Nardine Nakhla

Clinical Lecturer

Nardine Nakhla Dr. Nakhla is a community pharmacist and academic with interest in minor ailments, self-care, and non-prescription medications. Since 2008, Dr. Nakhla has designed and delivered curricular content on the assessment of self-treating patients, common illnesses and self-medication using over-the-counter (OTC) medicines in both the lecture and practical laboratory setting. She has spoken at provincial, national and international meetings on these subjects, and has written a chapter for the Canadian Minor Ailments reference. In addition, Dr. Nakhla is a columnist for Pharmacy Practice+, blogging regularly about common and current issues related to OTC counselling.

Contact information
Office: PHR 7006
Phone: 519-888-4567 ext. 21340
Email: nnakhla@uwaterloo.ca
Website: Self Care News

Expertise

Clinical and economic outcomes of pharmacist’s prescribing for minor/common ailments
The role of community pharmacists in assessment and triaging self-treating patients
Nonprescription therapeutics
Self-care
Expanded Scope of Practice for Pharmacists

Research and Clinical Practice

Dr. Nakhla’s research interests include the impact of minor ailment prescribing by pharmacists on patient and health system outcomes. She is also interested in examining factors influencing OTC product selection and patient counseling.

In addition, Dr. Nakhla is dedicated and actively involved in the education and empowerment of community-based patients, pharmacists and healthcare providers regarding the safe and appropriate use of non-prescription medications.

Teaching

Dr. Nakhla teaches at the undergraduate level. Course offerings have included:

PHARM 129 Professional Practice I
PHARM130: Professional Practice II
PHARM 228 Professional Practice III
PHARM 362 Advanced Patient Self-Care
PHARM 472 Community Practice in a Changing Environment
PHARM 291 Seminars in Pharmacy II
PHARM 131 Professional Practice Lab I

Highlighted Publications

Peer-reviewed books/chapters

Nakhla N. Chapter 9: Disorders Related to Menstruation. In: Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. 20th ed. Washington, DC: American Pharmacists Association. Submitted January 24, 2020 (in press).

Nakhla N. Richard C. Infant Nutrition. In: Compendium of Therapeutics for Minor Ailments. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Pharmacists Association. Submitted October 31, 2019 (in press).

Nakhla N. Patient Self-Care and Minor Ailments. In: Compendium of Therapeutics for Minor Ailments. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Pharmacists Association. [Revised: August 1, 2019]. https://myrxtx.ca.
Nakhla N. Pharmacist Process for Care of the Self-Treating Patient. In: Compendium of Therapeutics for Minor Ailments. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Pharmacists Association. [Revised August 1, 2019]. https://myrxtx.ca.
Butt K. Nakhla N. Diaper Dermatitis. In: Compendium of Therapeutics for Minor Ailments. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Pharmacists Association. [Revised: November 19, 2019]. https://myrxtx.ca.
Nakhla N. Chapter 720: Self-Care/ Over-the-counter drugs/ Minor Ailments in Pharmacy Practice. In: Babar, Zaheer-ud-din. Encyclopedia of Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Pharmacy. 1st edition. Huddersfield: Elsevier Academic Press, 2019:395-417.
Nakhla N. Pharmacist Assessment of the Self-Treating Patient. In: Jovaisas B. Compendium of Therapeutics for Minor Ailments. 2nd ed. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Pharmacists Association; 2016:20-25. Available online, published April 1, 2016.

Authorship of white papers

Nakhla N. Killeen R. Butt K. National Pharmacist-Led Smoking Cessation Initiative. January 21, 2019. 32 Pages.

Peer-reviewed manuscripts

Kim JJ, Tian AH, Pham L, Nakhla N, Houle S, Wong WL, Alsabbagh W. Economic evaluation of pharmacists prescribing for minor ailments in Ontario, Canada: A cost-minimization analysis. JAPhA. 2020 May; In review (manuscript #JAPHA-D-20-00204).

Nakhla N, Black E, Abdul-Fattah H, Taylor J. Self-care education across Canadian pharmacy schools: Curriculum Survey Findings. Can Pharm J (Ott). In-press (manuscript #CPJ-20-0006).
Malik P, Nakhla N. An infographic assignment to translate self-care therapeutics into practical application. Innovations in Pharmacy. 2020;11(1). doi: 10.24926/iip.v11i1.2333

Hayes KN, Nakhla N, Tadrous M. Further Evidence to Monitor Chronic Proton Pump Inhibitor Use. JAMA Network Open. 2019;2(11):e1916184. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.16184
Martinez L, Nakhla N, Ekman E. Perioperative Opioid-Sparing Strategies: The Utility of Conventional NSAIDs in Adults. Clinical Therapeutics. 2019 Nov 13; pii: S0149-2918(19)30498-9. doi: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2019.10.002
Cook B, Guo Y, Nakhla N, Tadrous M, Maxwell C. Frailty awareness and assessment: Exploring the link between pharmacists’ beliefs and behaviours. Can Pharm J (Ott). 2019 Sep-Oct; 152(5): S1–S43. doi:10.1177/1715163519874072
Martinez L, Nakhla N, Ekman E. Perioperative Opioid Sparing: The Utility of Conventional NSAIDs in Adults. PAINWeek Abstract Book 2018. Postgraduate Medicine. 2018;130(sup1):1-91. doi:10.1080/00325481.2018.1512253
Nakhla N, Killeen R. Letter to the Editor: Comment on “The Role of Medications in Causing Dry Eye”. Journal of Ophthalmology, vol. 2018, Article ID 7396982, 2 pages, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/7396982/
Armstrong D, Nakhla N. Non-prescription proton-pump inhibitors for self-treating frequent heartburn: the role of the Canadian pharmacist. Pharmacy Practice. 2016 Oct-Dec;14(4):868. doi:10.18549/PharmPract.2016.04.868.

Awards and Distinctions

2020 Excellence in Science Teaching Award, University of Waterloo
2020 Outstanding Performance Award, University of Waterloo
2019 Excellence in Pharmacy Teaching Award, University of Waterloo
2015 University of Waterloo Student Support Recognition Award

Professional Associations and Service

Licensed pharmacist with the Ontario College of Pharmacists (License #608193)
Pharmacist & Owner – Ash Medical Pharmacy Member
Member, Ontario College of Pharmacists, Minor Ailments Advisory Group (MAAG)
Chair & Founder, AFPC Self-Care Therapeutics and Minor Ailments Special Interest Group (SIG)
Member, Nonprescription Medicines Academy (NMA)

Highlighted Media

· Inhalers, blood pressure meds top list of drug shortages reported by Canadian pharmacists. Email Interview (with Brooklyn Neustaeter) for CTV News. May 27, 2020.

o CTV News. Available online, published May 27, 2020.

· Popular infant teething gels removed from Canadian pharmacies without notice. Phone Interview (with Michelle Ward) for CBC News. January 9, 2020.

o CBC News. Available online, published January 29, 2020.

· Moving Benadryl behind the counter doesn’t resolve safety concerns: pharmacists. Phone Interview (with Michelle Ward) forThe Associated Press. November 16, 2019.

o CBC. Available online, published December 3, 2019.

o CTV. Available online, published December 3, 2019.

o Global News. Available online, published December 3, 2019.

o 204fitness. Available online, published December 3, 2019.

o Coast Mountain News. Available online, published December 3, 2019.

· Pharmacists want to prescribe medication for more minor ailments. CBC Canada (by Kas Roussy). Toronto, Ontario. Available online, published November 25, 2019.

o The National. Available online, aired on November 20, 2019.

o The Evan Solomon Show on iHeart Radio. Available online, aired on November 25, 2019.

o The Morning Show on Global News Radio, 640 Toronto. Aired on November 26, 2019.

o Alex Pierson on AM640, aired on November 27, 2019.

· Health Canada’s ALERTEC Pregnancy Advisory. Email Interview (with Amina Zafar) from CBC National News Health Unit. June 20, 2019.

· ‘Poor man’s methadone’: Imodium is a potentially fatal high. CBC Canada (by Kas Roussy). Toronto, Ontario.

o The National with Peter Mansbridge. Available online, aired 10pm on May 11, 2017.

o The World at Six. Available online (select 6pm time slot), published May 11, 2007.

o CBC Marketplace & News: Health. Available online, published May 12, 2017.

o CBC Radio Canada International. Available online, published May 12, 2017.

o Face-to-face Interview with CBC Canada (by Marcy Cuttler). Toronto, Ontario. April 25, 2017.

· TransEd Video Project: Educating healthcare students about transgender patients. University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy & McMaster School of Medicine Initiative. Served as an actor and contributor to project. Kitchener, Ontario. Available online, published November 2016.