy Residency at Hamilton Health Sciences. Alina enjoys mentoring and coaching pharmacy learners and new pharmacists.
“Strong women leaders have encouraged me to pursue my goals of becoming a health-care leader. Opportunities such as the Women in Pharmacy Leadership Program will allow me to further develop my skills and help guide another generation of women in pharmacy.”
Mentor: Sheri DiGiovanni, BSc, BScPhm, RPh
Sheri is a diverse health-care leader practicing in the hospital setting. After graduating from the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy in 2011 Sheri started a career in hospital clinical pharmacy and practiced in numerous settings including surgery, medicine, pediatrics, and emergency. She then joined Listowel Wingham Hospitals Alliance as the Pharmacy Coordinator. Over time, Sheri’s role has expanded to include Management of the Oncology Department, and she is now the Manager of Diagnostic Imaging, Laboratory and Pharmacy across the two rural sites.
Sheri is married to a pharmacist who is a part-owner of a community pharmacy, and together they have two young boys. They enjoy spending time together outdoors as a family and being an active part of their community.
"I have had great female mentors in my career, and I am honoured and excited to participate in this mentorship program. In this world things are changing rapidly, and one thing I have heard recently in relation to equity, diversity and inclusion is ‘no more baby steps.’ We have an opportunity to help make change and support the next group of female pharmacy leaders to participate in that change as well."
Ashley Gubbels-Smith and Tania Little
Mentee: Ashley Gubbels-Smith, BSc, BScPhm, RPh
Ashley Gubbels-Smith graduated with Waterloo Pharmacy’s vanguard class in 2011. She works at Roulston’s Pharmacy, a community pharmacy group in Norfolk County where she is the Designated Manager of Roulston’s Delhi location and the manager of the specialty compounding department at the Roulston’s Wellness Centre in Simcoe. She enjoys expanding her clinical knowledge through continuing education and has completed multiple compounding courses and is a certified diabetes educator.
Ashley has a passion for community pharmacy practice as it gives her opportunities to help improve the quality of life of her patients every day. She is also a mom of three beautiful children under the age of eight and enjoys spending her free time with them.
“CPhA’s report that 60-70% of staff pharmacists in Canada are women but only 33% of pharmacy owners are women shines a light on how many women are limited when it comes to upward mobility in the profession. It’s important to ensure women have the tools and resources to obtain those leadership roles. I aspire to be a pharmacy owner and to see many more women in the same position. Having more women at decision-making tables can influence what the future of pharmacy looks like.”
Mentor: Tania Little BScPhm, RPh, CDE, NCMP
Tania Little is part owner of Green Street Pharmasave and Fallowfield Pharmasave in Barrhaven, Ottawa. She is passionate about providing patient focused care and as a Certified Diabetes Educator and Certified Menopause Practitioner, offers consultation services for diabetes and women’s health. She has established a rapport with local physicians as an expert in these fields and they often call upon her for her opinion or recommendation. She also receives physician referrals for specialized patient consultations and education.
Tania continues to be involved with various national advisory committees for new diabetes medications as they prepare for market launch. She is also a member of SliDR (Scientific Literature Intelligent Discussion and Review), a regional group of diabetes educators in Ottawa who meet to discuss diabetes journal news and best practices.
Tania has been involved in co-presenting educational events with endocrinologists and gynecologists to family physician groups. She has also presented to community groups such as the Women’s Business Network of Ottawa.
She and her husband enjoy family time with their teenage son and daughter.
“I feel fortunate to have started my career with two women pharmacy owners as role models. Seeing how they managed a pharmacy and family inspired me to pursue ownership on my own a few years after graduation. I wanted to provide unique, specialized care and as an owner, I have been able to implement patient-care programs that I am passionate about.
Having benefited from strong women role models early in my career makes me excited to be part of a program like this. Hopefully we can all serve to inspire more women to pursue leadership roles in their pharmacy careers. I also hope to inspire my daughter to be a leader in any career that she chooses.”
Danielle Paes and Bronwyn Clark
Mentee: Danielle Paes, BSc, BScPhm, PharmD, RPh
Dr. Danielle Paes is the Chief Pharmacist Officer (CPO) at the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA), where she is driving strategic efforts towards advancing the profession of pharmacy with a focus on engagement, wellness, and diversity. As part of the management team, she provides guidance on issues facing the industry and acts as a key spokesperson for CPhA.
In addition to Danielle’s genuine passion for the profession, her diverse pharmacy portfolio, including hospital, community, and industry experience, offers her unique insight into the needs and perspectives of pharmacists across Canada.
When she’s not at work, Danielle enjoys spending time with her partner and their bright and curious infant daughter.
“Though women make up the majority of the pharmacy workforce, we continue to be underrepresented in management and decision-making roles. This pattern mirrors the general inequities seen in society, which is why it’s so important that we break the bias and actively work towards overcoming them.
Over the past several months, I’ve come to appreciate what taking on the position of CPO truly means, not just for me, but to the community of young women I represent. The significance of being in this leadership role and the symbolism it holds for BIPOC women in pharmacy is undeniable.”
Mentor: Bronwyn Clark DipPharm, MClinPharm, FPS, FRPharmS, GAICD
Bronwyn Clark is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC), the accreditation authority for pharmacy education. Her career spans practice in hospital and community pharmacy, primary care, academic detailing, education and regulation in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Bronwyn sits on several international pharmacy bodies, including as a Global Lead for Quality Assurance for the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and the International Committee for Lifelong Learning in Pharmacy conferences. She is the immediate past-Chair of the Health Professions Accreditation Collaborative Forum, representing the 16 regulated health professions in Australia, and has been recognised as a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Societies of both New Zealand and Great Britain.
A Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Bronwyn sits on the Board of Sexual Health and Family Planning (ACT). She is active in mentoring and supporting women in pharmacy leadership and governance.
“I was very lucky to have fabulous women mentors guiding me in my early career, and I initially didn’t realise how unusual that was. Despite us having a female-dominated profession, in many parts of our sector there is a paucity of woman leaders. I agree with the notion ‘you can’t be what you can’t see,’ and it is my passion to pass on the mantle to the next generation.”
Denuja Raventhiran and Tonya Raman
Mentee: Denuja Raventhiran, BSc, PharmD, RPh
Dr. Denuja Raventhiran is a licensed Ontario pharmacist currently working in the pharmaceutical marketing industry as a strategist. She provides key clinical insights and medical expertise informed by her previous work in a range of practice environments. Her experience in medical and regulatory compliance is in multiple drug markets across Canada and the U.S.
Denuja holds a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Waterloo and a Bachelor of Science, double major in Medical Science and Biology, from Western University.
“Women in leadership positions can elevate new voices at the intersection of pharmacy and business. Initiatives that empower women and underrepresented groups help to close the opportunity gap for these voices and contribute to better decision making and productive work environments. I am looking forward to being part of an inspiring future.”
Mentor: Tonya Raman HBSc, BEd, MBA
Tonya Raman is a connected, actioned-oriented leader with a patient-centric mindset. As a medical education manager at Janssen Inc., she designs and develops differentiated educational programs for health-care professionals and has been recognized for her innovations in launch leadership and novel programming. With pharmaceutical experience in marketing, sales, medical education and access she has honed the strategic mindset to quickly identify novel solutions. Leveraging her passion for patients, curiosity, and connectedness, she seeks to improve health outcomes for all patients. Outside of work Tonya enjoys spending time with her family, playing tennis, skiing, and adventuring with her new dog.
“To me, mentoring women in pharmacy leadership is an opportunity to advance women in science and further deliver on my personal commitment to improving the lives of patients through health care. To inspire, empower and be inspired through sharing our authentic experiences, we will create momentum for each other now and into the future. This type of energy is powerful.”
Heather Foley and Pavithra Ravi
Mentee: Heather Foley, BSc, BScPhm, PharmD, ACPR, RPh
After graduating as part of Waterloo Pharmacy's vanguard class in 2011, Dr. Heather Foley has been on an adventure throughout the health-care system, involving herself with work in community pharmacies, hospital practice, primary care teams, academia and telehealth. Her involvement across the continuum of care has sparked a passion for medication lists. Yes, medication lists – unusual but incredibly important! Heather is now spending the second decade of her career working towards a future where every Canadian has an accurate and accessible medication list that is managed by their pharmacist.
Heather is a working mom of two, a step-mom of one, a wife, sister, daughter and auntie. She is a woman who fiercely believes in the capabilities of all women, and all pharmacists. By connecting with a mentor through the Women in Pharmacy Leadership Program, she hopes to gain new skills and knowledge that will help her to provide opportunities for many other pharmacists who wish to practice to their full potential.
"Leadership is a mindset; it means using courage and good sense to positively influence whichever things are within your control. With the proper mindset, tools and mentorship, every woman in the profession of pharmacy can be a leader, no matter their job title.”
Mentor: Pavithra Ravi, RPh, MPharm, MBA, LSSBB
Pavithra Ravi is a Product Director at Manulife Canada. She is a practicing pharmacist and runs a health-care consulting firm. As a pharmacist and entrepreneur, she has a passion for community pharmacy and patient-centered care innovation. She has worked with various PBMs, insurers, pharmaceutical companies, and health-care companies in supporting innovation and strategy. She comes with both a business and clinical background that allows her to tie together the different needs of the plan member. Pavithra obtained a Master of Pharmacy from Liverpool John Moores School of Pharmacy. She then moved to obtain her Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification and her Executive Master of Business Administration at the University of Fredericton.
“Women ascending to leadership roles carve the paths for those who follow. The next generation of women needs to see how their opportunities are boundless and that the passion they have can drive change.”
Krystyna Edwards-Lee and Jane Martin
Mentee: Krystyna Edwards-Lee, BSc, BScPhm, PharmD, RPh
Dr. Krystyna Edwards-Lee is the clinical resource pharmacist for the New Brunswick Heart Centre in Saint John, NB. She has a clinical practice in cardiovascular critical care. Her focus is on improving pharmacy services for all cardiac patients across New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Krystyna is also a board member of the Canadian Cardiovascular Pharmacy Network.
“There is a need for more women to be in health-care leadership to impact change that will improve the lives of both the patients we care for and for our co-workers. A culture shift is required so that organizations recognize that being a woman and having a family is not a weakness but an incredible strength.”
Mentor: Jane Martin, BScPhm, ACPR, MBA
Jane Martin is currently the Vice President, Clinical and Diagnostics at Grand River Hospital with specific accountability for the laboratory, medical imaging and pharmacy services as well as the regional renal program. She is also the Regional Vice President, Waterloo Wellington (WW) Regional Cancer Program. A health-care executive with over 30 years experience, Jane holds a pharmacy degree from University of Toronto, a MBA from McMaster University and completed a hospital pharmacy residency at London Health Sciences Centre. Jane has worked as a Director of Pharmacy at a number of hospitals in WW and as a consultant and guest lecturer at the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy.
In her role as VP/RVP, Jane champions a vision of service excellence and participates in hospital and provincial strategic planning. She enjoys affecting change at the provincial and systems level as well as working collaboratively with others in the health-care system to achieve strategic objectives.
"Throughout my career, I have been very fortunate to have received encouragement and guidance from strong women role models in leadership positions. It is important that we continue to coach and mentor emerging women leaders to achieve their personal and professional goals and to benefit from their impact on the health-care system.”
Mira Maximos and Miranda So
Mentee: Mira Maximos, BHSc, BScPhm, PharmD, MSc, ACPR, PhD student
Dr. Mira Maximos is a mom, pharmacist, and researcher. She is an inpatient and antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist specializing in infectious disease and a PhD student studying infectious disease pharmacoepidemiology. She has been a practicing pharmacist for approximately seven years and has been involved in research in areas of medication taking behaviours, medication safety, knowledge translation, sex and gender-based analyses and infectious diseases.
Mira guest lectures at the University of Waterloo in areas such as drug-induced disease and infectious diseases in the elderly. She is interested in clinical and research areas that bridge infectious disease and knowledge translation and loves to teach.
“Being a woman, particularly a woman of colour and a mom as well as a clinician and scientist, can be a lot to juggle, but it’s also very fulfilling and phenomenal in so many ways. Having a network of women supporting women through different stages of our lives and career paths is important to not just help us with personal growth but also to help us raise each other up. This program can give us the means, as women, to build a strong network to share joys and excitement during times of success and find support in times of need.”
Mentor: Miranda So, PharmD, MPH (Epidemiology), BScPhm
Dr. Miranda So is a Pharmacotherapy Specialist and the Research Director of the Sinai Health-University Health Network Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in Toronto, Ontario. She is a Clinician-Investigator with the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute and an Assistant Professor (status-only) at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto. Miranda received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, and her Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University. Her research focus on antimicrobial stewardship in immunocompromised patients, specifically hematology-oncology patients and organ transplant recipients.
Her work also examines the intersection of antimicrobial use, resistance and public health, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Miranda is an active member of the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists. She is the current Chair of the CSHP Foundation Education Grant Committee.
“For the health of our profession and the sustainability of the pharmacy workforce, we must address gender inequality, and support women in pharmacy leadership positions.”
Sarah Blythe and Angela Puim
Mentee: Sarah Blythe, BSc, PharmD, RPh
Dr. Sarah Blythe started her career as a staff pharmacist at an independent pharmacy in the Niagara/Haldimand area after graduating from Waterloo Pharmacy in 2017. Recently, she has shifted into an ownership role after making the move to the North Bay area. She is currently focused on increasing services and building interprofessional relationships to help improve health-care outcomes in her community.
“I would love to see future generations of female pharmacists striving to become pharmacy owners and leaders in the profession. As an aspiring pharmacy student in high school, I had one female role model who was a pharmacy owner. Since then, the majority of the pharmacy owners I have worked with have been male, even though the majority of pharmacists are female. I am excited to connect with female leaders who are making an impact in the profession and hope to one day become a role model for the youth in my community.”
Mentor: Angela Puim, PharmD, RPh, CBE, CDE, CRE
Dr. Angela Puim is a co-owner of a community pharmacy, Preston Medical Pharmacy, as well as a clinical pharmacist at Two Rivers Family Health Team in Cambridge, Ontario. She has multiple certifications in diabetes, respiratory care, obesity education and palliative care. She is a passionate advocate for collaborative health-care models and expanded utilization of pharmacists. Angela has worked on numerous community projects aimed at expanding the scope of community pharmacists. She is also a member of various community networks focused on improving the quality of care for patients in her region. Angela enjoys mentoring students from multiple health-care disciplines including pharmacy, pharmacist technicians, nursing and medical students.
She is a proud mother to her three children and in her spare time loves physical activity and talking pharmacy!
"Women belong in all places where decisions are being made." – Ruth Ginsburg
Read more about Angela and Sarah's experience in the program.