Our innovative patient care rotations program at the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy provides students with direct patient care experience across Ontario from Windsor to Ottawa, Thunder Bay to Port Colborne and countless communities in between! The fourth-year clinical rotations at Waterloo Pharmacy are the only ones in Canada that operate with a decentralized approach, more practical and flexible than a traditional model. Today we are celebrating six regional clinical co-ordinators (RCCs), practicing pharmacists within their respective regions, who have been with us for the last 10 years! The RCCs organize and schedule student placements, train preceptors and provide additional support, where needed, to both students and preceptors. Thank you for helping us train future pharmacists by supporting and enriching their PharmD experience.
Congratulations to Janie Bowles-Jordan. Doug Brown, Donnie Edwards, Angela Heintzman, Rosemarie Patodia and Noella Robert-Kappel.
What have you learned from our students and Waterloo Pharmacy?
Janie Bowles-Jordan
Doug Brown
Donnie Edwards
Janie Bowles-Jordan (Hamilton)
Thank you for recognizing our longstanding relationship with the School of Pharmacy students. Through co-op program the students have experience that provides street smarts and common sense. They are connected to virtual platforms and are tech savvy like no other graduates. Hence, they understand global concepts and their impact on health care systems. They are passionate about pharmacy work and eager to make contributions to the environment, patients, and broader community. I have really enjoyed my role as a mentor and RCC.
Doug Brown (Oshawa-Durham)
As one of the few "OG" RCCs, I have had the opportunity to see the experiential program grow from its infancy, newly formed as the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy transitioned into an entry-to-practice Pharm D program. I was apprehensive at first, I wasn't an academic and I'd been practicing for over 25 years. I was an old dog. What new tricks could I possibly contribute to this program? What could students learn from me?
As it turns out, I had a few things that I could contribute. But more importantly, the students were able to teach me so much more. They re-ignited my passion for learning, allowing me to feed off of their enthusiasm and energy. We shared a dedication to patient care, and the students were able to show me new and innovative ways of leveraging their cutting-edge knowledge, new technologies and ways of communicating with patients. I may have imparted a bit of "old school" experience to help guide them through the minefields of healthcare, but the students have made me a better pharmacist. And for that reason, I am eternally grateful to them. Thank you for 10 wonderful years at the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy!
Donnie Edwards (Niagara Peninsula)
As an RCC at Waterloo Pharmacy, interacting with pharmacy students has deepened my appreciation for the values of equity, ingenuity and empathy, particularly in the context of entrepreneurship and patient care. I learned that equity in healthcare isn't just about providing equal treatment, but about identifying and addressing the unique barriers faced by underserved communities.
Many of the pharmacy students demonstrate an entrepreneurial mindset, seeking innovative solutions to improve access to medications and care. Whether through developing new models of patient education or exploring technology-driven healthcare solutions, their creativity in addressing challenges showcased the power of ingenuity in creating lasting impact. Most inspiring was their unwavering desire to help patients—not just through dispensing medications, but by truly understanding their needs, building trust, and tailoring care to improve health outcomes. This blend of entrepreneurship and empathy drove them to find new ways to solve healthcare problems while always keeping the patient at the center of their efforts.
Angela Heintzman
Rosemarie Patodia
Noella Robert-Kappel
Angela Heintzman (Thunder Bay)
Working as an RCC at Waterloo Pharmacy has been incredibly rewarding. I'm able to meet with the other RCCs twice a year and get new ideas on how to engage the students in interprofessional learning and novel ways to deliver education to new preceptors. Co-ordinating the students has allowed me to see their enthusiasm, fresh perspectives and dedication to patient care and has reinvigorated my own practice.
Rosemarie Patodia (GTA)
This role has allowed me to reflect on my career path and recognize what I have learned along the way. Sharing my lived experience as a pharmacist with students and hearing about their goals has reinforced how the journey is unique for each of us, and that is important to adopt a growth mindset to achieve personal and professional satisfaction. As an RCC, I have the wonderful opportunity to coach students through patient care rotations where they are often exploring career options for the first time. I am inspired by the students as they work through challenges, become more resilient, and leave rotations excited about the possibility of working in a pharmacy environment that was new to them.
Noella Robert-Kappel (Barrie)
As an RCC at Waterloo Pharmacy, I’ve learned that there is great value in guiding students through the final step of their transition to practice. I've seen the importance of helping students navigate the diverse patient care rotations and the professional and personal growth that ensues during these six precious/transformative months. I've learned that students are very appreciative of the effort and planning that go into creating tailored community of practice rotations. Additionally, I've learned the merit of fostering open communication and a supportive off-campus environment as they adapt to their new community that may be far from their usual support network. It has been a privilege to play a part in the development of the next generation of compassionate, knowledgeable pharmacists and the experience has been very rewarding.
Thank you for being part of Waterloo Pharmacy!