How hands on learning at Waterloo Pharmacy help students shape their future from day one
As far back as she can remember, Victoria MacDonald’s (Rx2025) lifelong dream was to become a pharmacist and give back to her community.
“During elementary school I had watched my uncle and family friends work as pharmacists in our community pharmacy,” says Victoria. “I saw how appreciative my community members were of their services, and I knew I wanted to give back the same way.”
Working as a pharmacy assistant in her hometown pharmacy, Victoria remembers hearing great things about the tight knit community from University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy co-op students on their fourth-year patient care rotations. Their stories and the co-op program drew Victoria to Waterloo – where she completed two years of the Biomedical Science program before attending pharmacy school.
Throughout her years at the School, Victoria was able to complete some of her co-op work terms on Manitoulin Island to serve communities across the island. For Victoria, these experiences developed an even bigger passion for returning to Northern Ontario to work as a pharmacist after completing her PharmD.
“I was born and raised on Manitoulin Island,” Victoria says. “It’s been an incredible opportunity to return home for my co-op work terms to practice in the place I not only grew up in, but where I plan to return to for my career as a pharmacist.”
Support from Faculty and fellow students supported Victoria’s learning and clinical skills as well as the School’s program design.
“My kinesthetic learning style greatly benefits from the heads-on learning opportunities we receive, from professional practice labs to co-op and patient care rotations,” adds Victoria.
Outside the classroom, Victoria found ways to stay active and connected to her peers by joining the intramural ultimate frisbee team.
“We won the championship twice, quite a memorable achievement for us as it strengthened our teamwork!” Victoria says.
Victoria MacDonald and the ultimate frisbee team at Waterloo Pharmacy
Victoria MacDonald next to a formula one racer
Victoria MacDonald and the Waterloo Pharmacy ultimate frisbee team at Warrior Field on main campus
Victoria MacDonald with her Waterloo Pharmacy ultimate frisbee team on the Warrior Field at main campus
Victoria recently completed her patient care rotations at the community pharmacy in Mindemoya on Manitoulin Island and in Sudbury at Health Sciences North.
“My patient care rotations have allowed me to connect with several Indigenous communities across the island,” Victoria says.
Patient care rotations have enabled her to practice to her full scope and to develop independence and the skills to shape her own future pharmacy practice. Victoria spent time learning more about the different populations within her community, expanding her knowledge in Indigenous Culture and immersing herself in new programs and services, including the Non-Insured Health Benefits program, traditional medicines and conditions that populations in her community face and are at an increased risk for.
“Diving deeper into understanding the healthcare challenges faced by my community and surrounding communities on Manitoulin Island has been my focus, to expand my knowledge and strengthen my clinical skills to better serve our Indigenous patients,” Victoria says. “Through medication management, patient counselling and interprofessional collaboration we ensure there is adequate communication and optimized treatment plans for every individual that enters our community pharmacy.”
Victoria recognizes the importance of immersing herself in community events and learning about the traditions and cultural practices of the Anishinaabe people. After graduation, she will continue attending the annual Pow Wows and storytelling shows put on by the First Nations theatre group, Debajehmujig, to learn about traditional medicines, healing methods and traditional health practices used by Indigenous communities.
“Moving to a rural, northern area may seem daunting, but these communities have so many unique opportunities that you may not get working in the city or southern Ontario,” says Victoria. “You get to work closely with the local physicians and develop strong, collaborative relationships with the healthcare providers. The communities in these northern areas are very much so close-knit in nature and they foster a team-based approach to care, where pharmacists are highly valued for their clinical expertise.”
Victoria also looks ahead to the future of healthcare in Northern Ontario and rural areas.
“I am hopeful that healthcare in these areas will continue to grow in terms of accessibility and interprofessional collaboration. That those services that patients currently travel long distances for will be readily accessible in these areas. Whether it’s specialist care, diagnostics or even more primary care services, it would be great to see these available closer to home,” Victoria says.
Victoria’s end goal has always been to work in a community pharmacy but her experiences at the School have helped her identify areas of interest and ways to advance her services for her future patients, particularly to become a diabetes educator.
After her patient care rotations, she plans on taking time to enjoy her hobbies, running her small business and studying for her PEBCs to move on to her next chapter, working as a licensed pharmacist at her hometown community pharmacy where her journey first began.