Donnie Edwards

Donnie co-owns Boggio & Edwards IDA, a specialty compounding pharmacy in Ridgeway, Ontario. His focus is on pain management, women’s health and addiction services. He has been appointed to the Narcotics Monitoring Working Group by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to provide advice on managing and evaluating data created by the Narcotics Monitoring System.

Previously, Donnie was interim CEO of the Ontario Pharmacists Association, representing the professional views of over 10,000 pharmacists. He increased OPA’s presence among government and stakeholders and promoted the role of the pharmacist as a provider of frontline healthcare. He assumed this role after serving as OPA’s Chair of the Board from May 2006 to June 2007.

Donnie served as Chair of the Board during a pivotal time for OPA and the profession. He advanced the mandate and efforts of the Board on behalf of its membership and expanded OPA’s scope. His crucial role in the discussions around the Transparent Drug System for Patients Act helped lead to the development of the MedsCheck program, the first ever professional services program for the public.

Donnie had been actively involved with OPA for the past 10 years. He has acted as Chair of OPA’s External Relations Committee, and served on various other committees. He was an active voice for the Ontario Community Pharmacies Coalition and represented the voice of community pharmacies in Ministry discussions.

Donnie is a sought-after speaker who has made a number of presentations on issues affecting pharmacists, and on collaborative healthcare and government policy. He increased the profile of pharmacists by conducting hundreds of media interviews on topics such as the Transparent Drug System for Patients Act, the role of the pharmacist, health promotion, prescription fraud, family health teams and drugs of addiction.

In addition, Donnie initiated OPA’s Drugs of Addiction strategy. He is a noted expert on drugs of addiction and played a key role in implementing a school-based education program. He has travelled across Canada, educating thousands of students, teachers and parents about substance use, abuse, addiction and dependence and the emerging trends and implications of crystal methamphetamine. Donnie was also a member of the Provincial Methadone Maintenance Task Force. For the past two decades, Donnie has worked in community pharmacy. He has developed a unique practice, providing his patients with innovative services and seminars on multiple health-related issues. Donnie has been involved in United Way, AIDS Niagara and other local associations. He has published several education articles on diabetes, hypertension, pain management and addiction in various medical and pharmaceutical journals.

Donnie graduated from the University of Toronto in 1988 with a degree in pharmacy. He lives with his wife and their three children in Port Colborne. In his spare time, he coaches local basketball teams.