Waterloo Pharmacy co-op student explores rural pharmacy
Kelsey Mar (Rx2025) was inspired by past student co-op work terms in Moose Factory to experience pharmacy in a rural setting herself.
“It was during my undergraduate degree at Waterloo when I saw a Waterloo Pharmacy story about a student experience in Moose Factory. This was the moment the seed was planted in my head, I wanted to go myself,” says Mar.
Mar worked at Weeneebayko General Hospital in Moose Factory in northern Ontario, and lived in hospital housing during her co-op work term with other students from different healthcare fields.
“There was no supervisor at the hospital because of tight resources. It was initially difficult but the independence pushed me to grow as a pharmacy student,” says Mar.
I had to do the research, find a solution on my own and trust myself with my recommendations. This co-op work term helped me grow in ways I never imagined.
Kelsey Mar in a canoe on Moose River.
Participating in all opportunities that arose helped Mar grow in confidence to trust her intuition. She ran MedRecs, participated in rounds, spent time educating patients and provided discharge counselling.
“When you’re strapped for resources, there are more things you have to think about that you wouldn’t have expected to think about,” says Mar. “With supply issues, time management difficulties and limited healthcare professionals, you have to find different solutions to help the patients.”
This large shift for Mar was a turning point. Her trust in herself grew and she became more self-reliant – making decisions with minimal supervision, along with learning to be more mindful and to take care of herself when needed.
Spending time at the family and community health clinic, working at the community pharmacy, completing home visits and outpatient tasks all brought different challenges for Mar but solidified her career path.
I always knew I had an interest in rural pharmacy, but this experience made me realize I have a passion to work in a rural community.
Northern lights in Moose Factory.
Mar recommends future students to take the opportunity to live and work in Moosonee, “If you don’t think you’re an outdoors person, by the time you leave you will be.” Her favourite experiences outside of work were nature walks, seeing the Northern Lights and primarily getting to know the people.
Since her co-op work term Mar continues to be part of the Suboxone program alongside other healthcare practitioners, chief in council and public health members. They meet to discover how they can better help the community, what strategies can be applied in the future to implement harm reduction and addition treatment and to help patients from a holistic point of view.
Mar is looking forward to learning more about land-based healing and how to help patients outside of medication prescribing on a community level.