Did you know that pharmacists work far beyond the community pharmacy counter? From hospitals to industry, entrepreneurship to research, pharmacy graduates have more career options now than ever before.
The School of Pharmacy launched the first offering of PHARM 150: World of Pharmacy - From Drug Discovery to Patient Care this fall, a new course open to all University of Waterloo undergraduate students in second year or higher, who have completed a basic chemistry course. Designed for students interested in health sciences, drug development or clinical practice, PHARM 150 provides foundational knowledge of the pharmacy profession. With reserved seats for Faculty of Science undergraduate students, the course offers an accessible entry point into the science and practice of pharmacy.
“I’m not exactly sure what field of science I want to pursue, so I took this course to explore pharmacy, medicine and patient care,” says Artemis Cam, second-year general science student. “I was curious as to what those fields are like and the different opportunities in those areas. I recommend PHARM 150 to other students interested in different pharmacy paths.”
Students enrolled in PHARM 150 will learn about all aspects of pharmacy, opening their eyes to unique and diverse career options. With Ontario’s newly expanded scope, pharmacists can now provide care to their full scope, giving pharmacists the ability to follow their passions. In addition to career direction and clinical practice, the course also focuses on drug discovery and development, drug manufacturing and pharmaceutical patent law.
The course helps students align academic and career goals while earning courses towards their degree. Sharujan Satheeswaran, a fourth-year biochemistry student, plans to apply to pharmacy school or to pursue a master’s degree in pharmacy.
“I am eager to pursue a career in the pharmacy field. PHARM 150 gave me the chance to explore diverse pharmacy opportunities and to deepen my understanding of drug targets, drug discovery, the drug approval process and different types of pharmacy practice,” he says.
Students delved into a comprehensive overview of drug discovery and development, exploring how new medications are researched and brought to market, as well as the scientific foundations behind drug molecules and the clinical concepts that underpin pharmacy practice and patient care.
“PHARM 150 has ignited my interest in pursuing a PharmD to prepare me to become a pharmacist and pursue research in compounding, industry and medicinal development,” says Noah Wong, a fourth-year honours biology with bioinformatics student. “I want to build on my bioinformatics background to apply structural genomics in identifying new drug targets.”
Taught by Dr. Annemarie Dedek, assistant professor at the School of Pharmacy, PHARM 150 not only provided an overview of pharmacy but also featured guest lecturers from the School, experts in industry, veterinary compounding and law. These sessions gave students a glimpse into what’s possible with a PharmD and inspired them to explore pharmacy paths, both traditional pharmacy careers and those beyond medication reviews.
“I wanted to learn more about the pharmacy profession and gain a deeper understanding of how drugs are discovered, developed and brought to patients,” says Anjali Narsingh, fourth-year honours science student. “The course broadened my understanding of pharmacy by highlighting the differences between various pharmacy environments. Learning how the role of a community pharmacist differs from a hospital pharmacist helped me appreciate how diverse and multifaceted the profession truly is.”