Senior pharmacy students are supporting Ontario’s health-care system in the fight against COVID-19. These students are completing their rotations, a requirement for senior pharmacy students where they are placed in health-care sites across the province for six months.

Here are some of their stories:

Meghan Coon in Kingston-Belleville region

“My block 3 rotation has taken place at Bayridge Shopper’s Drug Mart, a high-volume pharmacy in Kingston, where my preceptor is Kaitlyn McCullough (a Waterloo Pharmacy alumni) and the associate is Scott Ford.”

This pandemic has taught me how resilient the pharmacy profession is. The pharmacy I have been working in has had a lot to overcome in the past eight weeks, including a local COVID-19 outbreak. However, we were able to remain open and continue to provide care while keeping patients safe. During my rotation, with many protocols and safety measures in place, I was able to administer injections to our patients. Many doctors are still working offsite and unable to provide in-person appointments, so we were able to fill this gap in patient care. This experience of vaccinating patients during a pandemic has given me knowledge that I will take forward as we gear up for the upcoming flu season.”

Meghan Coon and preceptor

Meghan Coon and Kaitlyn McCullough (Rx2015) in the Bayridge Shopper’s Drug Mart

Dylan Da Silva Pereira in Barrie-Huntsville Region

“On rotation at the Costco Pharmacy in Barrie, I’ve seen how the pandemic has caused pharmacies to shift practices to adjust to the new normal. The biggest challenge I faced on rotation was adapting how I provided care to comply with public health recommendations to keep our patients and staff safe. When counseling on OTC products, rather than going into the aisle to speak with patients, we were trying to guide them through communicating through the plexiglass counseling windows.”

Communication was challenging at times with many patients struggling to understand us through the mask. We improvised to find new ways to get information across. We’re now providing more written communication and counselling over the phone. Dealing with a pandemic also puts on additional stress not just on patients but also on staff. During these times, we’ve had an increase in the volume of prescriptions and the number of patient questions. I’ve found that our patients were more comfortable seeking our help rather than going into a doctor’s office due to fear of the virus.

We’ve had challenges, but team and I have been able to deal with these increasing pressures while also providing the best care possible to the patients in the community. I’m grateful for the support of my preceptor Felix Ogundipe throughout it all.”

A coworker with Dylan and his supervisor standing in the pharmacy smiling

A coworker with Felix Ogundipe (middle) and Dylan Da Silva Pereira (right)

Wing Yee Sandy Lau in the London Region

“On rotation in the Adult Mental Health Unit at the Victoria Hospital in London, I have come to understand the magnitude of the impact that COVID has on mental health. I have gained a wealth of knowledge from my preceptors Rachel Fu, Rashma Khan and Brandon Leblanc, particularly on how to tailor the choice of psychotropic medications to patient characteristics and find the balance between benefits and risks of taking medications.”

In addition to pharmacotherapy, there are many other factors that contribute to a patient's deteriorating mental health status. These factors can be addressed by our allied healthcare providers. I feel lucky to have been able to be a part of the team because I was able to appreciate the delivery of quality care from an interprofessional perspective. I found it especially rewarding to be able to witness the positive impact that our care plans have on our patients. I continue to find value and meaning to the pharmacy profession and cannot wait to join my preceptors on the front lines!”

 Left to right: Brandon LeBlanc, Rachel Fu, Sandy Lau and Rashma Khan

Sandy and her preceptors. Left to right: Brandon LeBlanc, Rachel Fu, Sandy Lau and Rashma Khan