Aliya Kassamali is a pharmacist and entrepreneur who co-founded Karus Health, an online platform that connects pharmacists to patients. She is also a member of the PharmD bridging program.
Where They're Working
Even in pharmacy school, Aliya had an interest in entrepreneurship.
“I really enjoyed the business classes I took in pharmacy school, and sought out a class option to work with Roderick Slavcev to start an online skin care blogging business,” she reflects.
This interest in technology and health care continued post-graduation. Working in community pharmacy, Aliya realized that many patients had questions about OTC products and often had misconceptions. Online information was usually unreliable and confusing for patients.
“I had the idea to create an evidence-based resource that would be helpful for both pharmacists and patients. I started the Health Aisle blog so that we’d have a source for unbiased and easy to understand information.”
Aliya maintains the blog and has partnered with the University of Alberta pharmacy school to get students to help write and research articles.
Last year, Aliya decided to take her passion for entrepreneurship one step further: she enrolled in the Maters of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (MBET) program at the University of Waterloo.
Reflections
on
the
Program
"In school, I was able to do some interesting things that really helped me understand the role a pharmacist can play both locally and globally. I published an article in the Canadian Pharmacists Journal and worked on research papers with the International Pharmaceutical Federation in the Netherlands around the pharmacist’s role in neonatal and child health."
“I’m always thinking of start-up ideas, but realized I needed help with execution, strengthening my business knowledge and gaining some more confidence to get a start-up off the ground,” said Aliya.
“From my work experience, I understood the challenges of educating patients on what services a pharmacist can offer,” explains Aliya, reflecting on how Karus Health originated. “Incorporating clinical services into the regular workflow, tracking patient options – technology can facilitate how we do all this and can improve our engagement with patients.”
Aliya and her co-founder (left) are in the process of testing Karus Health with pharmacist owners, pharmacists, and patients. Based on feedback, they are creating a beta-version which is slated to launch in January 2019.
Alumni Answers
UW: Do you think pharmacists have a big role to play in technological innovation in health care?
AK: Innovation is critical if pharmacists want to play a bigger role in the health care system and educate other health care professionals and patients about their role. It’s also important that pharmacists are the ones creating technologies for pharmacists and pharmacies because they know the profession best.
UW: What advice to you have for pharmacists interested in entrepreneurial pursuits?
AK: There’s lots to explore within pharmacy and also how the practice of pharmacy integrates into the wider delivery of health care - so take advantage of different opportunities and think creatively.
Non-Pharm Fun
