Jillian Bauer is a clinical pharmacist at the Centre for Family Medicine (CFFM) Family Health Team (FHT) located next to Waterloo Pharmacy. She is also the 100th student to complete the PharmD bridging program.
Where They're Working
At the CFFM FHT, no day looks the same for Jillian. Her weeks are split between conducting medication reviews and reconciliations with patients, responding to drug information questions from her colleagues, and working in clinics like the CFFM’s Memory and Anticoagulation clinics.
“The best part of my job is that I get to build ongoing relationships with my patients,” says Jillian. “I have the opportunity to help them through their health issues and to really get to know them.”
Jillian’s completed two co-op terms with CFFM before joining their team when she graduated in 2014. It’s a large and dynamic workplace with over 100 healthcare professionals and learners collaborating to serve approximately 30,000 patients. The pharmacy team comprises of five part-time pharmacists including Professor Barb Coulston, who teaches at Waterloo. The team collaborates with other interdisciplinary health professionals such as physicians, family medicine residents, nurses, social workers, physician assistants, and many others.
Reflections on the Program
“Co-op at the CFFM taught me that I would enjoy FHT practice and allowed me to build relationships with the team. The professors I had are now my colleagues, and their work continues to be an inspiration to me.”
“I work with so many inspiring professionals and I’m constantly challenged to be as valuable as possible on the team,” explains Jillian. “I am always applying my knowledge in new ways or educating myself on a topic so that I can best serve my patients and support my colleagues.”
Life at CFFM also presents Jillian with opportunities to teach and research. She works closely with family medicine residents and PharmD students on rotation, providing guidance and mentorship.
“Every student is different and it’s rewarding to identify their needs and find ways to help them grow. That’s what I found inspiring as a student – seeing my preceptors demonstrate their knowledge. It’s fun to be on the other side, pushing students to see different ways of practicing.”
She also supports research conducted by colleagues. For example, Jillian was recently part of a project with Dr. Tejal Patel and Dr. Linda Lee. The team examined how to optimize medications in frail patients.
“Conducting research is very meaningful. I love working on projects that identify gaps in the literature and highlight the value that pharmacists can have within the health care system.”
Alumni Answers
UW: The CFFM’s Memory Clinic has won many awards. What does your work with in this unique clinic look like?
JB: The Memory Clinic is an interdisciplinary approach to providing early diagnosis and treatment for problems associated with memory loss. Our team consists of a pharmacist, nurses, a social worker, an occupational therapist, and a physician. Each team member completes a comprehensive assessment with the patient and their caregiver. We share our findings with the physician who will make a diagnosis and, as a team, we develop our recommendations and plan. The whole team will then meet with the patient to share our recommendations. What I love about this clinic model is that it represents the essence of collaborative interprofessional patient care.
UW: What skills are most important for pharmacists practicing in FHT environments?
Being able to communicate effectively with a wide range of health professionals is essential. It’s important to always find ways to add value to the practice of others. Knowledge translation is also key – conveying what we know as pharmacists to patients enables successful shared-decision making.
Non-Pharm Fun
Jillian on a recent trip in Iceland.
“Now that I’ve completed the bridging program I’m looking forward to having more time for my hobbies, like travelling and fitness. I spend a lot of time with my friends as well. I’m also getting married next September, and that’s sure to keep me busy!”