Professional Development Week 2025: Waves of Change
Professional Development Week (PDW) is an annual pharmacy student run conference in partnership with the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Students and Interns (CAPSI), exclusive to CAPSI members. This year on January 8-12, 2025, 16 Waterloo delegates attended the conference held in Halifax, NS at the Westin Hotel. This years theme reflected the vibrant East Coast culture and the evolving pharmacy profession.
Delegates from across Canada travelled to one location to grow professionally by attending educational sessions, participating in national competitions and networking opportunities. Students also had the option to expand clinical knowledge and make connections.
Delegates attended keynote speaker series on Driving Leadership in Canada's Access to Innovative Medicines and had the opportunity to select from a variety of educational sessions. Dr. Sherilyn Houle, Waterloo Pharmacy associate professor, presented on All Aboard! Pharmacy as the Next Destination for Travel Health and Waterloo Pharmacy alum Danielle Paes (Rx2014), presented on From Vision to Action: Co-Designing the Future of Pharmacy. Other sessions included: developmental pharmacokincetics, understanding natural health products, navigating gender-affirming care and more.
Waterloo students brought home three total awards from the conference. See the full list of winners below and help us congratulate our Waterloo CAPSI team!
- CPhA - Award of Professionalism - 3rd place ($250): Chiquitah Antle (Rx2025) and Cassandra VanDrunen-LaChanse (Rx2025)
- Apotex - IPSF Health Campaign Award - 2nd place ($150): Syndney Eng (Rx2026) and Madison So (Rx2027)
- CAPSI/CFP - Guy Genest Passion for Pharmacy Award ($500): Cassandra VanDrunen-LaChanse (Rx2025)
Thank you to our Waterloo CAPSI team for organizing student events, Pharmacy Appreciation Month and so much more every year. The Waterloo Pharmacy Student Success Fund helps students attend this conference annually.
Waterloo students at Professional Development Week 2025
Waterloo's Next Top Pharmacist
Waterloo's Next Top Pharmacist (WNTP) is a semi-formal, mock-beauty pageant organized by the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy students. Pharmacy students compete in a catwalk, drug spelling bee and talent show. This year the event took place on February 28th, 2025 at Kitchener's Victoria Park Pavilion. The winner will attend PDW 2026 to compete nationally.
- Waterloo's Next Top Pharmacist 2025 Winner - Cassandra Koukoulomatis (Rx2026)
Students at Waterloo's Next Top Pharmacist 2025 competition
Thank you to this year's WNTP and Pharmacy Appreciation Month sponsors: Rexall, the Waterloo Pharmacy Student Success Fund and Pharmasave.