Community Action Now members. Top row: Randilynne Urslak, Pruntha Kanagasundaram, Melissa Abraham. Bottom row: Kajal Mehta, Andy Kwok, Hanein Madlol
Change is afoot at Waterloo Pharmacy. In January, Andrea Edginton, the School’s new Hallman Director began her term. The University of Waterloo announced a new Innovation Arena to be built on the Health Sciences Campus. And, of course, COVID-19 continues to impact pharmacy education.
By Lilian Toma
Lilian Toma started her Master of Science in Pharmacy in September 2020 when the University of Waterloo was operating primarily online with limited building access for essential work only. In this article, Lilian reflects on her grad school experience so far.
On grad school during COVID-19
The White Coat Ceremony is a staple of health care education programs across the country. New students are welcomed by practitioners of their chosen profession and are helped into white coats for the first time. This year, Waterloo Pharmacy’s white coat ceremony moved online, and the newest class of pharmacy students, Rx2024, was welcomed virtually.
PhD candidates Heba Alattas (left) and Shirley Wong’s (right) study examining the Rex phenotype was highlighted by GENETICS, a top-tier research journal
In Beyond Expectations, Waterloo Pharmacy’s strategic plan, the Pharmacy team identified a goal of “maintaining an environment and culture that empowers faculty, staff, and students to reach their potential and enables the achievement of the mission and vision of the School.”
Professional burnout is a serious risk in health-care. This fact is on full display during a global pandemic that has raged for nearly a year. Health-care providers’ (HCP) daily work demands great care, constant engagement with others and meticulous problem-solving. When HCP burnout occurs, patient health or satisfaction often suffers.
When COVID-19 struck, Waterloo Pharmacy’s Undergraduate Affairs team dramatically shifted how they offer admissions interviews. The interviews, typically conducted in person with hundreds of interviewers and prospective students, were moved entirely online.
The transition was a success in many ways and brought with it lessons the team will take forward in future years. But one unexpected silver lining stood out.
The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines have fueled both hope and falsehood. Here, professor Kelly Grindrod debunks the most common myths she and her colleagues have heard about the new COVID-19 protection.
Myth: mRNA vaccines change a person’s DNA:
On February 1, 2021, Professor Shawn Wettig will begin his two-year tenure as the Assistant Vice-President, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs.