Alumni Spotlight

Alumni smiling and standing in front of a Waterloo Pharmacy banner

Our alumni work across the country and beyond, serving patients in community pharmacies, hospitals, and more. See their experiences here.

Chris Hartman and Sammy Shahato, a fourth year pharmacy student on rotations

Independent community practice during COVID-19

The pandemic has tested Ben and Chris’ management skills and pushed them to adapt or temporarily postpone some of those services.

“Ingersoll’s a small community and we know our patients really well,” Ben says. “Many are seniors who work in or are retired from the auto or agricultural industry. As the pandemic ramped up, we saw an increased need for pharmacy services from the entire community.”

Read Ben and Chris' story.

Purya Sarmad, Rui Su, and Nicholas Hui

Alumnus digital platform expands pharmacy care

Rui Su is used to rejection. The Rx2018 pharmacy grad has worn many hats over the years, but the one that suits her best is trailblazer. Su is an entrepreneur committed to improving Canada’s health-care system. On this journey, she’s learned that rejection is part of the process.

Read Rui's story.

Fatimah wearing a mask

Alumnus Fatimah Jaffer talks being a hospital pharmacist in England during the pandemic

Fatimah Jaffer (Rx2015) vividly remembers a conversation with coworkers back in February. They were discussing one of the first COVID-19 patients admitted to the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, North London, England.

“One of the doctors asked a senior pharmacist what blood work he should monitor for a patient who tested positive for COVID,” she says. “The pharmacist said she didn’t know. And how could she? No one knew anything about this new virus. One week, we were avoiding ibuprofen and a few weeks later it was being investigated as a treatment option.”

Read Fatimah's story.

Alumni standing in pharmacy lobby and smiling

 

Community pharmacists

Denise Kreutzwiser, HIV specialist and world traveller

Angela Puim, co-owner and operator of Preston Medical Pharmacy

Cindy Durant, Nova Scotian pharmacist at community pharmacy

Matt DiGiovanni, pharmacist and co-owner of a Wingham pharmacy

Michael Kani (Rx2014), owner/operator of Michael's Remedy'sRx in Saskatoon

Marissa Belcamino (Rx2016), clinical pharmacist in Thunder Bay, Onatrio

Sarah Mann (Rx2017), clinical pharmacist in Edmonton, Alberta

Chris Voss (Rx2019), community pharmacist in Iqaluit, Nunavut

Jeannine Oliver (Rx2011), community pharmacist owner in Guelph, Ontario

Hospital pharmacists

Sheri DiGiovanni (Rx2011), pharmacy coordinator with Listowel Wingham Hospitals Alliance

Lindsay Bennett (Rx2011), clinical pharmacist at Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre

Mike Collins (Rx2011), oncology pharmacist at Grand River Hospital

Anthony Amadio (Rx2011), clinical pharmacy specialist at Kelowna Hospital in BC

Matthew Demarco (Rx2011), Sudbury hospital pharmacist with cardiology specialty

Krystyna Edwards-Lee (Rx2011), clinical resource pharmacist in St John, New Brunswick

Steve Danylchuk (Rx2012), clinical pharmacist in emergency department in Red Deer, Alberta

Robyn McArthur (Rx2013), emergency department pharmacist at a hospital

Lisa Yip (Rx2013), clinical/research support pharmacist at the B.C. Children’s Hospital

Nehal Patel (Rx2014), pharmacist on Multi-Organ Transplant Program

Ryan Vanderkruk (Rx2017), pharmacist at Stanton Memorial Hospital in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

Jenna Jenkins (Rx2019), hospital pharmacist in Iqaluit, Nunavut

Amanda Dhawan (Rx2017), hospital pharmacist in Mississauga, Ontario

Family health team pharmacists

Jeff Wong (Rx2011), FHT pharmacist and diversity instructor

Bridget Braceland (Rx2011), FHT pharmacist with chronic disease focus

Lucy Feng (Rx2012), Hamilton clinical pharmacist and academic detailer

Jillian Bauer (Rx2014), clinical pharmacist in a family health team

Other health-care pharmacy roles

Marc-André Gravel (Rx2011), executive director of northern Ontario health centre

Heather Foley (Rx2011), transitions of care specialist and case manager

Greg Becotte (Rx2011), inner-city pharmacist in Vancouver and outdoors enthusiast

Aliya Kassamali (Rx2011), entrepreneur and co-founder of digital tool for pharmacists

Stacey D'Angelo (Rx2012), OPA Board of Directors District N Representative

Artyom Korenevsky (Rx2013), Pharmacy Officer with the Canadian Armed Forces

Saleema Bhaidani (Rx2014), director at Whole Health Pharmacy Plus

Marvin Ng (Rx2015), Manager of Pharmacy Programs with McKesson Canada

Nikki Domanski (Rx2017), clinical pharmacist and lecturer in Vancouver, British Columbia

Pioneering Practice - Insights from Alumni Innovators

Pioneering Practice is a column that features alumni articles featuring unique areas of expertise and practice.

Do you do something novel in your practice that you’d like to share? Let us know and could be the next author of a Pioneering Practice article.

Steacey D'Angelo in a graduation gown.

We want you to stay in touch!

Your involvement as students was so important to the development of our school. Now as alumni, you can continue to have an impact and inspire our future graduates.

Do you have a new job? Getting married? Travelling? We want to hear from you. Send your stories and photos to Mary Stanley, our Associate Director, Development and Alumni Affairs.