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 7-11, 2026, 21 Waterloo delegates attended the conference held in Quebec City, four of which are national CAPSI members. This year’s theme, building the next corner stone, reflected the growing profession.
Delegates from across Canada travelled to one location to grow professionally by attending educational sessions, connecting with pharmacy students across the country, participating in national competitions and networking opportunities. Students also had the option to expand clinical knowledge and make connections.
"Being able to attend Professional Development Week (PDW) in Quebec City had a meaningful impact on my professional growth as a pharmacy student. It gave me the chance to learn from inspiring keynote speakers, take part in engaging breakout sessions, connect with students and network with potential employers from a wide range of practice settings,” says Sarah Darch (Rx2026).
“The University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy continues to show their support for student excellence by providing class accommodations and subsidizing a portion of the conference fee through the Student Success Fund. On behalf of myself, and all the other students that attended, the school's contribution to PDW has made it more accessible to attend such an impactful event. I look forward to the opportunities and experiences that PDW 2027 in Winnipeg will offer!"
Waterloo students brought home seven awards from the conference. See the full list of winners below and help us congratulate our Waterloo CAPSI team!
- CPhA-CAPSI Pharmacy Impact and Engagement Award – 2nd place ($500): Qamar Mobayed and Sarah Darch (Rx2026)
- IPSF Health Campaign Award – 2nd place ($150): Madison So (Rx2027) and Stephen Wong (Rx2028)
- CPhA-CAPSI Student Literary Challenge Award – 2nd place ($300): Kaylee Perfetti Lefebvre (Rx2028)
- Pyrls OTC Competition – 1st place ($400): Arayeb Masood (Rx2028)
- CAPSI/CFP - Guy Genest Passion for Pharmacy Award ($500): Sarah Darch (Rx2026)
- Medisca Compounding Competition – 4th place ($100): Shannon Warriner (Rx2026), Gaby Oueidat (Rx2026), Zoe Grasse (Rx2026) and Ilinca Andriescu (Rx2026)
- Canada’s Next Top Pharmacist, 3rd place: Lane Philips (Rx2028)
Thank you to our Waterloo CAPSI team for all your efforts organizing student events, Pharmacy Appreciation Month and so much more every year. The Waterloo Pharmacy Student Success Fund helps students attend this conference annually.