Fourth-year student and former Waterloo Society of Pharmacy Students president Jennifer Mackenzie received the 2016 Ontario Pharmacist Association’s (OPA) Student of Distinction Award for her leadership ability and commitment to advancing the profession.
Jenn’s win marks the fifth consecutive year that a Waterloo student won the Student of Distinction Award, with last year’s award won by Holly MeGinnis. The tenets of the award – advocacy for the profession and mentorship of peers – align with Waterloo Pharmacy’s own values and are personified in Jenn.
“As leader of the student council, Jenn effectively balanced the needs of her classmates, faculty and staff, and members of the University’s student government,” says Prof. David Edwards, Hallman Director, School of Pharmacy and Associate Dean, Faculty of Science. “She worked tirelessly to enhance the student experience and ensure a sense of belonging for all. That patience and compassion for her peers contribute to Jenn’s excellence as a leader.”
Jenn is also the founder and chair of a Student Professional Recognition Committee, a group organized to celebrate exceptional professionalism among her peers, and to identify areas where improvement is possible.
Her work as a developing pharmacist has led her across the country, from a retail pharmacy in her hometown of Amherst, Nova Scotia to working as a reviewer for high-risk clients at Manulife Financial in Kitchener.
Her optimism, her warmth and her just ‘get it done’ philosophy are evident in the many successful initiatives she’s been a part of, like planning education and competition components of the annual 2016 Professional Development Week conference for pharmacy students.
Congratulations Jenn!
For more on Jenn's accomplishments, see articles by the Ontario Pharmacist Association and by a local paper in her home town of Amherst.