The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) leads Pharmacy Appreciation Month (PAM), a national campaign, annually in March to celebrate pharmacy across Canada.
This year’s Pharmacy Appreciation Month theme is “Experience the power of pharmacy” and recognizes the important contributions of pharmacy professionals. Our students are the future of pharmacy. We’re highlighting some of our Rx2025 student leaders, their experiences as Waterloo Pharmacy students and what harnessing the power of pharmacy means to them: Chiquitah Paul, Jason Tsang, Lindsay Zhao and Sean Park.
Q&A with the students
Why did you choose pharmacy?
CP: I ultimately chose pharmacy due to the high-level of care we provide to our patients every single day. There are definitely tough days, but I keep going back to my why – and that is to provide holistic care to every patient that I interact with.
SP: At first, I was drawn into pharmacy due to my academic interests and the versatile application of research. A holistic experiential learning opportunity offered by the School through co-op experiences has allowed me to appreciate various sectors of pharmacy and the impact a pharmacy student can have in these settings.
What does harnessing the power of pharmacy practice mean to you?
CP: The power of pharmacy indicates growth to me. With the expanded scope of practice, I appreciate that the public is finally seeing what pharmacists can do with their education. We are healthcare providers that are equipped with the skills, knowledge and expertise to optimize medication management.
JT: The power of pharmacy to me is to be a liaison between all avenues, ultimately being the one who brings balance into a patient’s circle of care. As pharmacists, we are the ones who have some of the most contact with our patients and we must listen and use our skills to advocate for them, especially when working with members of their care team.
LZ: One of, if not the most, valuable skills for a pharmacist is the ability to forge connections with their patients to provide empathetic, patient-centred, and compassionate care. Essentially, the power of pharmacy lies in forging meaningful connections by advocating for patient health and ensuring comprehensive care.
SP: The curriculum here at the School taught me the valuable impact of pharmacists in diverse settings. The power of pharmacy reflects diverse career options and the ability for pharmacists to find an area of practice where they can serve patients the best based on their interests, strengths, passions, and more.
L-R top row: Jason Tsang, Sean Park. L-R bottom row: Chiquitah Paul, Lindsay Zhao.
What are you looking forward to within the pharmacy field?
JT: I’m most looking forward to the utilization of technology in the pharmacy field, most notably, AR (alternate reality). With the introduction of such new powerful technologies, I am excited to see what the future holds with giving healthcare providers the opportunities to utilize them to provide patient-centered care.
LZ: I’m excited about the changes that have been made in the pharmacy profession recently, especially the changes to scope of practice that have been spreading across the provinces! I look forward to seeing how the profession continues to evolve in Canada even as we reach a seemingly full scope of practice in legislation.
March is Pharmacy Appreciation Month. This month, in our #PAM2024 series, the School of Pharmacy is highlighting the power of pharmacy.