Dr. Nardine Nakhla, associate professor at the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy and community pharmacist, has been honoured with the 2024 Pharmacy Practice + Business, Business Innovation Award. This award is presented to a pharmacist that has created a unique practice or business that benefits patients, pharmacy practice and/or the healthcare system.
Her interest in minor ailment management, patient self-care, and non-prescription medications led to her appointment on the Minor Ailments Advisory Group (MAAG), an expert advisory group brought together by the Ontario College of Pharmacists. As a key contributor, she helped shape the regulatory changes that enabled pharmacists to prescribe for minor ailments in Ontario.
Receiving this award is truly an honour. It reflects the collective efforts of my two co-founders, our incredible team, our dedicated MAPflow users, and the many pharmacists, educators, patients and advocates who believe in the power of pharmacists to innovate, create new pathways to enhance access to care and drive better health outcomes while alleviating pressures on the healthcare system.
Building on her work with MAAG and extensive expertise in the minor ailment space, Dr. Nakhla built a customized platform specific to provincial regulations to meet the demands created with this new change to pharmacists’ scope, MAPflow. MAPflow is a powerful clinical decision support tool that streamlines clinical services , such as minor ailment assessments and over-the-counter (OTC) consultations, enhances clinical confidence via built-in evidence-based tools and just-in-time learning and highlights opportunities for holistic care, additional clinical services patients may be eligible for, to optimize outcomes. A recognized thought leader, she has delivered over 300 presentations on minor ailment management at provincial, national and international conferences.
"MAPflow was born out of this shared vision to streamline clinical services and empower pharmacy teams to deliver exceptional care. This recognition is a testament to that commitment, and I’m excited to continue advancing pharmacy practice together," says Dr. Nakhla.
Dr. Nakhla has established herself as an influential voice in pharmacy, shaping the professional through education, research, and innovation. With a deep commitment to advancing pharmacy practice, she continues to empower pharmacists and students through MAPflow, strategic education and groundbreaking initiatives that optimize patient care and expand pharmacists’ roles in healthcare.
Congratulations, Dr. Nakhla !