On June 15, 50 bridging students and five graduate students received their degrees at the University of Waterloo spring convocation.
“We’re proud of everything our graduates have accomplished so far and we look forward to seeing the contributions they will make to improving healthcare and the lives of Canadians over the course of their careers,” says the Waterloo Pharmacy’s Hallman Director David Edwards.
The bridging graduates are practicing pharmacists who have already completed a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree at Waterloo Pharmacy. However, changes in the profession across the country resulted in a new entry-to-practice degree – the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), which has increased requirements for clinical education. The PharmD bridging program was created to allow our Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy Graduates to earn a PharmD.
Bridging graduates from the Pharmacy class of 2012 with their new PharmD degrees
The bridging program focuses on the development of advanced clinical expertise and consists of 5 courses. It is available to Waterloo BScPhm grads anywhere in North America, regardless of their geographic location or place of employment. Its flexible and innovative design combines distance education, video-conferencing, and in-person workshops to educate and assess participants. As of the spring convocation, 40 percent of students enrolled in Waterloo Pharmacy’s bridging program have successfully completed the program.
The five graduate students who earned their degrees at spring convocation showcase the diversity of the Waterloo Pharmacy graduate program. Their research areas ranged from designing novel compounds to treat Alzheimer’s disease to exploring how pharmacists interact with patients experiencing chronic pain. As of spring 2017, 33 MSc students and six PhD students have completed the School’s graduate program.
Both groups of graduates joined Waterloo Pharmacy faculty and staff for a reception before heading to main campus for the official convocation ceremony.
Congratulations to all our graduates!