Alumni mentorship program participants

Mentee: Leni Salgado, BScPhm, RPh, CDE (she/they)

Leni graduated from Waterloo's School of Pharmacy in 2015 and is the current Regional Clinical Coordinator (RCC) for fourth-year Patient Care Rotations in the London/Rural Region. They coach pharmacists as part of the Quality Assurance Program at the Ontario College of Pharmacists, act as clinical preceptor to co-op and PharmD students and serve their local community as a Certified Diabetes Educator. They have always strived to educate, guide and mentor students and colleagues to push the profession forward.

After acquiring a repetitive strain injury in July 2020, Leni's expectation of continuing to work the frontlines was no longer realistic. They could no longer work many hours in a dispensary and it became obvious that it was time to consider pursuing other avenues of the pharmacy profession. The Women in Pharmacy Leadership program has allowed them to keep an open mind and explore non-traditional pharmacist options. Leni is grateful for being accepted as a mentee in the program as she navigates potential business, academia, and consulting experiences while being supported by a mentor with invaluable insight, experience, and wisdom. The opportunity for collaboration through shared learning has already presented itself and they are confident that all pairings will establish fruitful and long-lasting professional relationships within the pharmacy community. 

Mentor: Rosemarie Patodia, BScPhm, BCGP, CDE 

Rose graduated from the University of Toronto in 1991 and completed a hospital pharmacy residency. She has been a board-certified geriatric pharmacist since 1998 and has worked in various practice settings in Toronto, including community and teaching hospitals, community pharmacy and long-term care.  She also held a management position in the corporate office of a national pharmacy chain. Rose is currently a consultant pharmacist, serving as Editorial Director with Pear Healthcare Solutions, and Regional Clinical Coordinator with the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy. Rosemarie has been actively involved in pharmacist education throughout her career. She has developed several continuing education programs and has delivered numerous in-person presentations to the media, pharmacists, pharmacy students, other healthcare professionals and public groups, on various patient care-related topics. With the shift to virtual meetings and education, Rose has enthusiastically taken on the role of moderator and facilitator for several live programs. She recently obtained the Certified Diabetes Educator credential to enhance her ability to address the growing needs of people with diabetes and the healthcare professionals who care for them. 

"Getting involved in this program has been a wonderful opportunity to support my peers and reflect on the gifts that this profession has given me.  It is a reminder that we can all make a difference for others and that part of our individual growth occurs when we support the growth of others." 

Read more about their mentorship experience.

Mentee: Minh-Thu Nguyen, BSc, PharmD

Minh-Thu Nguyen earned both her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the University of Waterloo. Her interest in patient education began early on, and she continues to be passionate about the role of pharmacists in medication management. With an enjoyment of teaching and empowering patients to manage their chronic conditions, she began her career as a community pharmacist before becoming an ambulatory oncology pharmacist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Her focus is on systemic therapy in the outpatient setting, including standard of care treatment and clinical trials. 

Minh-Thu is a strong advocate for medication safety and inter-professional collaboration to improve patient outcomes. She is actively involved with initiatives related to quality improvement.

"I am incredibly grateful for this program. Having a mentor has been valuable in guiding me through my career path and strengthening skills that will allow me to navigate challenges. It is inspiring to participate in a program with esteemed female pharmacists."

Mentor: Miranda So, BScPhm, PharmD, MPH (Epidemiology)

Dr. Miranda So is the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Lead at the University Health Network, and Research Director of the SH-UHN ASP in Toronto, Ontario. She is a Clinician-Investigator with the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute. She is an Assistant Professor (Status-Only) at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, and Lecturer(Clinical) at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia. Miranda received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the University of Toronto, and Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from Harvard University. Her clinical practice and research focus on antimicrobial stewardship in haematology-oncology patients and organ transplant recipients. She is also pursuing research to understand the intersection of antimicrobial use, resistance, public health, and social inequities in our population.

What does this mentorship program mean to me, leadership and/or the future of women in pharmacy leadership?

Mentorship is crucial to our professionally development and success as an individual, irrespective of the stage of career one may be in. I wholeheartedly believe we should mentor women in pharmacy leadership positions, and any woman aspiring to be a leader. We have to do this for the health of our profession, the sustainability of our workforce, and to address the gender gap at the leadership level in the healthcare system. For that, I highly commend the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy for establishing this unique program to formalize mentorship support for its alumni. I believe in “paying it forward.” I have benefited from being mentored by others, and the best way to repay that debt is to mentor other women in our profession to help them accomplish what they aspire to do.    

Read more about their mentorship experience.

Mentee: Mirabella Chan, PharmD, RPh 

Mirabella Chan is a recent Rx2022 graduate. Aside from community pharmacy, Mirabella has explored unique roles in specialty pharmacy, corporate pharmacy head offices, and health-tech startups. Currently, she is completing an industry pharmacy residency in Medical Affairs at Sanofi. Mirabella also manages The Dosette, a digital pharmacy column that provides educational content and resources on health topics for both patients and health professionals.

“The Women in Pharmacy Leadership program empowers women to share and learn from each other’s experiences and break down barriers that have traditionally limited women's advancement in pharmacy leadership roles.”

Mentor: Aska Patel, BScPhm, PharmD, RPh

Aska Patel is a pharmacist, entrepreneur, patient advocate, and a thought leader in healthcare. Aska is a graduate of the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy and has worked as a pharmacist in community, hospital, government, and home care settings. She launched her entrepreneurial venture, Acuvise Consultancy Inc., providing healthcare consulting while joining a digital health venture as a startup advisor. 

Aska is passionate about creating opportunities for women in STEM and is an advocate for equitable healthcare. In her spare time, Aska enjoys creating interesting podcast conversations discussing the future of pharmacy, healthcare, and healthtech with global industry leaders, for her podcast, Diverse Conversations with Aska Patel.

Mentee: Parnian Ghafar

Mentor: Shelita Dattani

Mentee: Stacey D'Angelo, PharmD

Stacey D'Angelo is a Pharmacist and Founder of Your Simple Health, where she works directly with patients to help optimize, streamline, and reduce medication use. She specializes in pharmacogenomics and deprescribing. She brings together her knowledge of medication, entrepreneurial spirit, and a passion for holistic care to this innovative practice.   

Since graduating from the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy in 2012, Stacey has had a windy career path encompassing diverse roles. She started her practice as a clinical pharmacist in long-term care and was heavily involved in advocacy as a board director for the Ontario Pharmacists Association. She has had several entrepreneurial endeavours including previously owning a compounding pharmacy and clinic, as well as working as a consultant developing educational content for pharmacists. 

“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to participate in the WIPL program. I have been connected with an incredible mentor who has been providing me with guidance around strategy and a unique perspective that is helping me to take my business to the next level. I also love that the program brings together a supportive community of women leaders and provides unique professional development opportunities.” 

Mentor: Diane Stanley-Horn, MSc

Diane Stanley-Horn is an entrepreneur that is passionate about driving and supporting positive systemic change in the areas of social welfare, climate change and gender equality. With a diverse background in psychology, environmental biology and social entrepreneurship, Diane co-owned a sustainable, health and social services software company for 20 years until it was acquired in 2021, at which point she was able to retire and focus on other interests in the areas of climate action and gender equality.  

The Women in Pharmacy Leadership Program provides a wonderful opportunity to support emerging leaders. Though equally skilled and as capable as their male counterparts, female leaders are underrepresented in many professions. One of the barriers for female leaders is a relative lack of role-models and mentorship opportunities. As a female business owner who helped start and build a mid-sized company, and who was fortunate enough to benefit from mentorship myself, Diane understands many of the challenges leaders face, the tools that can help them succeed as they grow and the value of having someone in your court helping you along the way. She is excited to support a brilliant aspiring female leader in pharmacy in achieving her goals. 

Read more about their mentorship experience.

 Mentee: Tima Turjman, PharmD

Mentor: Carla Beaton, BScPhm

Carla Beaton is Vice President Quality Improvement and Innovations at Think Research (TRC) /  Pharmapod.  

Her career spans over 30 years in health care within the private and public sectors; including community, post-acute and long term care. She has also been involved at university and college levels in curriculum design, teaching and student mentorship. Carla has built on her Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy, advanced learning in Quality Improvement and Certificate in Geriatric Pharmacy, creatively intersecting the art and science of healthcare with innovation, technology, and industry. Carla is a thought leader in the area of innovation, blending design thinking, practice research, knowledge translation and quality improvement to enhance patient safety in medication management systems with workflow efficiencies. Carla currently drives business development through patient safety and clinical pharmacy innovations  at TRC Pharmapod, a patient safety software and global digital healthcare company. 

Mentee: Alina Rashid, HBSc, BScPhm, PharmD, ACPR, RPh

Dr. Alina Rashid is a health-care leader in oncology pharmacy practice. She is results-driven and passionate about quality improvement. She has background in working with both pediatric and adult patients at large teaching centres. She recently developed and launched the award-winning Oral Anticancer Therapy (OAT) program at William Osler Health System – a proactive pharmacist-led call-back program empowering patients on OAT to take charge of their medication management.

Alina holds a Doctor of Pharmacy and a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from University of Waterloo and has completed an Accredited Canadian Pharmacy Residency at Hamilton Health Sciences. Alina enjoys mentoring and coaching pharmacy learners and new pharmacists.

“Strong women leaders have encouraged me to pursue my goals of becoming a health-care leader. Opportunities such as the Women in Pharmacy Leadership Program will allow me to further develop my skills and help guide another generation of women in pharmacy.”

Mentor: Sheri DiGiovanni, BSc, BScPhm, RPh

Sheri is a diverse health-care leader practicing in the hospital setting. After graduating from the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy in 2011 Sheri started a career in hospital clinical pharmacy and practiced in numerous settings including surgery, medicine, pediatrics, and emergency. She then joined Listowel Wingham Hospitals Alliance as the Pharmacy Coordinator. Over time, Sheri’s role has expanded to include Management of the Oncology Department, and she is now the Manager of Diagnostic Imaging, Laboratory and Pharmacy across the two rural sites.

Sheri is married to a pharmacist who is a part-owner of a community pharmacy, and together they have two young boys. They enjoy spending time together outdoors as a family and being an active part of their community. 

"I have had great female mentors in my career, and I am honoured and excited to participate in this mentorship program. In this world things are changing rapidly, and one thing I have heard recently in relation to equity, diversity and inclusion is ‘no more baby steps.’ We have an opportunity to help make change and support the next group of female pharmacy leaders to participate in that change as well." 

Mentee: Ashley Gubbels-Smith, BSc, BScPhm, RPh 

Ashley Gubbels-Smith graduated with Waterloo Pharmacy’s vanguard class in 2011. She works at Roulston’s Pharmacy, a community pharmacy group in Norfolk County where she is the Designated Manager of Roulston’s Delhi location and the manager of the specialty compounding department at the Roulston’s Wellness Centre in Simcoe. She enjoys expanding her clinical knowledge through continuing education and has completed multiple compounding courses and is a certified diabetes educator.

Ashley has a passion for community pharmacy practice as it gives her opportunities to help improve the quality of life of her patients every day. She is also a mom of three beautiful children under the age of eight and enjoys spending her free time with them.

“CPhA’s report that 60-70% of staff pharmacists in Canada are women but only 33% of pharmacy owners are women shines a light on how many women are limited when it comes to upward mobility in the profession. It’s important to ensure women have the tools and resources to obtain those leadership roles. I aspire to be a pharmacy owner and to see many more women in the same position. Having more women at decision-making tables can influence what the future of pharmacy looks like.”

Mentor: Tania Little BScPhm, RPh, CDE, NCMP

Tania Little is part owner of Green Street Pharmasave and Fallowfield Pharmasave in Barrhaven, Ottawa.  She is passionate about providing patient focused care and as a Certified Diabetes Educator and Certified Menopause Practitioner, offers consultation services for diabetes and women’s health. She has established a rapport with local physicians as an expert in these fields and they often call upon her for her opinion or recommendation. She also receives physician referrals for specialized patient consultations and education. 

Tania continues to be involved with various national advisory committees for new diabetes medications as they prepare for market launch. She is also a member of SliDR (Scientific Literature Intelligent Discussion and Review), a regional group of diabetes educators in Ottawa who meet to discuss diabetes journal news and best practices.

Tania has been involved in co-presenting educational events with endocrinologists and gynecologists to family physician groups. She has also presented to community groups such as the Women’s Business Network of Ottawa. 

She and her husband enjoy family time with their teenage son and daughter.

“I feel fortunate to have started my career with two women pharmacy owners as role models. Seeing how they managed a pharmacy and family inspired me to pursue ownership on my own a few years after graduation. I wanted to provide unique, specialized care and as an owner, I have been able to implement patient-care programs that I am passionate about.

 Having benefited from strong women role models early in my career makes me excited to be part of a program like this. Hopefully we can all serve to inspire more women to pursue leadership roles in their pharmacy careers. I also hope to inspire my daughter to be a leader in any career that she chooses.”

Mentee: Danielle Paes, BSc, BScPhm, PharmD, RPh

Dr. Danielle Paes is the Chief Pharmacist Officer (CPO) at the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA), where she is driving strategic efforts towards advancing the profession of pharmacy with a focus on engagement, wellness, and diversity. As part of the management team, she provides guidance on issues facing the industry and acts as a key spokesperson for CPhA.

In addition to Danielle’s genuine passion for the profession, her diverse pharmacy portfolio, including hospital, community, and industry experience, offers her unique insight into the needs and perspectives of pharmacists across Canada.

When she’s not at work, Danielle enjoys spending time with her partner and their bright and curious infant daughter.

“Though women make up the majority of the pharmacy workforce, we continue to be underrepresented in management and decision-making roles. This pattern mirrors the general inequities seen in society, which is why it’s so important that we break the bias and actively work towards overcoming them.

Over the past several months, I’ve come to appreciate what taking on the position of CPO truly means, not just for me, but to the community of young women I represent. The significance of being in this leadership role and the symbolism it holds for BIPOC women in pharmacy is undeniable.”

Mentor: Bronwyn Clark DipPharm, MClinPharm, FPS, FRPharmS, GAICD

Bronwyn Clark is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC), the accreditation authority for pharmacy education. Her career spans practice in hospital and community pharmacy, primary care, academic detailing, education and regulation in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Bronwyn sits on several international pharmacy bodies, including as a Global Lead for Quality Assurance for the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and the International Committee for Lifelong Learning in Pharmacy conferences. She is the immediate past-Chair of the Health Professions Accreditation Collaborative Forum, representing the 16 regulated health professions in Australia, and has been recognised as a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Societies of both New Zealand and Great Britain.

A Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Bronwyn sits on the Board of Sexual Health and Family Planning (ACT). She is active in mentoring and supporting women in pharmacy leadership and governance.

“I was very lucky to have fabulous women mentors guiding me in my early career, and I initially didn’t realise how unusual that was. Despite us having a female-dominated profession, in many parts of our sector there is a paucity of woman leaders. I agree with the notion ‘you can’t be what you can’t see,’ and it is my passion to pass on the mantle to the next generation.”

Mentee: Denuja Raventhiran, BSc, PharmD, RPh

Dr. Denuja Raventhiran is a licensed Ontario pharmacist currently working in the pharmaceutical marketing industry as a strategist. She provides key clinical insights and medical expertise informed by her previous work in a range of practice environments. Her experience in medical and regulatory compliance is in multiple drug markets across Canada and the U.S.

Denuja holds a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Waterloo and a Bachelor of Science, double major in Medical Science and Biology, from Western University. 

“Women in leadership positions can elevate new voices at the intersection of pharmacy and business. Initiatives that empower women and underrepresented groups help to close the opportunity gap for these voices and contribute to better decision making and productive work environments.  I am looking forward to being part of an inspiring future.”

Mentor: Tonya Raman HBSc, BEd, MBA

Tonya Raman is a connected, actioned-oriented leader with a patient-centric mindset.  As a medical education manager at Janssen Inc., she designs and develops differentiated educational programs for health-care professionals and has been recognized for her innovations in launch leadership and novel programming. With pharmaceutical experience in marketing, sales, medical education and access she has honed the strategic mindset to quickly identify novel solutions. Leveraging her passion for patients, curiosity, and connectedness, she seeks to improve health outcomes for all patients.  Outside of work Tonya enjoys spending time with her family, playing tennis, skiing, and adventuring with her new dog.

“To me, mentoring women in pharmacy leadership is an opportunity to advance women in science and further deliver on my personal commitment to improving the lives of patients through health care.  To inspire, empower and be inspired through sharing our authentic experiences, we will create momentum for each other now and into the future. This type of energy is powerful.”

Mentee: Heather Foley, BSc, BScPhm, PharmD, ACPR, RPh

After graduating as part of Waterloo Pharmacy's vanguard class in 2011, Dr. Heather Foley has been on an adventure throughout the health-care system, involving herself with work in community pharmacies, hospital practice, primary care teams, academia and telehealth. Her involvement across the continuum of care has sparked a passion for medication lists. Yes, medication lists – unusual but incredibly important! Heather is now spending the second decade of her career working towards a future where every Canadian has an accurate and accessible medication list that is managed by their pharmacist.

Heather is a working mom of two, a step-mom of one, a wife, sister, daughter and auntie. She is a woman who fiercely believes in the capabilities of all women, and all pharmacists. By connecting with a mentor through the Women in Pharmacy Leadership Program, she hopes to gain new skills and knowledge that will help her to provide opportunities for many other pharmacists who wish to practice to their full potential.

"Leadership is a mindset; it means using courage and good sense to positively influence whichever things are within your control. With the proper mindset, tools and mentorship, every woman in the profession of pharmacy can be a leader, no matter their job title.”

Mentor: Pavithra Ravi, RPh, MPharm, MBA, LSSBB

Pavithra Ravi is a Product Director at Manulife Canada. She is a practicing pharmacist and runs a health-care consulting firm. As a pharmacist and entrepreneur, she has a passion for community pharmacy and patient-centered care innovation. She has worked with various PBMs, insurers, pharmaceutical companies, and health-care companies in supporting innovation and strategy. She comes with both a business and clinical background that allows her to tie together the different needs of the plan member. Pavithra obtained a Master of Pharmacy from Liverpool John Moores School of Pharmacy. She then moved to obtain her Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification and her Executive Master of Business Administration at the University of Fredericton.

“Women ascending to leadership roles carve the paths for those who follow. The next generation of women needs to see how their opportunities are boundless and that the passion they have can drive change.”

Mentee: Krystyna Edwards-Lee, BSc, BScPhm, PharmD, RPh

Dr. Krystyna Edwards-Lee is the clinical resource pharmacist for the New Brunswick Heart Centre in Saint John, NB. She has a clinical practice in cardiovascular critical care. Her focus is on improving pharmacy services for all cardiac patients across New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Krystyna is also a board member of the Canadian Cardiovascular Pharmacy Network.  

“There is a need for more women to be in health-care leadership to impact change that will improve the lives of both the patients we care for and for our co-workers. A culture shift is required so that organizations recognize that being a woman and having a family is not a weakness but an incredible strength.”  

Mentor: Jane Martin, BScPhm, ACPR, MBA

Jane Martin is currently the Vice President, Clinical and Diagnostics at Grand River Hospital with specific accountability for the laboratory, medical imaging and pharmacy services as well as the regional renal program.  She is also the Regional Vice President, Waterloo Wellington (WW) Regional Cancer Program.  A health-care executive with over 30 years experience, Jane holds a pharmacy degree from University of Toronto, a MBA from McMaster University and completed a hospital pharmacy residency at London Health Sciences Centre.  Jane has worked as a Director of Pharmacy at a number of hospitals in WW and as a consultant and guest lecturer at the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy.

In her role as VP/RVP, Jane champions a vision of service excellence and participates in hospital and provincial strategic planning.  She enjoys affecting change at the provincial and systems level as well as working collaboratively with others in the health-care system to achieve strategic objectives. 

"Throughout my career, I have been very fortunate to have received encouragement and guidance from strong women role models in leadership positions.  It is important that we continue to coach and mentor  emerging women leaders to achieve their personal and professional goals and to benefit from their impact on the health-care system.”