LESLIE DAN FACULTY OF PHARMACY
FALL 2015
RXCELLENCE BOUNDLESS INNOVATION Advancing Groundbreaking Pharmacy Research
THE FUTURE OF PHARMACY Shaping student life and learning
PUTTING PATIENTS FIRST Lesley Lavack leaves behind a lasting legacy of patient focused care
BRIDGING THE GAP
Linking cancer biology to clinical trials
The University of Toronto’s historic $2 billion campaign is fuelling groundbreaking research, teaching, discovery and innovation. We are creating handheld devices that detect disease in minutes, exploring cleaner forms of energy, deepening our understanding of nature, and reimagining the future of cities. We are pushing the limits of knowledge, driving innovation and social progress, and giving bright students, no matter what neighbourhood they grew up in, a chance to shine. Our community of supporters makes this possible. Let’s continue to cross boundaries, challenge convention and tackle the issues we care about. And let’s do it together. To learn more visit boundless.utoronto.ca
From the Dean
ONE YEAR IN
Looking back over my first year as Dean of the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, I cannot help but think of how truly fortunate I am to join the long line of outstanding leaders of this great Faculty. Norman Hughes, William Alexander, Ross Baxter, Don Perrier, Wayne Hindmarsh and Henry Mann all transformed our Faculty and it is my intention to build on their legacy and continue the tradition of excellence that they began. Under their leadership, the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy has grown to become the largest pharmacy faculty in Canada with a reputation as a world leader in pharmacy education and research. We have achieved this status through innovation, which has been part of our fabric from the very start. As Dean, my vision is to continue this tradition of outstanding innovation to position our Faculty as one of the most prominent pharmacy faculties in the world. We will achieve this vision by attracting the best and brightest students and providing them with the best possible educational experience and through groundbreaking research in pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical sciences. A wonderful example of this was on June 5th, 2015, when the first class of students in the new entry-to-practice PharmD program graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. This class of graduates from our new curriculum best illustrates how we are advancing to meet the needs of the profession. We are preparing the next generation
of pharmacists to stand at the forefront of the change in the scope of practice, by providing them with a host of educational programs designed to prepare them to participate fully as members of an increasingly interdisciplinary health care system. Knowing how incredibly demanding pharmacy school is, one of our priorities is to increase our support for students. As you will read on page 34, significantly increasing the size and number of scholarships, merit-based awards and bursaries available to students at the Faculty allows us to attract the best and brightest students, like Erin Bezzina, ensuring that they receive a premium education from leaders in the pharmacy profession. As a research-intensive Faculty, we are constantly pushing the boundaries of pharmacy and pharmaceutical science research. Broad and multidisciplinary, research at our Faculty includes development of some of the most innovative methods of cancer detection and treatment; drug discovery and delivery; investigation into new models of pharmacy practice, management and the impacts on health outcomes; as well as clinical and policy research exploring natural health products and other complementary medicines. These are areas of strength for the Faculty and also areas of need for the profession and industry. In light of this, we are building three innovative, world-class research centres of excellence: the Centre for Practice Excellence, the Centre for Pharmaceutical Oncology, and the Centre for Integrative Medicine. You can read more about all three centres and our innovative research in our main feature: Boundless Innovation starting on page 17. Finally, as you can see from this issue of our Alumni Magazine, we are also taking an innovative and creative approach to Alumni Relations at the Faculty. Our alumni have been the bedrock of our Faculty for generations and we could not have achieved all that we have without your commitment and support. You can look forward to enhanced communications from the Faculty, more events, receptions and reunions, and many more opportunities for engagement with the Faculty. Our Faculty has a storied past and an incredibly bright future. We have lofty ambitions, but we have an outstanding network of alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students that can assist us in helping achieve our goals. Together, we can lead the profession forward and advance the health and prosperity of our communities. I look forward to sharing with you some of our recent accomplishments and milestones through these pages, and I welcome your continued support and contributions.
HEATHER BOON DEAN, LESLIE DAN FACULTY OF PHARMACY
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UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LESLIE DAN FACULTY OF PHARMACY ALUMNI MAGAZINE
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BOUNDLESS INNOVATION How the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy is driving the profession forward.
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CENTRE FOR PRACTICE EXCELLENCE Unleashing the potential of Pharmacy by providing the education, training, research and innovation to drive the profession forward.
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CENTRE FOR PHARMACEUTICAL ONCOLOGY Linking cancer biology to clinical trials.
24 STUDENT LIFE & LEARNING
The next generation of influential Canadian pharmacists, researchers and innovators.
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UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LESLIE DAN FACULTY OF PHARMACY
Departments
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6 FACULTY NEWS 8 ALUMNI RELATIONS
A message from David White
Departments
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10 PAST EVENTS 6 FACULTY NEWS 12 Q+A
8 ALUMNI RELATIONS
With Ryan McGuire A message from David White 30 ANNUAL FUND PAST EVENTS 34 10 DONOR PROFILE 12 Q+A
36 LESLEY LAVACK With Ryan McGuire 38 CLASS NOTES 30 ANNUAL FUND 34 DONOR PROFILE 36 LESLEY LAVACK 38 CLASS NOTES
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Editor Charitable Rxcellence magazine is All correspondence and Published by the Editor Charitable Rxcellence magazine is All correspondence and Published by the published annuallyannually sent sent undeliverable copies: Erika Rueter Erika Rueter Registration Leslie Dan FacultyLeslie Dan Faculty Registration published undeliverable copies: BN1081 62330 RR0001 to 8,000toalumni, parents, BN1081 62330 RR0001 8,000 alumni, parents, Rxcellence magazine, of Pharmacy, Rxcellence magazine, of Pharmacy, friends and associates friends and associates Art Direction & Art DirectionEditorial & Leslie DanDan Faculty ofofPharmacy, Leslie Faculty Pharmacy, Office Office of Advancement Editorial Office Office of Advancement Design Design of the Faculty. of the Faculty. College Street, Toronto, 144 144 College Street, Toronto, Tel 416 946 5554 Tel 416 946 5554 and Alumni Affairsand Alumni Affairs Katina Constantinou, Ontario CanadaM5S M5S3M2 3M2 Katina Constantinou, Ontario Canada All material is copyright Fax 416 946 0430 All material is copyright Fax 416 946 0430 Fall 2015 Sugar Design Sugar Design © 2015, and may not be Fall 2015 Do we have your correct address © 2015, and may not be Do we have your correct address Visit us online at reprinted without the Photography Visit & and contact details? Please us online at reprinted without the Photography & contact details? Please pharmacy.utoronto.ca express written permission and let us know of any corrections: inIllustration Illustration pharmacy.utoronto.ca express of written permission let us of any corrections: the author. Raina+Wilson in 416know 946 5554 or email of the author. Raina+WilsonSébastien Thibault 416 erika.rueter@utoronto.ca 946 5554 or email Sébastien Thibault erika.rueter@utoronto.ca
ISSN 2369-5595
ISSN 2369-5595
Printed Canada Printed in in Canada
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Faculty News
THE FACULTY IS PLEASED TO WELCOME OUR NEWEST FACULTY MEMBERS JOHN FARRELL has joined the Faculty as a Lecturer and the Executive Director of the Centre for Practice Excellence. In this role, he will work closely with the Centre’s Academic Director, Professor Zubin Austin, to further the education, research and best practice components of the Centre. Mr. Farrell will also be teaching in the PharmD program and will be responsible for the evolving management and leadership themes in the curriculum. Mr. Farrell has over 20 years of experience in clinical and management roles in health care both in the United Kingdom and Canada. He completed his pharmacy training in the United Kingdom where he also worked as a Policy Lead and Professional Advisor for the Department of Health, and as Director of Pharmacy for the University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust Foundation. DR. SARA GUILCHER (MScPT 0T3; PhD 1T2) has been appointed Assistant Professor working in the social and administrative pharmacy/pharmacy practice areas. She has completed two Masters Degrees – one in Physical Therapy at the University of Toronto and one in Psychology at the University of Western Ontario. Dr. Guilcher did her PhD at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto and has over ten years of diverse health care experience across research, education, clinical practice, and project management. DR. ALEKSANDRA (SANDRA) BJELAJAC MEJIA has joined the Faculty as the Director of the Doctor of Pharmacy program. She comes to the Faculty from the Hospital for Sick Children where she held a variety of positions including Clinical Pharmacy Manager and Education Coordinator, Co-Director of the Department of Pharmacy, and Clinical Pharmacist in Neurology. Dr. Bjelajac Mejia has held an appointment with the Faculty since 1995 and has been an active contributor to the Faculty’s Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, Post-Baccalaureate Doctor of Pharmacy, and current PharmD programs over this time. In her new role, she will be working with students and faculty to enhance the student experience, advance the PharmD program, and continue the Faculty’s goal to
be a pre-eminent centre for pharmaceutical knowledge and practice. DR. ELISE PARADIS has been appointed Assistant Professor at the Faculty, working in the social and administrative pharmacy/ pharmacy practice area. She completed her Masters in Sociology and PhD in Sociology of Education at Stanford University. Dr. Paradis has held numerous positions at both the University of Toronto and the University of California San Francisco. Most recently, she has been working as a Scientist with the Wilson Centre and as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesia at the Faculty of Medicine, both at the University of Toronto. DR. ROB BONIN (PhD 1T1) has been appointed Assistant Professor at the Faculty where he will teach and conduct research in biomolecular science. He completed his PhD in Physiology (Collaborative Program in Neuroscience) at the University of Toronto, after which he held a Catherine Bushnell Postdoctoral Fellowship in Pain Research at the Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience Unit at Laval University. Throughout his academic career, Dr. Bonin has held roles as an instructor and teaching assistant at the University of Toronto, McMaster University, and Laval University, where he has been responsible for the training of graduate and undergraduate students, as well as research associates. MARIA ZHANG (BScPhm & PharmD 1T3) has been appointed a Clinician Educator at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. This is a joint position with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health where she is working as an advanced practice pharmacist. Maria just finished her Masters, which focused on research in the area of addictions. Maria will be teaching in the area of addictions as well as in the Medication Therapy Management courses.
THE FACULTY IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE FOLLOWING NEW APPOINTMENTS PROFESSOR STEPHANE ANGERS was appointed Associate Dean, Research at the Faculty on July 1, 2015. In this capacity, Professor
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LESLIE DAN FACULTY OF PHARMACY
Angers is responsible for providing strategic leadership on all aspects of research activities at the Faculty, including facilitating and coordinating all research grants and contracts. He also works in collaboration with the Directors of the Faculty’s Research Centres, Academic programs, and Advancement and Communications offices to advance the research mission of the Faculty. Similarly, Professor Angers works with all faculty members to promote and facilitate research activities, foster opportunities for collaboration, and pursue research funding. PROFESSOR ZUBIN AUSTIN (BScPhm 8T8; MBA 9T4; MIST 9T7; PhD 0T2) has been appointed as the Murray B. Koffler Chair in Pharmacy Management. In this position, Professor Austin is responsible for exploring innovative business models for new pharmacy services, establishing programs and services to investigate the expanded role of the pharmacist and serving as an advocate for the profession of pharmacy. In assuming this appointment, Professor Austin is also responsible for leading the newly-created Centre for Practice Excellence. The mission of the Centre is to generate and utilize leading-edge research in pharmacy practice and medication use to develop educational programs and practice innovations that will revolutionize patient care. Working collaboratively across professions, disciplines, institutions and sectors, the Centre brings together researchers, educators, practitioners, managers and innovators who are committed to transforming evidence into practice. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR LYNDA BALNEAVES has been appointed the Kwok Yuen and Betty Ho Chair of Integrative Medicine and Director of the Centre for Integrative Medicine, a joint project between the Faculty, the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine, and The Scarborough Hospital. Under her leadership, the Centre will conduct research to enable individuals to make evidence-informed decisions about the safe and effective use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as part of their care, conduct basic science research to better understand how natural health products affect well-being, as well as perform clinical research to understand how patients are using CAM and its impact on health. The Centre will also identify evidence-informed practices that improve the planning, delivery, outcomes and cost-effectiveness of health care across
Awards
diverse patient populations, and educate health professionals and patients about CAM. PROFESSOR ROB MACGREGOR (BSc 7T3) has been appointed Director of the Graduate Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. In this newly created role, Professor Macgregor will oversee the planning, development, organization, delivery, assessment, and management of the resources of the graduate programs at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. He will also be responsible for the selection, mentorship, education, and assessment of students in the Masters of Science in Pharmacy and Doctor of Philosophy programs. PROFESSOR RAYMOND REILLY (BScPhm 7T9; MAScPhm 8T3; PhD 9T9) was appointed the inaugural Director of the Centre for Pharmaceutical Oncology at the Faculty on July 1, 2015. Under his leadership, the Centre will facilitate the work of a wide range of faculty members, especially those engaged in drug discovery, drug delivery, drug formulation, pharmacokinetics, molecular imaging and molecular diagnostic research. The Centre aims to advance discoveries in cancer biology, to new diagnostics and therapeutics for cancer that can be evaluated in early phase clinical trials. As the Centre’s first Director, Dr. Reilly will be developing a five-year plan for the Centre that includes developing Centre infrastructure, determining research priorities, establishing an educational mandate and building collaborative relationships with other oncology organizations. MARIE ROCCHI (BScPhm 8T0) has been appointed the Academic Director of the International Pharmacy Graduate (IPG) Program. Ms. Rocchi was the inaugural Coordinator of the IPG program from 19992006, and led its inception, development, delivery, expansion and sustainability. Upon returning from sabbatical in 2007 she transitioned to undergraduate teaching, but remained deeply involved in the area of internationally educated health care professionals. During her time at the Faculty Marie taught and coordinated a number of undergraduate courses in both pharmacy practice and health systems, in lecture, laboratory and seminar settings, and has been actively involved with the Faculty’s governance, standing committees and processes, which will serve the IPG program well as it embarks on its new phase of renewal.
Selected Alumni Awards
Selected Undergraduate Award Winners
Ontario Pharmacists Association
GORDON CRESSY STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARDS
VOICE OF PHARMACY AWARD
Billy Cheung, BScPhm 9T4 OUTSTANDING NEW PRACTITIONER AWARD
Jennifer Baker, BScPhm 1T3 MAGNUM OPUS AWARD
Julie Dyck, BScPhm 0T8 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Donald Edwards, BScPhm 8T8
Duke Boampong Lindsay Dryden Nida Mian Preethy Prasad Seann Seto Canadian Pharmacists Association CPhA CENTENNIAL LEADERSHIP AWARD
Caitlin McIntyre
Canadian Pharmacists Association CANADIAN PHARMACIST OF THE YEAR AWARD
Catherine Puffer, BScPhm 8T7 CPhA HONORARY LIFE AWARD
Dr. John Pugsley, BScPhm 7T1
Selected Faculty Awards Canadian Foundation for Pharmacy WELLSPRING PHARMACY LEADERSHIP AWARD
Dr. Jamie Kellar
Selected Graduate Student Awards Prostate Cancer Canada PROSTATE CANCER CANADA PERSONNEL AWARD
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre ALAN KNIGHT LIFETIME TEACHING AWARD
Dr. Sharon Yamashita
AFPC Awards
Society of Graduates at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation
AFPC GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH AWARD
EMERGING HEALTH SYSTEM LEADERS AWARD
Jason Li
Emily Musing
Ontario Pharmacists Association PFIZER BOWL OF HYGEIA AWARD
Canadian Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences Conference
Eustace Orleans-Lindsay
AFPC PFIZER RESEARCH CAREER AWARD
Mohammad Ali Amini
Canada’s Health Research Foundation
Dr. David R. Hampson
GRADUATE/POST-GRADUATE INTERDISCIPLINARY HEALTH RESEARCH AWARD
FELLOW
Olga Kits
American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists
American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists AAPS GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH IN FORMULATION DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT AWARD
Yannan (Nancy) Dou
Dr. Reina Bendayan
FELLOW
Dr. Shirley X.Y. Wu University of Toronto ARBOR AWARD
Dr. Thomas E. R. Brown
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From L: David White & Erika Rueter UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LESLIE DAN FACULTY OF PHARMACY
Alumni Relations
Photography by
Raina+Wilson
The Alumni Relations Team A message from David White, Assistant Dean, Advancement and Alumni Relations
This is an exciting time for me to be leading the Advancement and Alumni Relations Team at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. I am delighted to welcome Erika Rueter to our team as the new Senior Development Officer, Leadership and Alumni Giving. Erika will be working closely with the Dean and the Faculty’s academic leadership to communicate with and involve alumni in life at the Faculty, increase private financial support, and strengthen alumni relations. Erika joined the Faculty in March of 2015 and is responsible for developing and overseeing a comprehensive leadership giving program that focuses on the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of annual gifts between $1,000 and $24,999. Erika also oversees the Faculty’s Alumni and Annual Giving programs, which support Shaping Student Life and Learning and Advancing Groundbreaking Pharmacy Research. In addition, Erika leads our alumni relations initiatives, including all alumni-related events, alumni programs, and communications materials to enhance the Faculty’s relationship with alumni. Prior to joining the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, Erika was the Senior Development Officer, Leadership Giving at the University
of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. She began her career in non-profit performing arts. Erika is the former Marketing and Publicity Coordinator for Hart House Theatre, was the General Manager of Talk is Free Theatre and worked as the Marketing and Publicity Manager for STAF and Angelwalk Theatre. Erika has also worked and volunteered at numerous arts organizations, led many marketing and publicity workshops within the arts community, and contributed to the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts’ publication: The Indie Theatre Producer’s Guide. Erika holds an Honours Bachelor of Music Degree from Queen’s University. Erika and I are already off to a great start. As you will see on Page 16, we are doubling our Spring Reunion programming for 2016 - we hope to see you back at the Faculty this Spring! We are also hard at work planning even more events to get to know our alumni better and share some of the exciting things happening at the Faculty. We encourage you to let us know what kind of events you would like to see at the Faculty, so please feel free to email Erika (erika.rueter@utoronto.ca) any time with your suggestions and feedback. Also, be sure to check out this section in all upcoming issues of
Rxcellence for Alumni Relations updates and information about upcoming events. On the Advancement side of our operation, I am pleased to announce that Raissa Espiritu (not pictured) joined the team as Senior Development Officer, Major Gifts in December 2014. In this role, Raissa focuses on the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors and prospective donors at the $25,000 level and above. Raissa works closely with alumni, friends, corporations, and associations to secure financial support for our two key priority areas: Shaping Student Life and Learning and Advancing Groundbreaking Pharmacy Research. Raissa comes to the Faculty from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine. In her two years at Medicine, Raissa led the Basic Science fundraising portfolio, determining priorities and recruiting volunteers, while raising significant funds for Basic Science research. Raissa has an Honours Bachelor of Life Science degree from the University of Toronto and a Master of Science in Biochemistry from McMaster University. Myself, and the Faculty, are delighted to have this outstanding new Advancement and Alumni Relations Team in place.
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Past Events
Convocation Brunch and Graduating Student Awards Reception On June 5, 2015, the Faculty hosted the Convocation Brunch and Graduating Student Awards Reception at the Royal Conservatory of Music. The Reception honoured the Faculty’s first class of graduates with the Doctor of Pharmacy degree and the final graduates with the Faculty’s Post-Baccalaureate Doctor of Pharmacy degree. The event featured remarks by three Deans of the Faculty – Dean Heather Boon, former Dean Dr. Henry Mann and Dean Emeritus Wayne Hindmarsh. Professor of the Year, Preceptor of the Year and a number of merit-based awards were also presented at the Reception.
Golden T Dinner On May 28, 2015 members of the Classes of 6T5 and 5T5 joined the Dean and special guests at the Faculty Club to reminisce, reconnect and celebrate their 50th and 60th reunions. Over a banquet dinner stories were exchanged, friendships rekindled and achievements honoured.
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LESLIE DAN FACULTY OF PHARMACY
OPA Cup On March 14, 2015 the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy’s hockey team faced off against their provincial rivals from the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy in the annual OPA Cup. Cheered on by students, faculty, staff and alumni, the University of Toronto conquered the University of Waterloo and took home the Cup. Before the game students, faculty and staff enjoyed a Tailgate Party at the Faculty and followed the win with a post-game celebration at a nearby restaurant.
Induction to the Professional Community of Pharmacy In early January of 2015, first year students in the PharmD program were inducted into the professional community of pharmacy in a ceremony held at the Faculty. Featuring guest speakers representing the pharmacy community (the Faculty, the Canadian Pharmacists’ Association, the Ontario Pharmacists Association, the Ontario College of Pharmacists and the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists) students learned about the Ontario College of Pharmacists’ Code of Ethics and participated in the Faculty’s Pledge of Professionalism before donning their white coats for the first time.
Pharmasave Business Plan Competition The second annual Pharmasave Business Competition was a tremendous success, attracting 17 teams consisting of 47 students in the PharmD program. Hosted in the MaRS Auditorium, the finals of the Competition featured the top three teams presenting their business plans to a panel of expert judges from academia, business, government, and the health care sector. The winner of this year’s competition was Pangaea (Maple Gu, Eric Kam, Andrea Li, and Ruyi Wang) for their translation service that would facilitate health care interactions with patients who do not speak English as a first language.
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Young Alumni Spotlight
Ryan McGuire
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LESLIE DAN FACULTY OF PHARMACY
OFF THE BEATEN PATH
Photography by
Raina+Wilson
Ryan McGuire graduated from the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy in June 2011 and completed his Masters in Quality Improvement and Patient Safety at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto in 2013. He is currently a Collaborative Practice Leader at St. Joseph’s Health Centre. We sat down with Ryan to talk about his experiences after graduation, and how he is at the forefront of the changing landscape of pharmacy practice in Canada. Q: TELL US ABOUT YOUR DAY-TO-DAY AT
ST. JOSEPH’S HEALTH CENTRE. WHAT DOES A TYPICAL THURSDAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
A: No day is the same! My primary responsibility within the hospital is to try and identify ways that we can improve the patient experience and the quality of care that we provide patients. On a daily basis the types of improvement initiatives I am involved in could range from medication reconciliation, to looking at ways to prevent falls in the hospital, or to prevent pressure ulcers, as well as trying to prevent medication administration errors and improve medication safety. I try to spend the majority of my time being mobile within the hospital and being on the clinical units working with staff and talking to patients and clinicians.
Q: WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT YOUR JOB?
A: I love interacting with patients. They are our clients and they keep me connected to why I’m doing what I’m doing. I also love how dynamic my job is - I get to be involved in something different every day. I have the ability to identify opportunities for improvement and actually address them in a creative and innovative way. I get to make things happen! Q: WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING THING ABOUT YOUR JOB?
A: Trying to figure out the complexities involved in bringing about change within a complex organization. Most of my projects are corporate projects which involve every unit in the hospital. I have to figure out how to make change happen when it involves so many different people, and so many interconnected departments.
Q: WHAT ARE THE THREE SKILLS YOU REQUIRE MOST TO DO YOUR JOB WELL?
A: As a pharmacy student, we learn about the importance of communication and relationship building – a pharmacist is constantly communicating with patients and other health care providers. My current role is an administrative role and building relationships is critical, especially when there is so much going on in the hospital and so many people that you need to get to know and collaborate with. As pharmacists, we’re always looking at the evidence and what is best for the patient based on the evidence. You need to have the ability to think critically in order to develop a solution for the patient, taking into account all of the different factors – the medication, the side effects, the dose, the patient and how they are presenting. In a similar way, the work I do in trying to develop solutions within the hospital, requires thinking about not just what the evidence in front of you is saying, but the bigger picture of each individual unit within the larger organization. I have to try and figure out what solutions are reasonable for a particular unit, given the strengths and the culture of that unit. Lastly, I think being resilient is very important. In order to bring about change within an organization you need to know that you are going to have to fail and you have to be okay with failing. You’re
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Young Alumni Spotlight
YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO TRY NEW THINGS AND SOMETIMES THEY AREN’T GOING TO WORK, AND THAT’S OKAY. LEARNING FROM THOSE FAILURES, REFLECTING ON THEM AND BUILDING ON THEM SO THAT NEXT TIME YOU’RE MORE SUCCESSFUL, IS THE KEY. going to have to try new things and sometimes they aren’t going to work, and that’s okay. Leaning from those failures, reflecting on them and building on them so that next time you’re more successful, is the key.
Q: HOW DID THE EDUCATION YOU RECEIVED
AT THE LESLIE DAN FACULTY OF PHARMACY HELP GET YOU WHERE YOU ARE TODAY?
A: Pharmacy is a great way to get involved in the health care system. There are a ton of careers within pharmacy – community practice, hospital pharmacy, industry – but there are also a lot more opportunities within health care that pharmacy touches. Pharmacy provides you with a specialization - an expertise in drug therapy - but it also opens doors to other options. Being at U of T, and being put in different experiential settings, exposes you to the many ways that health care is delivered and you learn what it means to be a health care provider. The Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy puts you in a position to learn and there are so many great mentors to be found within the Faculty. Q: WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB OUT OF PHARMACY SCHOOL?
A: My first job after graduation was as an In-patient Clinical Pharmacist in the Respirology and Thoracic Surgery areas at University Health Network (UHN). My role there was to ensure that patients were optimizing their medication therapies. Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE A CAREER IN PHARMACY?
A: I really wanted to do something that
involved helping people. I thought pharmacy was a wonderful way to combine a bit more of the business side of science along with providing patient care. When I practice as a pharmacist, I find it very gratifying to be caring for patients and trying to add value to people’s lives and their experience in the hospital. Even though pharmacy led me down a career path where I no longer practice every day, I still contribute in a meaningful way to improving patient’s lives through the work I do.
Q: WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO PURSUE A MASTERS DEGREE?
A: While I was working at UHN, I became fascinated by the many different processes that are involved in the management of a hospital, and what the efficiencies of those processes are. I wondered if there were ways to improve these and what role could I, with my pharmacy background, play in making that happen. In my daily practice and through interacting with my patients, I became interested in their experiences at the hospital and what, outside of the pharmacy, could be improved to make for better patient outcomes. I did my Masters in Quality Improvement and Patient Safety at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at U of T. I found that it was a really good fit with my pharmacy background, as much of what pharmacy touches in the hospital and within the community are patient safety issues. One of the key roles of a pharmacist is to reduce medication errors, to catch
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LESLIE DAN FACULTY OF PHARMACY
those times when a medication might not be appropriate for a patient. It is one of the biggest areas of preventable harm in the system. My Masters took the whole concept of what we are all doing as pharmacists - to try and optimize patient care and keep them safe - and quantify it. Quality improvement is really about how we measure how safe people are and figure out what we can do to be working to improve their safety.
Q: WHAT SPECIFIC THINGS, PEOPLE, OR WORDS
OF WISDOM DO YOU CREDIT WITH REALLY HELPING YOU ALONG THE WAY?
A: I don’t know who would have specifically said this to me, but what has stuck with me the most is the idea that you should enjoy the work you do, that you should try and do something that aligns with your values, and that makes you feel like you are contributing to something meaningful. The nice thing about pharmacy is that no matter what you’re doing as a pharmacist you’re contributing to health care, to making people’s lives better, to helping people when they are sick. I think those are all important things to me. Q: HOW IS THE WORK YOU ARE DOING CHANGING THE PHARMACY LANDSCAPE IN CANADA?
A: I think there are more and more pharmacists who are thinking about the role of the pharmacist within the health care system. A pharmacy education and pharmacy practice are a great introduction to health care and an awesome foundation. However, like me, more and more pharmacists are taking that foundation outside of the traditional
Ryan received the Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award 2011
pharmacy practice and are thinking about health care in general and ways of contributing. Nurses and doctors have been doing the same thing for years, and pharmacists are starting to realize they can too. You don’t have to be dealing with medications every day to be a clinician. Go broader and try to impact health care beyond the traditional pharmacy practice. That is what I’m trying to do at St. Joseph’s Health Centre.
Q: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO
UNDERGRADUATES WHO ARE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON THEIR CAREER IN PHARMACY?
A: The one thing I always tell people is to not feel like your first job has to be your entire career. The breadth of pharmacy stems beyond the traditional clinical pharmacy practice. Respect the fact that being a pharmacist, and getting into pharmacy school, is a privilege and it’s something that is going to expose you to amazing things that you otherwise wouldn’t be exposed to. I feel like pharmacy led me toward these amazing opportunities in health care and it will remain my foundation as I move through my career. I am a pharmacist before anything and that’s something to be proud of and that is something that is well respected within the health care system.
Q: WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MEMORY FROM YOUR TIME AT THE FACULTY?
A: The social component of pharmacy school is really cool – my friends, meeting my spouse - there’s a great sense of community at the Faculty. Equally special was my role in helping to establish the IMAGINE Clinic (Interprofessional Medical and Allied Groups for Improving Neighbourhood Environment). IMAGINE is an interprofessional, student-run community health initiative aimed at promoting and providing health care to the core neighborhoods of downtown Toronto. I worked with a student from the Faculty of Medicine to help establish the Clinic. Making something like that happen, and being able to look back at it now as a volunteer and see it grow is really special. As a student, I was inspired and motivated by the leaders in pharmacy and in health care who were giving back to the University through their time as a volunteer or sharing their expertise. Now that I’ve reached the other side professionally, it’s a no-brainer how important is to get involved as a volunteer and mentor to help inspire and guide the next generation of pharmacists.
While at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Ryan McGuire devoted much of his time to assisting Toronto’s marginalized and homeless population through the IMAGINE Clinic, of which he was a founding member and former Co-Director. He continues to volunteer his time to the Clinic as an Advisor and Pharmacy Preceptor. Ryan is a past Vice-President and President of the Global Medicine Initiative, a Faculty organization that promotes awareness of issues surrounding access to medicine in the developing world. Ryan was an award winning student, receiving multiple awards, including a Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award, the Marvin Kopstick Scholarship, the Undergraduate Pharmacy Society Award, the K. Wayne Hindmarsh Award of Excellence and the Frank Rogers Award.
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Join us for
SPRING REUNION 2016 THURSDAY, MAY 26
SATURDAY, MAY 28
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
11:00 am – 2:00 pm
GOLDEN T DINNER AT THE FACULTY CLUB 41 WILLCOCKS STREET, TORONTO FOR THE HONOURED CLASSES OF 5T6 AND 6T6
LESLIE DAN FACULTY OF PHARMACY WELCOMES ALL GRADUATES BACK FOR AN OPEN HOUSE BBQ LUNCH 144 COLLEGE STREET, TORONTO
FRIDAY, MAY 27
5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
5:30 pm – 8:00 pm CLASS OF 9T1 REUNION AT THE PRENUP PUB 191 COLLEGE STREET, TORONTO
YOUNG ALUMNI REUNION FOR THE CLASSES OF 0T6, 0T7, 0T8, 0T9, 1T0, 1T1, 1T2, 1T3, 1T4 AND 1T5.
Please contact Erika Rueter, Senior Development Officer, Leadership and Alumni Giving, at 416 946 5554 with Spring Reunion inquiries.
Visit springreunion.utoronto.ca for a complete list of all Spring Reunion activities at the University of Toronto.
LESLIE DAN FACULTY OF PHARMACY
BOUNDLESS INNOVATION Our challenge today is to position the Faculty for success in the midst of the rapid evolution of our profession. To meet the challenges of a changing profession, the Faculty has launched a fundraising campaign. With a $40 million goal, it is the largest campaign ever conducted by a pharmacy faculty. The campaign is a critical part of Boundless: The Campaign for the University of Toronto, which aims to raise a historic $2 billion for U of T’s highest priorities.
Illustration by
SĂŠbastien Thibault Photography by
Raina+Wilson
WHAT IS BOUNDLESS? As pharmacists, you have always been an essential part of the health care system. Today, you are more vital than ever to the health of individuals and families. As experts in medication, you are the most accessible health professionals, called on daily to manage Canadian’s health and well-being. This is an exceptional time for pharmacy. Regulations passed by provincial governments across the country have greatly expanded the scope of pharmacy practice. Along with medication consultations and patient counselling, pharmacists can also renew or adapt prescriptions, prescribe certain drugs and administer influenza vaccinations. This new scope of practice has a significant impact on how we educate tomorrow’s pharmacists. Our curriculum must keep pace with regulatory changes to ensure that future pharmacists are equipped with the theoretical and practical skills they need to meet the present and future demands of the profession. Our campaign will ensure quick and effective response to industry demand and opportunities for innovation. It will enhance our acclaimed educational programs; advance research that addresses issues relevant to drug therapy, discovery and delivery; examine the role of the pharmacist in the health care system; develop programs and services that support the enhanced scope of practice for pharmacists; and build on our commitment to lifelong learning that improves professional competency.
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LESLIE DAN FACULTY OF PHARMACY
Our vision is to be one of the top pharmacy faculties in the world. To accomplish this, we are focusing our efforts on two key areas: Shaping Student Life and Learning and Advancing Groundbreaking Pharmacy Research.
CENTRE FOR INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE
BOUNDLESSINNOVATION
Almost 75 percent of Canadians are currently using some form of health-related products and therapies referred to as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). That is, nearly three quarters of the population regularly incorporate complementary therapies into their health practices, often without discussing their therapy choices with a conventional health care professional. But how do complementary therapies work and how do they interact with conventional medicines? The Centre for Integrative Medicine has been established to answer these questions.
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stablished in partnership between the University of Toronto’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and the Faculty of Medicine, as well at The Scarborough Hospital, the Centre will harness the considerable scientific and clinical expertise of these institutions to evaluate complementary and alternative medicine and its integration with conventional medicine. It will bring together researchers from the University, along with health care professionals at the hospital, to provide evidence-based practices to ensure patients make informed decisions about the safe and effective use of complementary and alternative medicine therapies as part of their health care. Dr. Lynda Balneaves, the Kwok Yuen and Betty Ho Chair in Integrative Medicine, is the inaugural Director of the Centre, which is structured on the pillars of Research, Education and Clinical Care.
The research mandate of the Centre is to support rigorous basic, clinical, health services, health policy and education research focused on complementary and alternative medicine and integrative medicine. On the educational front, the Centre will strive to develop not only undergraduate and graduate education on complementary and alternative medicine, it will also provide continuing education and training for conventional health professionals to enhance their understanding and skills on the use of these treatments by individuals and families. From a clinical care perspective, the Centre will collaborate with clinical partners in the development of integrative health care services and evaluate the health and health service impact of integrative models of clinical care. As complementary and alternative medicine use grows within the Canadian population, Balneaves notes “it is
imperative that patients, families and health professionals have access to the latest evidence regarding the benefits and risks of using these therapies and how they can be safely incorporated with conventional medical treatments.” “Health administrators and policy makers must understand the economic and health services impact of complementary and alternative medicine to ensure costeffective therapies are integrated into the Canadian health care system. To develop this knowledge, a critical mass of health researchers, educators and clinicians focused on complementary and alternative medicine and its evidenceinformed integration is urgently required in Canada”.
To learn more about the Centre for Integrative Medicine, please visit www.toronto-cim.ca
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A key focus of the Centre is the management and implementation of practice innovation at the community level. Helping everyday pharmacists and pharmacy managers incorporate evidence-informed, cutting-edge practices into their daily work through effective administrative and managerial leadership is essential. Clinical innovation must be paired with managerial innovation because great ideas cannot survive without effective management. Dr. Zubin Austin, Academic Director of the CPE
CENTRE FOR PRACTICE EXCELLENCE
BOUNDLESSINNOVATION
UNLEASHING THE POTENTIAL OF PHARMACY With the profession facing unprecedented change and opportunity, the Centre for Practice Excellence is leading the charge by providing the education, training, research and innovation to drive pharmacy forward.
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s the profession of pharmacy continues to evolve, pharmacists are increasingly being called on to assume leadership positions in the health care system. The expanded scope of practice has created opportunities that allow pharmacists to have a greater impact on patient care than ever before. However, this is also a time of considerable uncertainty within the profession. Today’s pharmacists must be willing and able to embrace the changes necessary to advance practice. Professor Zubin Austin (BScPhm 8T8; MBA 9T4; MIST 9T7; PhD 0T2), the Murray B. Koffler Chair in Pharmacy Management, is taking this challenge head on as the Academic Director of the new Centre for Practice Excellence at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. Built on the core objective of patient-focused care, the Centre equips students and practitioners with the necessary skills to maximize their clinical expertise while enhancing the quality of care and improving patient outcomes in a cost-effective manner. The Centre for Practice Excellence has three principle areas of focus: Management Education, Transformational Research, and Practice Innovation. Working together, each focus area influences the other through its activities and findings and, in turn, draws upon discoveries and developments in the other focus areas to enhance its own offerings. Austin notes that
“through this collaborative relationship, the branches of the Centre for Practice Excellence enrich and inform each other, benefitting students, practitioners and patients alike.” The Centre generates and utilizes leading-edge research in pharmacy practice and medication use to develop educational programs and practice innovations that will revolutionize patient care. Working collaboratively across professions, disciplines, institutions and sectors the Centre brings together researchers, educators, practitioners, managers and innovators who are committed to transforming evidence into practice. Professor Austin notes “A key focus of the Centre is the management and implementation at the community level. Helping everyday pharmacists and pharmacy managers incorporate evidenceinformed, cutting-edge practices into their daily work through effective administrative and managerial leadership is essential. Clinical innovation must be paired with managerial innovation because great ideas cannot survive without effective management.” In a relatively short time, the Centre has implemented a number of new initiatives, beginning with the introduction of a reinvigorated management curriculum into the undergraduate professional
program and the creation of a combined PharmD-MBA program offered jointly with the Rotman School of Management. The Enhancing the Scope of Practice Program – a $1 million project funded by the Ontario College of Pharmacists has been established to undertake behavioral research and translate findings into educational programs designed to support pharmacists’ uptake of expanded scope of practice. In collaboration with Shoppers Drug Mart, the Centre has developed and delivered a clinical skills training program designed to enhance pharmacists’ patient care skills. Lastly, through the generous support of Pharmasave, the Centre has established an annual Business Plan Competition that challenges students to create innovative business ideas that will improve patient care and benefit the health care system. “Moving forward” notes Austin, “the Centre will continue to proactively identify needs for the continuing education for pharmacists with a focus on developing programs that lead to sustainable, financially-viable and innovative practices. Research activities will include understanding barriers and enablers to practice change, determining best practices and ensuring they become new standards, building partnerships with patients, supporting adherence and improving outcomes, with the ultimate goal of transforming patient care.” According to Austin, “A time of unprecedented opportunity coupled with extraordinary uncertainty demands exceptional leadership and initiative. Leveraging the resources of the University of Toronto and its academic health sciences network, the Centre for Practice Excellence at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy will achieve its vision of unleashing the potential of pharmacy to transform patient care and improve health outcomes.”
To learn more about the Centre for Practice Excellence, please visit pharmacy.utoronto. ca/research/cpe/home
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CENTRE FOR PHARMACEUTICAL ONCOLOGY
BOUNDLESSINNOVATION
BRIDGING THE GAP Pharmaceutical oncology comprises skills and expertise that are uniquely situated in the pharmaceutical sciences and generally not found in cancer research institutes.
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daunting challenge facing the Canadian health care system is how to improve the outcomes of cancer patients to reduce the tremendous impact that the disease has on Canadian society, and also reduce the economic burden of cancer treatment. Each year in Canada an estimated 75,000 deaths occur due to cancer, and an additional 186,000 new cases are diagnosed. It is estimated that between 2004 and 2033, cancer will cost the Canadian economy $177 billion in direct health care costs, $543 billion in lost wage productivity, and $250 billion in lost taxation revenues due to its high morbidity and mortality rates. There are, however, reasons to be optimistic. It is now apparent that cancer treatment is rapidly entering the era of precision medicine in which the molecular signature of an individual’s tumour will be characterized and more effective personalized medicine selected for their treatment. New precision medicines for cancer will rely on the discovery of new companion diagnostics to characterize tumours and to monitor their response or resistance to personalized treatment. Professor Raymond Reilly (BScPhm 7T9, MSc 8T3, PhD 9T9) and the researchers at the Centre for
Pharmaceutical Oncology at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy are taking a lead role in the development of new molecular diagnostics and precision medicines for cancer. Toronto is a world class centre for cancer biology, which helps form the basis for new discoveries. There also already exists a strong clinical trials infrastructure to evaluate new diagnostics and precision medicines for cancer. According to Professor Reilly, what is needed is “the bridge to link discoveries in cancer biology to first-in-humans clinical trials of new precision medicines for cancer”. The Centre for Pharmaceutical Oncology will bridge this gap by providing the mechanism and infrastructure for cancer biologists, pharmaceutical scientists and clinical trial specialists to closely collaborate on high impact translational pharmaceutical oncology research. The Centre has a dual mission of supporting pharmaceutical oncology research and education. The initial research focus of the Centre is on the development of precision medicines and companion diagnostics for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and ovarian cancer. From an education perspective, the Centre will train the pharmaceutical oncology scientists of the future. Whether these
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LESLIE DAN FACULTY OF PHARMACY
scientists in training are undergraduates, graduate students or post-doctoral fellows, the Centre will provide an unparalleled opportunity to conduct leading-edge translational cancer research under the mentorship of our outstanding faculty. A trained pharmacist and graduate of the Faculty, Reilly notes that the Centre will “offer educational symposia and continuing professional development courses to educate pharmacists and other health care professionals about cancer and the current diagnostics and therapies for the disease working with the Faculty’s Office of Continuing Professional Development”. Although it was only formally launched on July 1, 2015, the Centre, in partnership with the Toronto Recombinant Antibody Centre (TRAC) at the University of Toronto, was recently awarded over $8 million in infrastructure funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Ontario Research Fund to provide a pipeline of fully-human monoclonal antibodies that will provide the templates for PET and SPECT molecular imaging agents for cancer as well as molecularlytargeted nanomedicines and new immunotherapeutic agents for the disease. These antibodies will also be incorporated into new point-of-care molecular diagnostics for cancer. “The Centre for Pharmaceutical Oncology” notes Professor Reilly, “will be an internationally recognized hub that will combine cutting edge research and education to bridge the gap between cancer biology and clinical trials. It will bring together experts in all areas of pharmaceutical oncology to generate new diagnostics and treatments that will affect the lives of thousands of people across the country who are diagnosed with cancer each year.” To learn more about the Centre for Pharmaceutical Oncology, please visit www.pharmacy.utoronto.ca/cpo
The Centre for Pharmaceutical Oncology will be an internationally recognized hub that will combine cutting edge research and education to bridge the gap between cancer biology and clinical trials. It will bring together experts in all areas of pharmaceutical oncology to generate new diagnostics and treatments that will affect the lives of thousands of people across the country who are diagnosed with cancer each year. Dr. Raymond Reilly, Director of the CPO
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We are incredibly fortunate to learn from Canada’s leading pharmacy educators and practitioners, but just as important are the opportunities the Faculty provides to use our education to participate in innovative activities within the Faculty, the University and the community. Caitlin McIntyre
From L: Caitlin McIntyre & Larissa Boychuk
STUDENT LIFE & LEARNING
BOUNDLESSINNOVATION
THE FUTURE OF PHARMACY Shaping student life and learning is crucial for our Faculty in order to continue to attract the best and brightest students – students who will become the next generation of influential Canadian pharmacists, researchers and innovators.
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n 2011, we introduced a PharmD curriculum that was ambitious and would provide students with enhanced course offerings and far greater experiential education opportunities reflective of the changing role of the pharmacist in the health care system. We also acknowledge that life beyond the classroom is essential for students. Through the Faculty’s Enhancing the Student Experience Fund we are committed to enhancing the skills of our students, both inside and outside the University, by supporting student activities designed to put learning into action. Larissa Boychuk and Caitlin McIntyre, fourth year students in the PharmD program, are making excellent use of the opportunities for support provided by the Enhancing the Student Experience Fund. They are taking what they are learning from their instructors in class and applying it to real-world settings, not only within the student body, but within the profession and the global health care community. Larissa Boychuk has just returned from a two-month internship with UNITAID in Geneva, Switzerland. As part of UNITAID’s Strategy and Results Team, Larissa assessed market trends to find new and innovative ways to develop
sustainable funding for the treatment of HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis. She then assessed the impact of current and past initiatives to compile data which the organization will use to determine the most cost-effective interventions with the greatest impact. According to Larissa, “participating in this internship has been a phenomenal experience and has opened my eyes to the possibilities of practicing pharmacy on a global scale and the impact a pharmacist can have on some of today’s most urgent third world health concerns”. This is just one example of Larissa’s many contributions to the Faculty, the University and the pharmacy community. During her years at the Faculty, she has been a member of the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists’ Awards Committee, Co-President of the Global Medicine Initiative, a volunteer for the student-led IMAGINE Clinic and a member of the University of Toronto’s Varsity women’s lacrosse team. Caitlin McIntyre is one of the founders of Pharmacy Students for Women’s Health (PSWH), a group that aims to advance and promote women’s health through advocacy and education within the profession of pharmacy as well as the community. PSWH provides students with opportunities for extracurricular
education, community involvement and advocacy relating to women’s health in order to better prepare tomorrow’s pharmacist. Caitlin also served as Co-President of the Global Medicine Initiative, a student-run organization that helps to promote awareness and education regarding issues and policies that influence international access to pharmaceuticals, a member of the Class of 1T6 Class Council and a volunteer in the Faculty’s student mentoring program. She also participated in the Faculty’s Undergraduate Summer Research Program, where she worked with one of our clinical research faculty to gain hands-on research experience. According to Caitlin, “we are incredibly fortunate to learn from Canada’s leading pharmacy educators and practitioners, but just as important are the opportunities the Faculty provides to use our education to participate in innovative activities within the Faculty, the University and the community.” In recognition of their outstanding contributions both inside and outside the classroom, Larissa was honoured with the 2015 K. Wayne Hindmarsh Award of Excellence recognizing her leadership and academic excellence and Caitlin received the Canadian Pharmacists’ Association’s Centennial Leadership Award in recognition of her combination of leadership and advocacy for the profession of pharmacy. Larissa and Caitlin are just two of the many outstanding students at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. By focusing on shaping student life and learning at the Faculty, we will continue to attract the best and brightest students to the Faculty and provide them with the opportunity to excel and become the future leaders of the profession.
If you would like to make a gift to help support Student Life and Learning at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, please visit: donate.utoronto.ca/give/show/6
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IPG CAMPAIGN SPOTLIGHT
BOUNDLESSINNOVATION
The International Pharmacy Graduate Program at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy is one of the most successful bridging programs in Canada. Established in 2001, this unique best practices program was developed to help internationally-educated pharmacists transition to the Canadian health care system, equipping them with the skills, experience and understanding to succeed and flourish as pharmacists in this country.
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he Program’s university-based curriculum, delivered by an experienced faculty and supported by a vast network of mentors, has assisted over 1,000 pharmacists meet Canadian entry-to-practice standards. Despite the overwhelming success of the Program in providing the best skills and training to optimize pharmacy practice in Canada, access remains a challenge. Many internationally-educated pharmacists come to Canada with minimal financial resources, struggle to find employment and cannot afford the $13,000 required to enroll in the IPG Program. The Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy recognizes this need and as part of the Boundless Campaign, has launched the IPG Scholarship Campaign. The goal of
the Campaign is to establish an annual scholarship to help deserving students in need of financial assistance enroll in the IPG Program. In addition to benefitting students in the IPG Program, this support will assist employers looking to add qualified and experienced professionals to their teams. And ultimately, communities will profit from having skilled and knowledgeable front-line health care professionals. Sherif Guorgui, a graduate of the IPG Program and currently the VicePresident, Pharmacy at the Ontario Pharmacists’ Association, is overseeing a committee helping to raise the funds for the IPG Scholarship. According to Guorgui “The IPG Program provided me with the skills and confidence to efficiently
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LESLIE DAN FACULTY OF PHARMACY
utilize my licence and effectively practice my profession in Canada, helping me maximize my career opportunities and ultimately achieve my full potential.” Guorgui was recently named one of Canada’s Top 25 Immigrants for 2015 and he exemplifies why providing financial assistance to enrol in this outstanding bridging program is so important. Together, we can make a difference for the future of the Faculty and the profession through the support we provide our students.
To learn more about the IPG Scholarship Campaign, please visit www.pharmacy. utoronto.ca/alumni/IPGscholarship
To award this scholarship in perpetuity, we require an endowment of $500,000. As indicated in the table below, an endowment of $500,000 will generate approximately $20,000 per year to help students enrol in the IPG Program:
$500,000 ENDOWMENT
$20,000$25,000 ANNUAL AWARD TO IPG STUDENTS
(4%-5%) ANNUAL INTEREST PAYOUT
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BOUNDLESS OPPORTUNITY As Canada’s top pharmacy school, the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy is committed to providing the leadership necessary to excel in a dramatically changing health care landscape. To do so, we require the support and generosity of our worldwide community of alumni and friends. Together, we can prepare the pharmacists of tomorrow with the scientific knowledge and practical skills necessary to deliver the new standard of health care. By expanding opportunities for students and researchers, we will accelerate the ability of our Faculty to make meaningful contributions within the health care system, drive innovation in science and business, and advance pharmacy research. Your support will help us attract the most productive and imaginative students and empower the entire community of scholars to reach their full potential. There are a number of ways to give back to the Faculty including: monthly donations, payroll deductions, gifts of securities or one-time annual gifts. Whatever method and amount you choose, you can be assured that your donation today, and for years to come, will do more than simply support a student award or update a laboratory. Your gift will support a dedicated group of individuals, providing them with the skills, knowledge and experience to meet the current and future needs of today’s complex health care system, ensuring the health and prosperity of our communities. Every gift truly makes a difference. Without the support of our donors, we would not be able to provide pharmacy students with the opportunity to excel and become the future leaders of our profession.
boundless.utoronto.ca/pharmacy
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LESLIE DAN FACULTY OF PHARMACY
Designed for the Canadian health care system, the
PharmD for Pharmacists program allows you to customize your course selections based on your interests, and gives you the flexibility to complete the program requirements at your own pace.
Expand & shape your practice with a PharmD degree that’s flexible & customizable
pharmacy.utoronto.ca/pharmdforpharmacists
Annual Fund
BY THE NUMBERS Over my seven years at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, I have been overwhelmed by the sense of community and enormous goodwill among our alumni and friends. This pride of association is part of what distinguishes both the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and the profession. This Honour Roll is dedicated to recognizing one of the important manifestations of this pride: your generous support of this Faculty.
the Faculty to attract the best and brightest students to our programs and ensure that no deserving student will ever be turned away because of need. They support essential learning opportunities beyond the classroom that further develop the confidence and abilities of our students, and provide students with opportunities to participate in social and professional activities that strengthen the bond with both classmates and the profession.
I would like to offer my deep appreciation to the many people – alumni, friends, faculty, staff, students and parents who each year show their confidence in the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy by investing in the future of health care in Canada and helping our students prepare to lead the profession forward. Your support is crucial to our success.
Annual Fund donations also provide valuable support to groundbreaking research at the Faculty including our three research centres of excellence: The Centre for Practice Excellence, The Centre for Pharmaceutical Oncology and The Centre for Integrative Medicine.
Donations to the Faculty go a long way to help students today and patients tomorrow. They help fund important scholarships and bursaries which allow
Sincerely,
Thank you for joining me in supporting our outstanding faculty and students.
DAVID WHITE ASSISTANT DEAN, ADVANCEMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LESLIE DAN FACULTY OF PHARMACY
$17,787
tuition for a pharmacy student in 2014-2015
$323,500
awarded in student financial assistance in 2014-2015
$500
average student financial assistance received
27
11
different student clubs and organizations that received funding from the Annual Fund during the year
students received funding through the Annual Fund for internships in foreign countries
33
87
faculty and student events funded through the Annual Fund in 2014-2015
students received funding to attend various industry conferences throughout the year
503
students received financial assistance in the form of scholarships and bursaries in 2014-2015
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Honour Roll
DEAN’S CIRCLE DONORS
ANNUAL FUND
The Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy is grateful to the following members of the Dean’s Circle for their generous and ongoing support. Their annual gifts of $1,000 or more (or of $250 and above for current students and young alumni of the last decade) are critical in advancing the Faculty’s top priorities each year. Donors listed below have made leadership gifts or pledges to the Faculty between May 1, 2014 and April 30, 2015.
Gifts from alumni, faculty, staff and friends are at the heart of philanthropy at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. These gifts assist to shape student life and learning and advance groundbreaking pharmacy research at the Faculty.
Gordon J. Alexander Zubin Austin Susannah L. Biggs Marie-Helene Bolduc Heather S. Boon Maria E. Bystrin Barrie Cade Andrea J. Cameron Salina Y. Chan Virginia Cirocco The Dan Family and Leslie and Anna Dan Irma W. Davies Carlo De Angelis Dina Dichek Linda D. Dresser Drug Trading Company Mahlon M. and Barbara Dyer Federation of Chinese Canadian Professionals (Ontario) Education Foundation Wayne and Lois Hindmarsh Lori A. Howard Sidney M. and Elaine Kadish Doris C. Kalamut William Kassel Shana O. Kelley Carolyn Keystone Evelyn and Ubby Krakauer Geor-Ming Lee London and District Pharmacist Association William N. MacEachern Jean V. Macie Lori Beth Marshall Merck Canada Ltd. Ernest J. Miatello Millbrook Pharmacy Ltd. Giovanna A. and Jack Nagao Janet L. Noonan
Steve and Gail Pearson David E. Pellow Ontario College of Pharmacists Ontario Pharmacists Association Pfizer Canada Inc. Pharmacy Class of 1T4 Pharmasave Ontario Susanne E. Priest Lalitha Raman-Wilms Raymond M. and Anita Reilly Rexall Pharma Plus Marie A. Rocchi Mark Rosenhek Erika M. Rueter George J. Schaller Shoppers Drug Mart Alumni Association Shoppers Drug Mart/ Pharmaprix Life Foundation Mary Ann Spitzer Ian Stewart Takeda Canada Inc. Charlene C. Ng and Eugene Tan Teva Canada Limited The Cumba Charitable Foundation Undergraduate Pharmacy Society Walmart Canada Corp. Helen M. Walton James W. Watt David White Heather A. Wiegand William Wilson Cathy and David Windross Marita E. Zaffiro
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LESLIE DAN FACULTY OF PHARMACY
Christine S. Adams Neil C. Adamson Raymond C. Anderson Stephane Angers Suzanne B. Auld Benjamin B. Kachuck Peter Babishuk Marian W. Badgery Antonetta R. Bailie Beatrice Bao Luu Gordon J. Bargh Henry Barkin Bayer HealthCare Graham S. Bell Elaine Beltijar Gerald Belz Eveline Berger Philip Berkowitz Lorena Ann Blain Mark A. Bocchinfuso Glenn Boon Carolyn and Neil Bornstein Maureen Gay Bot Barry M. Bowen Anne M. Broeders Paul J. Brooks Elizabeth M. Brown Donald R. Brunton Linda Bubenko Michael J. Burnett Kalyna Z. Butler Rosemary W. Campbell Ronald E. Campigotto Jackie Carr Bernard R. Ceifets Desiree Y. Chan Francis Chan Sally L. Charlton Franny Cheng Kenneth S. K. Chiu Caroline S. Chu John Cobby
Nancy E. Coffey Joe Colella Kelly A. Cowan Ian Crandall Elizabeth F. Crichton David R. Crockett Marcia J. Crockett Robert Croxall Peter J. Cummins Karen Currie Michael S. Cybulsky Roger G. Daher Samuel D’Alfonso Edward G. Davies Edwina A. Davies Mary M. Davies Carol A. Denyszyn Asmara D. Devree Wilson Paolo J. DiRenzo Mary Lou T. Doran Robert C. Eberhardt Suzanne K. Eckert Andreas Eden Jane Edwards Julia O. Elia-Pacitti Bruce E. Elliott Martin M. Engel Matt Epner Mary F. Ewert Rochelle Feldberg Robert T. Ferrier Betty and David Findlay Samuel Fleming Kathryn A. Fletcher Marcia J. Frank Stanley Freedman Madonna Gaballa Mary E. Gallaugher Robert H. Gallaugher J. Peter Gardner Christopher P. Gartley
Lynda L. Gartley Ben J. Golinsky Leslie C. Groves Doreen R. Gryfe Eric P. Gunter Heather L. Hadden Nazerit Hagos W. Peter Harris Lynn M. Hayes-Cardinal Janet E. Heffer Paul J. Heffer Nikolaus Herberholz Paul L. Herbert Muriel A. Heska Jack B. Hoffman Thomas S. P. Horlor Heather A. Howell Jonathan Eric Hunchuck Dolores C. Iaboni Ray R. Iijima Margaret Istchenko Rosemin Jamal Janet Johnston Debra L. Kafford Anne Kalvik Sandra Karakolis Ravneet Kaur Randi L. Kay-Leifer Helen Keene Kathryn M. Kerr Mary J. Kerr Amira H. Khalil Anne Kinkruus Sherri L. Klassen Mary Klein Adeline Loo Yee Koh Harold Konopny Michael Korkut David S. and Susan J. Kriger Becky A. Kuehl Richard H. Kwan Rita Sze Kwong James M. Labow William J. Laing Richard L. Lalonde Cheuk-Ying J. Lam W. R. Shawn Launder Eileen S. Lee Patrice Lee Maureen G. Lepinskie Robert S. Lesco Peter H. Leung Daisy W. Li
Owen Ho Fun Li Faith S. Louis Joan Ruth Lounds Murray H. Love Jian Ping Lu Connie F. Lukinuk Sylvia Lynch Jacqueline Ma Cynthia L. Macie Janice M. Mack Hugh G. MacKinnon Doreen P. MacNeill John J. MacReady Andrew C. C. Mah Raymond Mak Fulvia Manarin J. M. Manley Donald A. Manore Kathleen Mansfield William P. Markow Jane A. Martin Dustin Mathieu B. C. Mayhew Bruce G. McAlpine Christine McBean Maribeth McCluskey Rita McDowall Thomas McKennell Mary E. McLean Rita McMahon McMaster University Allan R. McPhee Janice Meisner Anne Milochik Boris Mirsky Beverly M. Moher Richard Bruce Murray Victoria B. Murray Marianne J. Nagata J. Graham Nairn Michael J. Naylor Marilyn R. Nefsky Mary M. Nelson Virginia R. and Robert Harold Newman William D. Nicholson Jennifer M. Nitsopoulos Marie K. Ogilvie-Stent Denise P. O’Hanian Debra Ann Ohara David L. Onizuka Lesia Pahuta Frank Palko
Ashok Pranal Parekh Jane S. Penney Laurie Phillips Phyllis and Ab Flatt Family Endowment Fund Edward P. Plesko Neil P. Pole Dawn E. Polley Monica Powell Vince Purificati Ronald Radwick Deenah Rahman Ross E. Ransom Norman S. Rappaport John S. Ray Anna Reffo Vicky M. Reynolds Patricia A. Rice Chritine F. Robbins Linda E. Robertson Anna M. Romona Seymour Rosenblatt Clarence Rosenhek Frayda B. Rotenberg David F. Russell Robert B. Russell Theresa M. Ryan Stanley S. Salapatek Mohammad J. Sarwar Antonio Saturno D. Lyn Schlotzhauer Rita M. Schultz Eva Y. Scott Gundi R. Seifried Lisa M. Sever Marion J. Shanks Meg Sheehan Susan J. Sheps Diane Louise Sherk-Jones John W. Silke Ann M. Simard Mari M. Sirdevan Judith M. Skene-Rogelj William D. Skorenky Marilyn L. Sloan Deborah A. Smeltzer Thomas A. Smiley Lisa Smith David G. Snider Toby-Sue Ross Sniderman Blair Charles Snow Linda Mae Snyder Miranda Sze Yin So
John R. Speare Richard M. Stein Mark Edward Stephens Margaret Stewart Jack L. Stone Luciano Tauro Leon Tessler Kathryn M. Teves The Chan Family The Ed Mirvish Family Charitable Foundation The Semchism Family Allison Kathleen Thompson Doris A. Thompson Sallyanne M. Tierney John D. Toohey Tuan Minh Tran Nancy J. Trimble Michel Trottier Yu Chung and Annie Tsang Stephanie C. Tso Tara L. Uhthoff Valerie Lynn Unger Michael Vachon Diana Vaughan MacLyn E. Wade Robert D. Wallace James C. Walton Brenda Wang Barbara E. Watson Robert A. Watson Elisa-Marie Weatherby Daniel H. Webb Katri L. West Steve C. Willaert Margo E. Williams Marvin and Doreen Williams B. Larry Wilson R. Scott Wilton Len P. Won Shirley Wong-Liang Murray A. Wood Joyce A. Wordsworth Tracy L. Wylie Mei-Fe Yamasaki Sharon Yamashita Deanna S. Yee-Chu Pei C. Yong Anna Yu Pamela L. Zabel Mary Zerebecki
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Donor Profile
Photography by
Raina+Wilson
Putting Students First Dina Dichek’s generosity has a profound impact on students at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy.
D
ina Dichek (BScPhm 7T0) has always been a believer in the importance of education. Since graduating from the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto, her lifelong passion for learning has led to several additional pharmacy certificates as well as diplomas in management and adult learning. In 2013, Dina’s curiosity was piqued after reading about a fellow alumni who had established a scholarship at the Faculty. Dina approached the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations about how she might also create a lasting legacy at the Faculty in an area she was passionate about – pharmacy education. “When I spoke with the Advancement Office, I was pleased to learn that I could establish an award at the Faculty by making a fairly modest and manageable annual donation over a five year period. I was also thrilled to learn that awards can be distributed within a year of the initial contribution, allowing me to see the results of my donation in a short time frame” says Dina. The result was a gift to establish the Dina Dichek Pharmacotherapy Scholarship, awarded to the Year Two student with the highest overall standing in the Pharmacotherapy 2, 3, 4 and 5 courses at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. “I believe deeply in the ability of education to help people create their own success, and to contribute to building a stronger and more progressive pharmacy community” says Dina. “I want to help ensure that the next generation of pharmacists are receiving a first-rate education
and are being prepared for the realities of the work place, as well as being empowered to move the profession forward”. Donations for scholarships, awards and bursaries have a profound impact on students at the Faculty. Erin Bezzina is the 2015 recipient of Dina Dichek’s scholarship. Upon receiving the scholarship, Erin noted “I am aware that receiving my education and training at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy will open many doors for me in the coming years – it is a major investment in my future. However, like all investments, it comes with a significant price tag and I am supporting myself while completing my degree. Receiving scholarships, awards, and bursaries has made my financial situation more manageable, allowing me to focus primarily on my studies.” Erin describes Dina’s support as a blessing. “Dina Dichek is a wonderful example of alumni giving back, and I am sincerely grateful and proud to be the recipient of this award. Her support is appreciated more than she knows.” Born in London, Ontario, Erin completed her undergraduate degree in Physiology at McGill University. She decided to pursue pharmacy after seeing the role her grandmother’s pharmacist had in her care. Watching the pharmacist manage her grandmother’s diabetes and several other conditions, Erin was inspired by the hands-on approach taken to educate her grandmother on her medications, and to ensure that her medications were safe, appropriate, and being taken correctly. “I have always known that I wanted to work in the
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LESLIE DAN FACULTY OF PHARMACY
It doesn’t matter what the value of the scholarship is - any amount is appreciated and goes a long way in allowing students to have a more well-rounded experience during their time in pharmacy school. ERIN BEZZINA
health care field, and after seeing the impact that pharmacists have on their patients first hand, my decision to pursue a career in this profession was solidified.” In addition to being a multi-award winning student, Erin is also extremely active in extracurricular activities. She has participated in the Pharmacy Choir, on multiple Pharmacy intramural teams, and last year she was the President of Pharmacy Students for Cancer Awareness (PSFCA). The mission of PSFCA is to increase cancer awareness within the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, and to promote awareness of the pivotal role of pharmacists in cancer research and cancer care both in community and hospital pharmacy. PSFCA hosts several events during the year with the goal of defining the expanding role of pharmacists in cancer care, increasing cancer awareness, and raising funds for non-profit cancer organizations. Thanks to the generous
support of the Faculty’s Enhancing the Student Experience Fund, the Undergraduate Pharmacy Society, as well as students, Faculty members, community pharmacies, and the Canadian Association of Pharmacy in Oncology, PSFCA raised a total of $1,527 last year which was donated to the Terry Fox Foundation and Camp Trillium. Erin’s dedication, ambition and drive are all qualities shared with Dina Dichek, which makes her a great mentor for outstanding students like Erin. Dina has practiced pharmacy in many different roles, having worked in hospitals, in community settings, for national pharmacy organizations, for the University, for the government and as a consultant. She has mentored, precepted, and supervised numerous pharmacy students, interns and new graduates. Dina’s scholarship builds on the Faculty’s proud history of alumni supporting the next
generation of students in achieving their dreams. It also helps the Faculty in an era of rising education costs and reduced government funding. By establishing the endowment, Dina provides approximately $1,250 each year for a student in need. “I would like to thank those who give back to students financially or in the form of mentorship. The impact academic scholarships have on students goes well beyond decreasing the financial burden.” says Erin. “It doesn’t matter what the value of the scholarship is - any amount is appreciated and goes a long way in allowing students to have a more well-rounded experience during their time in pharmacy school. My class, and I’m sure every class at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, is full of bright, hard-working students who will be the future of the profession. They are just as deserving - if not more - of recognition and scholarships as I am.”
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In Honour Of
PUTTING PATIENTS FIRST Lesley Lavack believes passionately in the role of the pharmacist in providing patient focused care. “That very human quality of caring about another is at the heart of what it means, to me, to be patient-focused. Caring about patients and focusing on their unique needs can only lead to better outcomes all around. It requires that we utilize our ‘textbook’ knowledge and also requires that our hearts be engaged” says Lesley. This belief is not only what has made her an excellent practitioner, but it is also the driving force behind her commitment to teaching the next generation of pharmacists in Canada. Over her 25 year career with the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, Lesley has strived to ensure that the patient-focused role that pharmacists must assume is the compass and pivot of her endeavors at the Faculty. After graduating from the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy in 1968, Lesley embarked on a career in both community and hospital practice. Between 1985 and 1990, in addition to clinical pharmacist responsibilities at The Wellesley Hospital, she assumed a teaching role at the Faculty. Lesley joined the Faculty full time in 1990 as a Lecturer, teaching senior Professional Practice courses. In 1994, Lesley was appointed Assistant Dean and assumed major responsibility for the development, implementation and maintenance of the Structured Practical Experience Program (SPEP). In 2002, her portfolio expanded, and as Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Affairs, she assumed major administrative and program overview responsibilities, which included her role as Admissions Officer at the time that the Faculty was incrementally increasing enrollment toward its goal of doubling enrolment. Lesley spearheaded some major enhancements to the student selection process and as well
After 25 years of dedicated service to the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, Lesley Lavack retires, leaving a lasting legacy of patient focused care. Photography by
Raina+Wilson
implemented early professionalization activities for newly-admitted students. In July 2005, Lesley was appointed Associate Dean, Professional Programs. Her portfolio expanded once again, and although her administrative imperatives consumed much of her time, she remained committed to ensuring that the importance of good patient care was at the forefront of the undergraduate curriculum. Lesley completed her term as Associate Dean, Professional Programs in December 2010 and returned to her teaching role where she continued to advocate for patients and pharmacists’ roles in their care. Lesley was Theme Coordinator for Professionalism and Ethics at the Faculty from 2011 to 2014. Lesley officially retired from the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy on June 30th, 2015. “My years of working at the Faculty have been both professionally and personally rewarding.” says Lesley. “The most meaningful
part of my 25-year Faculty life has been the people with whom I have had the privilege of interacting: my amazing students, an army of committed SPEP teaching associates and managers, my bright and stimulating colleagues, the dedicated and focused leaders and practitioners at local, provincial, national and international organizations, and perhaps most importantly, patients and their needs who have always been drivers for my professional pursuits.” In honour of Lesley’s outstanding commitment to the Faculty, students and the profession of pharmacy, the Lesley Lavack Heart and Mind Award has been established at the Faculty. The award will be given to one or more students in Year Four of the Undergraduate program who in their personal and professional lives best demonstrate the characteristics that Lesley has dedicated her time to instilling in students throughout her teaching career: empathy, consideration, caring and kindness. Lesley hopes “that in establishing the Lesley Lavack Heart and Mind Award, students who have the requisite ‘book smarts’ and who have also demonstrated, in a meaningful way, that they care about others are recognized and celebrated. I want to acknowledge students who will become outstanding patient-care providers because they care.” Please join us in honouring Lesley Lavack’s contributions to the Faculty and the profession by making a donation to the Lesley Lavack Heart and Mind Award. The Faculty, Lesley and the future recipients of this award are grateful for your support, and every donation will make a difference. For more information on supporting the Lesley Lavack Heart and Mind Award, please visit: pharmacy.utoronto.ca/alumni/lesley-lavack
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Class Notes
Tell us where you are, what you’re doing, who you care about, and how you’re staying in touch with your Pharmacy friends. Celebrate your achievements, activities and interests. Let us know about the latest matches and hatches—these are your pages.
4T9
BORIS MIRSKY Boris Mirsky received a certificate from the Ontario Volunteer Service Awards for serving as a volunteer at the Baycrest Centre for 15 years.
Queen Lynch Pharmacy (Brampton) and Dimethaid Research Inc. Over the course of his career, David has been active in multiple professional and community organizations. His grandson, Jared S. Garshowitz (BScPhm 1T2) is an Associate at York Downs Pharmacy.
5T5
5T6
SOLOMON DAVID GARSHOWITZ
DON BUTT
Since 1987, David has owned and operated the York Downs Pharmacy where he has been integrating main stream medicine with supplements and therapeutics. He also owns and operates the York Downs Chemists, which provides sterile compounding services. David began his career in 1955 with Lou Ball Pharmacy and Starkman Chemists. He spent the next nine years as a Partner with Crosstown Pharmacy Ltd., Trafalgar Pharmacy Ltd., and Hopedale Drugs Ltd. Between 1965 and 1967, he was the Ontario General Sales Manager and then the Corporate VicePresident, Marketing for National Drugs and Chemical Canada Ltd., a wholesale pharmacy supplier. David was the founder of White Cross Pharmacy and the Medical Sciences Laboratories of Newmarket Ltd. Between 1982 and 1995, he worked with Medical Place Pharmacy (Brampton),
Well it’s time I came out of the woodwork to say hello to any classmates out there. It’s been a long time. Since being asked to submit a bit about our lives, here it is.
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LESLIE DAN FACULTY OF PHARMACY
Poulenc Award at graduation – probably by default as I was the only one going on to further education. I was accepted into the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine, probably influenced by my insane decision to take the advanced organic chemistry elective in final year (with decent results). Pharmacy provided a solid foundation for medical school, illustrating the importance for being well grounded and having enquiring mind. In spite of being accepted into the surgical training course, I made the conscious decision that the future for me was in Family Medicine. I guess it was right because my future career was as rewarding as one could imagine – eventually
becoming President of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, teaching family medicine residents as Associate Professor in Family and Community Medicine at U of T, not to mention delivering about 2000 babies, and being named the Canadian Family Physician of the Year and the Civic Award of Recognition presented by former Mayor Hazel McCallion in 1992. I was married to a wonderful girl, Mary, in my internship year, and we celebrated our 54th anniversary this year. Two children, five grandchildren, all either in, or headed for university round out the family. While retired from clinical practice in Mississauga, I continue with consulting in disability in insurance medicine, where understanding of the pharmacy aspect is so important. We moved to Gabriola Island, near Nanaimo BC, in 1996 and here I am active in instructing in Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons, Lions Club, choral singing, flute playing, and more. Photography has become a sort of passion. Fond memories of the Pharmacy years at U of T persist, and I consider it a privilege to have had the advantage of those years in Pharmacy. I marvel at the knowledge of today’s grads and how they can understand the complexities of today’s pharmaceuticals. Pharmacists and doctors work so well now as a team in optimizing patient care – the bottom line about what it’s all about.
6T0
BRUCE FAULKNER
Bruce Faulkner, founder and first president of the Men’s Probus Club, has been made a Life Member. He also was a signatory to the founding of the Women’s Probus Club of Lindsay. Prior to this he was made an Honourary Member of the Rotary Club of Lindsay and is also a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow.
6T1
8T8
Just a quick note to let Our Class of 6T1 know that Gale McKinnon and I are headed south to play in the World AMATEUR Golf Tournament on August 31, 2015 in Myrtle Beach , South Carolina. I look forward to hearing about some of the events that our Class members have been doing. Also, let’s all consider a Dine and Cruise on a Paddle Boat out of Toronto Harbour Next summer for our 55th.
My dad, John (Jack) Adam, a 4T7 Pharmacy graduate, has moved into a retirement home in Mississauga. My mom, Patti Wingrove (née Connell), also a 1947 Pharmacy graduate, passed away in April 2013. Best part of my news would be six grandchildren.
MORLEY WEINBERG
I have a Grandson - Hudson Ray Weinberg, born November 3, 2014. My Family is all well, although I lost my baby brother Sidney on January 4th of this year. He had started in Pharmacy, but only lasted one year.
6T8
DAVID BAILEY
Dr. David Bailey changed patient care worldwide when he discovered the interactions between grapefruit and certain medications that can lead to physical distress. He was also the lead author on a 2012 study published in the Canadian Medical Association journal which noted that 85 drugs on the market were known or predicted to have a negative impact when taken orally with grapefruit or its juice. Some drugs could cause serious rhythm changes in the heart or produce acute kidney failure. Dr. Bailey is now a Professor Emeritus in the department of medicine at Western University and a scientist at London’s Lawson Health Research Institute.
7T8
LORENZO BIONDI
Lorenzo Biondi, Vice President Medical and Regulatory Affairs at Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. has retired after a 32 years career at the company.
LINDA ADAM SNYDER
PHD 1T1
RHEA MEHTA
I got married this past spring! Career wise, I founded Living Rhea a year ago. It is a lifestyle consultancy and private coaching business focused on health optimization through nutrition, nutraceuticals and detoxification. I speak globally at entrepreneurial, personal growth and wellness events, I’m writing my first book (besides my thesis), and I’m creating online products and programs for the health-conscious and curious.
PHD 1T2
NILADRI CHATTOPADHYAY
Following completion of my PhD in 2012 as a Vanier Scholar, I completed a postdoc at Stanford University as well as a certificate program at the Stanford School of Business. During this time I was offered a position in industry and I accepted an opportunity in Clinical Pharmacokinetics at Bayer Healthcare at their global headquarters in Berlin, Germany. During this time, my wife and I had a daughter - Anoushka Chattopadhyay who was born on May 15, 2014 during my postdoctoral training. For any alumni in Berlin, I can be reached at my utoronto email address or niladri.c@gmail.com.
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Class Notes
In Memoriam This year, we learned of the passing of the following alumni:
4T4
MERLE EILEEN HOOVER (NÉE KEATING) Merle Eileen Hoover (née Keating) passed away suddenly in her 95th year on Canada Day, at Southlake Hospital, Newmarket, following a heart attack.
Mourning her loss are her children and their spouses Julie and Tim Hughes, Joan and Anthony Giannone, Linda Braid and Ken Doll, Douglas and Azucena Hoover. Also grieving are her grandchildren Tom Brocklehurst (Marilee), Jennifer Braid (John), James Braid (Darla), Mark Walker, and Elsie Hoover. She also leaves great-grandchildren, Olivia and Jackson, Ivy, Josephine and Danielle, stepgrandchildren, and her close and extended family, Anne and John Logan, their children Pamela and Melissa and their families. She was predeceased in 2008 by her younger brother Ken Keating of Cocoa Beach. Merle was born October 24, 1920 in Toronto to Elsie Gordon Hagerman (deceased) and James Edward Keating (deceased). When she was three years old the family moved to Seaforth, Ontario where her father, a pharmacist, had purchased the town’s drug store. Following her secondary school graduation she attended the University of Toronto’s School of Pharmacy, graduating in 1944 as one of only a handful of women. In June 1944, Merle married David Laskey Hoover (deceased) and moved to Windsor, Ontario, where all their children were born. Her husband worked with his father in his plumbing business, while Merle worked occasionally in Tamblyn’s drugs over several years, but focused on raising her children. In 1957, her father expressed a desire to reduce his workload and invited Merle to move back to Seaforth and join him in
partnership at Keating’s Pharmacy. The entire family made the move. After her father’s death in January 1967, she became the sole proprietor. Merle was a pioneering business woman, ahead of her time, running a successful Drugstore, expanding the business and ultimately moving to a much larger location. She retired in 1980 when she sold the business. She and Dave moved to a condo in Scarborough, Ontario and purchased a home in West Palm Beach Florida to spend their winters.
brother, Peck (Alec Harrison). Will be missed by her many nieces, nephews and their families. A proud graduate of U of T College of Pharmacy, class of 1949. Beverly served her community through her years of service at Lakeshore Pharmacy, volunteering with Girl Guides, and her support of both Century United Church and Bloordale United Church. Born in New Toronto, resided in Mimico but truly lived at Lake Kasshabog.
After her husband’s death in 1994, Merle remained in the condo until 2004, when she sold it and moved to a life lease apartment at St. Paul’s Terrace in Scarborough. In 2012, Merle moved to The Terraces, the IOOF life lease apartments in Barrie to be closer to one of her daughters and subsequently transferred in November 2014 to the IOOF assisted living apartments at Heritage Place, also in Barrie.
PROFESSOR EMERITUS ERNST STIEB
Throughout her life, Merle remained bright and “with it”. She bought her first computer when she was 80 and learned to handle email. She was a happy person, who liked to keep up with current events, and in any new situation would try to introduce herself to as many people as possible. She enjoyed a good game of Scrabble and read voraciously.
4T9
BEVERLY MOHER (HARRISON)
Beverly May Moher (nee Harrison) passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 27, 2015, at the Mississauga Trillium Health Centre in her 88th year. Beloved wife of the late Gerald Moher. Loving mother of Julie, Jeremy and the late Judy. Predeceased by sisters, Juanita Gibson, Jacqueline King; and
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LESLIE DAN FACULTY OF PHARMACY
5T2; MASC 5T5
On February 2, 2015, the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto lost a beloved member of our academic family when Professor Emeritus Stieb passed away. Professor Stieb was a graduate of the Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and Master of Science programs run by the Ontario College of Pharmacists at the University of Toronto, and earned a PhD from the University of Wisconsin. In 1967, Ernie was hired as a Professor at the University of Toronto, where we would spend the bulk of his career teaching students about the History of Pharmacy. In addition to his teaching responsibilities and active research and publication activities, Professor Stieb held a number of administrative posts at U of T including Assistant Dean (1975-1978), Associate Dean (1978-1994), and Interim Dean (1993-1994). Collectively, these roles allowed Professor Stieb to shape the course of pharmacy education in Canada and influence generations of pharmacy students. His keen interest in the history of pharmacy provided the impetus for his work at The Niagara Apothecary, where he was the founding curator.
Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy Lives Remembered
“The University of Toronto pharmacy community is saddened to learn of the passing of Professor Stieb, who was a talented colleague, wonderful mentor, and seminal influence in recording the roots of pharmacy education in North America,” noted Professor Heather Boon, Dean of the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. “His lasting impact in pharmacy education and history will continue to be felt at the Faculty and are a testament to the generous man who loved the profession so dearly.”
5T5
TOM M. ROSS
Thomas McCallum Ross passed away peacefully at the Ian Anderson House in Oakville, surrounded by his family, on June 26, 2014. He is survived by his loving wife of almost 60 years, Marg, and their devoted children Tom (Lynn) and Karen Beck (John). He will sadly be missed by his grandchildren Greg, Kaitlyn, Adam, and Andrew and his many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Laverne and Della, his sister Barbara and his and Marg’s special son, Gregory. Raised in Hamilton, Tom and Marg moved to Oakville in 1963 to raise their family. Tom enjoyed a successful professional career beginning in pharmacy and then serving for 33 years as the Executive Director of the Canadian Retail Hardware Association (CRHA), for which he was honoured to receive the Pinnacle Award from the Canadian Society of Association Executives. During his years at the CRHA, he developed many lasting friendships with people across the country and around the world, who will share in his loss.
5T7
JANET L. NOONAN
We are deeply saddened to announce the passing on September 21st of our dearly loved mother and grand-mother Janet Noonan (nee McCabe). Janet died peacefully in her 81st year following a number of years battling ill health. She was brave and spirited to the very end. Janet was predeceased by her beloved husband John Francis (Jake) but is survived by her children Susan, Jane (Nick), Tim (Susan), and Dan (Christine), and her grandchildren Bella, Grady, Ben and Sydney. She will also be much missed by her brother Bob, sister Marion and bother and sisters-in-law Ada, Ann, Maureen and Michael and her many nieces and nephews.
7T0
JAMES A. MONAGHAN
It is with a heavy heart that we say farewell to James Arthur Monaghan, 70, who passed suddenly on June 30th at his home on Lake of Bays. He was born on December 7, 1944 in Schumacher, Ontario, to Mary and Earl Monaghan; brother of Diane Wheldrake. Jim was loved by his wife of 46 years, Madeline (Midge) Monaghan; daughters Kerry, Mary and Lindsay; grandchildren, Dylan, Olivia, Layla, McKenna, Audrey, Keira and Laine; as well as his nieces, nephews and cousins. Jim was a generous, patient and extremely loving husband, farther and friend. He was a mentor to many and a captivating storyteller, who had enthusiasm for his passions in life. He always made those around him feel welcome and had a sincere interest in the lives of others. His gentle soul and warm heart will be remembered and missed by all.
Ross E. McWilliam 3T9 Kenneth O. Haist 4T1 Mrs. Catherine C. Russell 4T3 Percy Saiger 4T4 Wallace D. McLeish 4T7 Irvin Raxlin 4T7 Stanley D. Adams 5T0 Sydney Gerstein 5T0 Herbert B. Lastman 5T2 Ronald G. Loach 5T2 Guy E. Stewart 5T2 Bernard Steinberg 5T2 Thomas J. E. Coffey 5T3 John Onizuka 5T3 Maurice H. Pilkey 5T3 Ronald W. Soper 5T3 Christine Bolubash 5T4 William Cooper 5T6 Thomas H. Mulvihill 5T7 Henry J. Bahmann 5T9 Thomas R. Purcell 6T0 Patricia J. Shaw 6T3 Arthur J. Richardson 6T4 John D. Swistara 6T6 Sander Biderman 6T8 Kwok-Chak Fung 7T3 Paul W. Bossons 8T1 Linda MacKay 8T3 Debbie Vanpraet 8T4
We always welcome submissions to Class Notes. Please email your news to us at any time at erika.rueter@utoronto.ca RXCELLENCE FALL 2015
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Behind the Scenes A lot of work goes into each issue of Rxcellence, but we also have a lot of fun! Here are a few outtakes from this issue.
LESLIE DAN FACULTY OF PHARMACY CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
ENHANCE YOUR SKILLS. ADVANCE YOUR PRACTICE.
The Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto offers Continuous Professional Development (CPD) courses to help pharmacy professionals stay at the forefront of pharmacy practice in Canada. As one of the leading pharmacy educators and research institutions in the world, we are uniquely positioned to provide you with cutting-edge practice instruction delivered by today’s top educators and practitioners.
Visit cpd.pharmacy.utoronto.ca Your life-long learning partner RXCELLENCE FALL 2015
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RXCELLENCE ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL 2015
Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy University of Toronto 144 College Street Toronto, Ontario Canada M5S 3M2 TEL 416 978 2889 FAX 416 978 8511
pharmacy.utoronto.ca