Pq March 2016

PQ PLUS 2

MAR 2016

B&G Routine Re-live the stress of picking the perfect outfit and ideal date.

Pharmacist Awareness Month Want to get involved in a profession this month?

Take a look at what APSA has planned!

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PRESENTED BY OUR TITLE SPONSOR:

PHARMACARE SPECIALTY PHARMACIES

IN THIS ISSUE SAMPLE

COVER ILLUSTRATION DESIGN: BASIA CHODORSKI

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Pharmacist Awareness Month

This is the month where we sing our praises to the world - or rather, what a difference we can make! Find out how you can participate in PAM this year!

Musings of a Pharmacy

Reflections don’t end when we graduate - Dr. Bachynsky shares a few thoughts.

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APSA Elections

Looking to run for a position? Look no further.

Editors' notes

Can you believe there are less than 50 days of school left?! (Is it bad that I am counting down?). A big thank you to everyone who contributed to this issue, and if you haven’t submit-

2 PHARMACY QUARTERLY

11

Fitpharm

Get inspired to start geting fit and staying fit! #fitpharm

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A Blue & Gold Routine

Victoria returns once more with insight on picking the perfect dress - and the perfect date.

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Two Sides to Shkreli

Pharmacy villain or entrepreneuring businessman?

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You’ve got to try this: Tutti Frutti Haven’t used your APSA card yet? At least try it on this popular froyo place!

FLICKR IMAGES: BALA SIVAKUMAR, SPARKY, PAT GUINEY, PETER MACDONALD Disclaimer: Any opinions or viewpoints published are directly from the contributing authors and do not represent the philosophy or viewpoints of the Faculty of Pharmacy or the University of Alberta.

ted yet, it is not too late!

There is one more publication until the end of the school year, so if there is something you’ve been dying to write about, let us know. To everyone who is running in the elections, best of luck!

If you are on the fence/ scared of running (like I was), I’ll pass on a tip that a wise friend once told me: you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.

Have a superb March everyone!

GHASAK HUSSAIN

This year is flying by unbelievably fast - only a little more than a month to go before we challenge our final exams, and either head off to our rotation sites or become a licensed pharmacist! Before any of these though, we get a whole month to celebrate our profession during PAM as well as APSA elections - which I would highly encourage everyone to run in. No rest for the weary! You can find information on both of these topics in this issue,

as well as throwbacks to Blue and Gold and an article written by our former dean.

Happy March!

WINNIE LO

CALENDAR

APSA CALENDAR Are you as excited for Pharmacy Awareness Month (PAM) as we are? All month long, you have the opportunity to participate in seminars and clinics promoting our profession!

Go out and get involved!

H C R A M 07 09

ndia C tory g a d n Ma etin om] e M date Boardro A [APS PM 1 12 & nch u L arm h P SAF n Lear 628] [MSB PM 1 12 -

11 14 14 16

inar ch m e ff S h - Mar n a B t h 11 c r a M 13th n

ear L & h

unc L a t Ins 227] [MSB PM 1 12 -

tes

ida d n a C

tion Elec m Foru 628] [MSB PM 1 12 -

es

dat i d n n Ca II o i t c Ele art P m Foru 628] [MSB PM 1 12 -

PQ DESIGN AND LAYOUT BY WINNIE LO

You can find us on Facebook at PQ PlusTwo or Instagram @pqplustwo

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 3

SAMPLE

AMANDA’S KITCHEN SPANOKOPITA

BY AMANDA LEONG 1. Spinach mixture: Mix the scallions or onions (optional), drained spinach, feta, basil, parsley, egg, olive oil and lemon juice together in a medium bowl. Preheat oven to 350 F.

INGREDIENTS: 1 box of phyllo dough (this is in the frozen aisle, and you need it to de-

2. Take 1 phyllo sheet and cut it into 3 sections with a sharp knife (don’t worry if there’s tears in your pastry!!)

3. For each section, you want to fold the long sides about 1⁄41⁄2“ into the middle, so that those sides are ‘reinforced’.

frost overnight) 2 scallions or half an onion, diced (optional) 2 boxes of frozen spinach (drained in a colander overnight) 200g feta (drained, crumbled by hand or buy it crumbled)

4. Take the melted butter and brush it over one side of the phyllo sheet. Take 1 tbsp of your spinach mixture and put it in a corner of the phyllo pastry. Then fold it into triangles until you reach the end of the pastry (see below).

6 leaves fresh basil, chopped roughly 6 stems fresh parsley, chopped roughly 1 egg, beaten in a bowl and put to the side 2 tbsp olive oil

5. Once all of your spanokopitas are made, brush the tops with the butter and sprinkle the parmesan over top! Arrange your spanokopitas on a baking sheet, 2” apart.

2 tbsp grated parmesan 1 tbsp lemon juice (bottle or squeezed, whatever you want) 1.5 cups melted, unsalted butter

TIME: 1 hour QUARTERLY 4 PHARMACY

6. Bake 350 F for 15 minutes. ENJOY!

PHARMACY SUPERHEROES

PHARMACY SUPERHEROES Dana Moynihan

Who is extra-super-amazing in our faculty? Here are this month’s heroes both big and small.

Lauren Mark Better known as Mrs.Sam, whether it be lending notes for a missed class or simply helping you understand a difficult concept, this gal is definitely useful to have around!

She’s done such an awesome job as 3rd year class rep this year and is always trying to make things better for our class. It’s also great to see all the health and wellness promotion on my newsfeed from her fitpharm initiative!

Doug Lam He was an amazing class rep for the class of 2019, because he always went out of his way and was assertive to bring forth ideas that was of class’ interest. I think he has great leadership that would bring success to him later on his life.

Kevin Zapf Thank you for being willing to answer questions when no one else will! He is kind hearted and willing to help anyone who asks for it.

Yasir Iqbal

Franky Huang

Best VP Student Services I’ve ever seen.

His 10 million wellness initiatives have truly made a difference to student life.

Zumba classes, yoga, eat well do swell, that’s a lot! Grateful for his hard work.

I was so happy to see him accept a Class Award at Blue and Gold. He deserved it for not only helping classmates but being an all-around great person to have in the class. He even studies Korean in his free time. Think about that.

Lisa McHargue She is so sweet to everyone and is a vibrant presence to have in our class!

She is always involved in fundraising initiatives and never fails to raise a lot for Movember and Run for the Cure each year.

Submit a hero you know for our next issue at: tinyurl.com/pq2-questions

Anita Kan You are such a wonderful and caring person, and I am so lucky to have a friend in you. Thank you so much for helping me with my last minute cram sessions and panicked midnight phone calls - there is no way I could have gotten through this year without you!

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 5

PAM

PHARMACIST AWARENESS MONTH (PAM)

BY ALYSSA SCHMODE, ALIAKSANDR SAVIN, MARLINE AIZOUKI

W

hat is PAM? PAM is something many of you use to make sure your food doesn’t stick to cooking surface. It also stands for Pharmacist Awareness Month, and it’s aimed at raising awareness about the increasing role that pharmacists play in health care, beyond dispensing. Let us come together with the rest of our provincial and national pharmacy associations across Canada to improve the public’s awareness about the expanding role of pharmacists, and how we can help them! PAM is the perfect time to get involved in the profession on a wider scale, allowing us to educate pharmacists, other health care professionals, and the public about pharmacy students vision for the future of pharmacy.

“This year as a part of Pharmacist Awareness Month (PAM) we will be inviting students from pharmacy, medicine, and nursing faculties in order to help students gain insight into the inner workings of true interdisciplinary care and how they can incorporate it into their future practices. A cardiology team from the U of A hospital including Dr. Sheri Koshman - a pharmacist, Dr. Michelle Graham - a Cardiologist, and Lindsey Wallace - a Registered Nurse, will be explaining how Interdisciplinary healthcare functions in real practice.

Please note that while lunch will be sponsored by Pfizer, all speakers will be attending voluntarily with no sponsorship.

We encourage students from all faculties to attend!” - Alyssa Schmode CAPSI Sr

“Each year Pharmacist Awareness Month (PAM) gives students the opportunity to get involved in educating Canadians about the incredible contributions that pharmacists

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Don’t forget to grab you PAM pin and advocate for pharmacy! Take pictures with your pin and use the hashtag #UAlbertaPAM2016 to go along with the photos to win a Starbucks gift card each week! make to our health care system.

This year we have many exciting, educational events that extend from Lunch and Learns to the Osteoporosis Clinic at West Edmonton Mall! We will be celebrating the end of PAM with a speed-mentorship Social Mixer at the RATT (Room At The Top) on March 19th. The mixer will be a great night of networking, socializing, prizes, and an opportunity to learn more about our profession from licensed Pharmacists. We will be celebrating the great strides that our profession has made, and discussing pharmacy-related topics

PAM

with practicing pharmacists. This will be a black-listed event starting at 8pm so be sure to clear your calendar. We look forward to seeing you there!� - Marline Aizouki CAPSI Jr.

If you have any questions, suggestions or want to volunteer please email us at aliaksan@ ualberta.ca, marlin@ualberta.ca or

ajschmod@ualberta.ca Aliaksandr Savin VP-External, Marline Aizouki CAPSI Jr., Alyssa Schmode CAPSI Sr. Chairs of the PAM committee

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 07

MUSINGS OF A PHARMACY LEGEND

BY DR. JOHN A. BACHYNSKY We do a lot of reflections in pharmacy, but have you ever wondered if professors do reflections of their own? Take a look at Dr. Backynsky’s reflections and tips for navigating the pharmacy world!

Patient Retention Why does a patient go to a certain Pharmacy. Why do they continue to deal with that pharmacy?

Surprisingly little research has been done on this topic. It is of importance to a pharmacy to understand how the Pharmacy is perceived and what patients’ expect but little has been done to find out.

We can guess at reasons that people go to a specific pharmacy: location close to home, location close to a physician’s office, convenience for one stop shopping in a larger store, reputation for lower prices, and level of professional services.

Whatever the reason, an important fact is that most people go to the same pharmacy for many years. This means that the current customer base is vital to the continued financial success of the pharmacy.

Any action by any person in the pharmacy that drives a customer away is serious.

Why would a person stop going to their pharmacy and take their business elsewhere? Recently the

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main reason is that their pharmacy has been purchased by another pharmacies and their prescription file has been moved. In this situation most people would go to the pharmacy that has their files. This is a change that is not instigated by the patient and one that accounts for the value of pharmacy records in the sale of a pharmacy.

Patients change their pharmacy when there is a gap between what patients expect and what is provided. This could be a serious matter such as a medication error, incorrect information, breach of privacy, etc. , or it could be perceived rudeness, lack of continuity due to staff turnover, delays in obtaining medication or not following up on some promised service.

Whatever the reason for change the impact is substantial. The cost is the cumulative amount the patient would have spent in the pharmacy over the next 20 years.

To avoid this situation there must be a continual focus on making the patients comfortable, treated politely, provided with professional services, and establishing a personal

relationship over a period of time.

So, when a clerk tells a patient that the rules of the organization do not allow for a certain request the possible consequences should be known. What is most important, following the rules or providing customer service? In these cases it is worthwhile doing things to meet the patient’s request. In organizations with rigid rules the issue of patient retention is less important than certainty in knowing that procedures are followed. As a pharmacist, some thought about the issue will help determine a course of action.

One to One Marketing A pharmacy can be seen as a place with a standard array of products that will be sold or dispensed to customers. Or, it can be seen as a place that has stock and access to additional products that will meet the health needs of the customer.

In retail lingo this is an extension of the concept of a companion sale or add on sale. A customer who comes into a pharmacy with

REFLECTION a desire to deal with a problem has in mind a product or kind of product that will deal with the situation. When a patient wants a decongestant, the companion sale of facial tissue is logical and many stores have companion sales of this nature. In a professional context the advice of the pharmacist is to understand the problem in context and provide information on an array of product or services that might be used, even if they are not available in the pharmacy. In the case of decongestant information on the probable cause and duration could lead to advising on humidifiers, air filters for pollen, natural products, sinus irrigation, avoiding allergens and inhalants.

The aim of this is to meet the needs of the patient by ordering in nonstock products such as vaporizers.

In this way the patient will turn to the pharmacy for a wider range of health products and improve the service and success of the business.

Family Perspective on Care In caring for a patient you need to consider the family context.

Dependent children are a clear cut case. Teen age girls on birth control medication is quite another.

Usually the family members are aware of the medication treatment of other family members and may be counted upon to support the patient in terms of adherence to therapy and identifying side effects.

Even so, it is necessary to talk to married people to see what they wish to share. It is not uncommon to have a patient require secrecy as to their condition or medication.

These cases cannot be assumed as people have strange beliefs, views and idiosyncrasies.

In light of the above there is a need to think through the provision of financial information which will reveal some family secrets. An innocent request for information

on drug expenditure for family prescriptions may turn out to be a very nasty lawsuit for breaching privacy.

The other side of family care is that the family is the largest group of care givers in the population. They diagnose and treat a wide variety of health problems. The extent of this is illustrated by walking up and down the aisles in a pharmacy and looking at the products offered for sale. If only a small proportion of people using these products went to Emergency or to a physician the cost to the health care system would be enormous.

suitable candidates is important and pharmacists may wish to contribute by running for office, assisting someone to get elected or influencing people to vote.

Once people are elected there is a continuing need to provide them with advice on health issues so that appropriate policies are put in place. When pharmacists complain about some health issues this is usually matched by avoiding any action to improve the situation.

Community Leadership Students pay a lot of money to go to university, but this is only a small part of the university budget.

The major part comes from taxes from citizens of the province. This means that the province has an interest in the contribution that will be made by the graduates. The goal of education is not only skill development but more importantly the ability to think and analyze information as a citizen. This is why citizenship is included in the Faculty vision statement.

Pharmacists, along with other university graduates, are seen as the informed sector that should provide leadership in the community (noblesse oblige).

They are expected to provide leadership in organizations, make representation on issues on which they are expert and to assist in the process of electing or appointing suitable people on governing bodies. A key step in this process is to vote in public and professional elections.

In the modern world there is a greater reliance on governments to make decisions that affect the community. Election of

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 09

APSA

APSA ELECTIONS 2016

JOURNE FITNESS

BY DANA MOYNIHAN

APSA holds annual elections for all positions on APSA council.

Why should you apply?

Getting involved with APSA is a great way to know your classmates and awesome people from other classes!

You will learn even more about how the profession of Pharmacy works in the background to make things happen. Depending on your council position, you could be involved in a variety of pharmacy organisations where you would be able to network with practicing pharmacists. Involvement also looks great on resumes!

What position should I apply for?

You should look at the election nomination package to get comprehensive information on positions that are available. Once you have your heart set on a position, go look up the current APSA councillor on myapsa.ca and ask them questions about their position!

What is involved in the application process?

LOGO CREDITS: APSA

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You have to fill out the nomination package and get a minimum of 5 signatures supporting your nomination. You have to attend a mandatory information session in the APSA Boardroom on March 2, 2016. Then you’ll start with your campaigning – this can be whatever you want it to look like! Some candidates will have to attend an elections forum where you talk about your platform and people can ask you questions.

Application deadline:

March 4th at 9PM emailed to aleong@ualberta.ca

Two. My score for the beep-test in high school. Zero.

The amount of push-ups I could do, or kilometres I could run. I hated running. I hated biking.

People who exercised for fun? Are they possessed? My journey to a fitter, happier, and healthier me didn’t come overnight. It’s been a continual process of growth for the past six years, but I can honestly say I’ll never look back.

Bring it back to 2008. My mother (who was a young 55 at the time) had just been diagnosed with non-hodgkin’s lymphoma. It was a bombshell dropped on my family from out of the blue. My mom was always incredibly active. She ran 10ks every Sunday, raced half marathons and took care of herself.

How could this happen? This moment of my life, as a shakenup 20 year old, was a pivotal experience in shaping the person I am today. I knew getting fit may not prevent me from getting cancer like my mom did, but it would help me look at the world in a way I’ve never seen it before. That summer I ran my first 10k race in Canmore, my mother beat me by 10 whole minutes. Her cancer was in remission. Ever since then, I haven’t been able to shake off the feeling I get when I go for a run, take my bike out on the open road, or doing laps in the pool. To me it’s not about having that perfect summer body, or getting the perfect selfie for instagram, it’s about showing up and being the best version of yourself every single day.

I have now run 42.2 km (yes

EY OF A S ENTHUSIAST the 0.2km makes a difference) for fun (TWICE), and turned that hate into an appreciation. Not every workout is a good one, and there have been many scheduled bikes and runs that I’ve skipped. I’ve had highs, and probably even more lows. I was recently diagnosed with GAD (generalized anxiety disorder), but I’ve been using exercise to keep my mind healthy, and to control my symptoms. If I can go and sweat it out at a 50 minute spin class, the whole outlook of the day changes for me. I’m much more positive, patient, and I feel like everything I do is done with 110% more effort.

It’s not a cure for my anxiety, but it’s one way that I use to cope with the stressors of pharmacy school and everyday life.

Now I’m not saying everyone should go out and run a marathon (I did because I’m too

FITPHARM

competitive with myself). It could be a walk around the block study break, or training to run your first 5k. The possibilities are endless, and you will reap the benefits for the rest of your life! Take the initiative for your own health, because in the end you are in control of your own destiny and I promise it will change you for the better. Take care of yourself, not for anyone’s sake but your own.

Thank you all for participating in #fitpharm 2016.

I was so impressed by all the fantastic photos! Our 2016 winners of the $50 gift cards are Alexandra Neil from PharmD (she went full beastmode) and Tatianne Pomerleau-Mahe from the Class of 2017!

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 11

B&G ROUTINE

MY BLUE & GOLD ROUTINE

BY VICTORIA PRICE

Ah, the Blue and Gold Ball: the one night of the year when burnt-out pharmacy students can lay off the textbooks and suit up for a night of wine, class pride, and killer Cher impersonations. It’s the event I’ve been looking forward to since November, and while my class has planned our skits and songs over the course of months, I’ve also been doing my own planning for what I’ll wear—and who I’ll bring—to the ball. As I come closer and closer to finishing pharmacy school, the times I spend with my pharmacy friends become more valuable, and it becomes more important for me to treasure those good times and look good doing it. In celebration of arguably the best night in pharmacy, I’ve decided to share how I prepared for this year’s #B&G2016, and hopefully give you some tips on how to make it your best night, too!

First things first, I hit up the mall. The most important part of any social event is obviously your outfit. This year, I opted for a style that was elegant yet contemporary. Of course, finding the perfect outfit isn’t always easy- it can take hours in the change room to decide which dress makes you look the most fabulous!

PHOTO CREDITS: VICTORIA PRICE

Tip #1: Try pairing a classy frock with a glamorous fur stole—or spice things up with animal print! The important thing is to show off your individuality and multifaceted sense of style. Having different options available will ensure that you’re always looking on point and ready for any occasion, and it means that you can go from Meryl Streep to Snooki real quick. (Is it still acceptable to be making Snooki jokes in 2016? Well, I’m going to do it anyway. Jersey Shore was a defining period in my adolescent life.)

Make sure you try lots of styles—you never know what might end up looking fab on you!

For instance, I was obviously all about the lemon-coloured tablecloth above, and the gorgeous blue number definitely got me feeling like a schoolteacher chaperoning the 5th grade formal. As for the plain pink? Not doing so much for me.

Stay tuned to see which outfit I chose in the end!

Tip #2: It gets chilly in Edmonton. On a night out, you want to make sure you’re going to be warm and comfortable while still looking fly! I’d opt for some cozy socks with your sandals or a totally unnecessary pair of designer rubber boots to keep your feet dry in the slushy streets.

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 13

B&G ROUTINE The next step to having the perfect evening at Blue & Gold is finding the perfect date. Everybody who’s anybody will be there, and B&G is definitely heavy on the networking opportunities—your date’s gotta be suave enough to woo everyone from Sharon Mitchell to Kit Poon. As a single lady, there’s no limit to my options for arm candy! Since I’m already at the mall, I decide to scope out a few hotties in the menswear department.

What can I say? I love a guy in Calvin Klein. Anything that reminds me of Justin Bieber just fills me with #Purpose.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find any decent guys at the mall—they all seemed to be the strong silent type, and while nicely dressed, a mannequin would have more personality than them. Oh well, it’s time to go home and start getting ready!

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Tip #3: With hair, you always want to go with a timeless style. No one wants to look back at their old photos with embarrassment and aesthetic shame! So, 80s Cyndi Lauper frizz or 90s Gwen Stefani mini buns?

B&G ROUTINE

I also took a subtle approach to my makeup and nails; I always optfor an effortless look that accentuates my natural beauty. I’m so tired of seeing all the super heavy contouring, gigantic puffy lips and general fakeness on Instagram—just be your true authentic self!

Tip #4: Make sure to take lots of obligatoryphotos with your #pharmabaes so people on Facebook will think that you have both friends and a social life.

In the end, I guess Blue & Gold isn’t really about having the perfect dress and the prettiest makeup; it’s about getting together with your friends for some drug jokes, ridiculous dance routines and showing a little pharmacy spirit.

Just kidding, it’s totally one big pharma fashion show, and my B&G style has as much of a repeating win as the Class of 2016. Can’t wait till next year!

Oh, and I did get a gorgeous date after all—shoutout to the one and only Helen for making it an evening to remember! She may embarrass me sometimes—okay, all the time—but she’ll still always be the president of my heart. I hope you all had as great of a time at B&G as I did!!

A DAY IN THE LIFE

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF

KIM ARBTER

Registered Pharmacy Technician, Costco Pharmacy QUESTIONS BY ALYSSA ACO

Kim Arbter is a Registered Pharmacy Technician at Costco Pharmacy. Her work experience has been diverse, dynamic and unique, which is why the PQ+2 team wanted her to discuss the pharmacy technician perspective in this issue’s A Day In The Life.

Apart from pharmacy, she loves going to concerts, playing with her dog and talking to students.

What made you want to be a registered tech?

I was already working towards my Pharmacy Technician Certificate at Red Deer College when discussions regarding regulation started. I knew that being a Pharmacy Technician was going to be my career, so it was a no-brainer to write my exams to become registered.

schooling to become registered.

I lucked out and graduated from Red Deer College in June 2009 therefore I didn’t need to do any of the Bridging Programs.

I wrote the pilot PEBC’s in May 2010 and my Jurisprudence exam about a year later.

How is your scope of practice changing the current pharmacy workflow?

The change in our current pharmacy workflow isn’t apparent all shift, every shift.

In my current workplace, there can be days when there’s a lot of pharmacist overlap shifts so when there are two pharmacists on duty I don’t do much prescription checking.

However, I do technical checks on prescriptions if the workflow pace picks up or when the pharmacist is on break. I find I’m using more knowledge in my everyday tasks because I am registered.

Tell me about the schooling process you went through to become a registered tech. Tell us about the licensing process.

What special skills did you gain after becoming registered?

What would you say is the most beneficial thing that being registered gives you?

I didn’t have to do any extra

It has given me the feeling that

16 PHARMACY QUARTERLY

I have an evolving and everchanging career ahead of me. I also feel more confident in the pharmacy skills and knowledge that I’ve always had, allowing me to utilize them more in the practice setting.

What is your relationship with pharmacists like?

I’d say we all have a very good working relationship. I work with pharmacists that will ask for help checking and I feel supported in my role either way. I’m sure it feels weird giving up some responsibility but I feel confident I can take it on. When I sign my name to a document, it’s my liability.

What are some challenges you experienced during your career as a Pharmacy Technician?

Currently I am fully embracing my change in scope of practice and it helps that my workplace is very supportive. That wasn’t always the case, as some pharmacies are slower to evolve with the changing scope. It was difficult to adapt to a new system for pharmacy technicians. I then decided to make the jump to my current pharmacy. I am now

A DAY IN THE LIFE

working at full scope of practice and loving it.

What opportunities do pharmacy technicians have to get involved with their profession?

Pharmacy Technicians and Assistants’ organization in Alberta is the Pharmacy Technician Society of Alberta.

The board is open for anyone to volunteer for any position that may interest you. We have a yearly conference which celebrated its 25th year in 2015.

It is held in either Edmonton or Calgary and it alternates every year. PTSA also supports Pharmacy Awareness Month with specialized packages that can be ordered for pharmacies to promote our profession and a PAM contest that members can participate in. PTSA also holds various CE events throughout the year in different areas across the province. We currently have a CE Lead in Edmonton, Calgary, and Grand Prairie.

These events are free for our members. As a PTSA member you are also entitled to receive our bimonthly newsletter, Techs in Touch (which I contribute to).

PTSA also has Affinity Partners that provide various services available to members. Mark’s Work Warehouse, TD Meloche, HDF Insurance, just to name a few. The opportunity that I have to be a part of the board has been a great experience!

Tell us about how the role of pharmacy technicians have changed in the past couple of years. Where do you see these changes taking your field?

There is now different scope of

practice for an individual who is a Pharmacy Technician versus one who is a Pharmacy Assistant. As a Pharmacy Technician I can do a technical checks on prescriptions (as long as they are not narcotics or controlled medications).

That leaves the Pharmacist with the clinical check, thus leaving the Pharmacist more time for clinical duties (ie. med reviews).

Pharmacy Technicians can also accept verbal prescriptions from other healthcare professionals (again, no narcotic or controlled medications) and sign off on prescription transfers to other stores.

These are all restricted duties that a Pharmacy Assistant can’t perform.

advice to pharmacy students?

You can do it! Sometimes it can seem overwhelming, unobtainable and stressful but it will all be worth it in the end. Take those moments for yourself as well, life is not all school.

I see the future of Pharmacy becoming a much more clinical field.

With Pharmacy Technicians able to check prescriptions and Pharmacists doing the final clincal check, their time can be devoted to the clincal aspects of Pharmacy.

Pharmacists could be holding medical clincs, assessing medication reviews, and spending more time with patients.

What is your PHOTO CREDITS: KIM ARBTER

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 17

TRAVEL

ONCOLOGY IN PARIS

BY JOSH SIMPSON

Even before I got into pharmacy I was interested in learning about cancer and oncology treatment. Getting accepted into the pharmacy program at the University of Alberta had given me a chance to increase my knowledge about the area and hopefully after graduation be involved in the care of those individuals who are living with cancer. In my second year I approached individuals from upper years and friends currently in the healthcare field for advice on preparing for a possible career path. I got advice about shadowing opportunities, information about the rotation spot at the Cross Cancer Institute as a second year hospital rotation option (which I was lucky enough to get), and support from those currently working in their fields about doing everything I could in advance to learn more and be prepared if the opportunity to work in the field arose.

idea, I found myself coming back to the idea of possibly attending the conference. This would be a huge experience and would almost definitely leave a lasting impression.

Before actually deciding on if I wanted to do this conference I contacted the organisers regarding to the level of the information being presented and if they expected a student who had yet to take an official university level oncology course would be able to follow along. They eased my concerns and let me know that while a lot of the presenters were from the research field the conference was not only aimed at these individuals, rather the conference was aimed at individuals currently practicing and those new to practice, as they wanted to get this information out and as a student I should have no problem. On top of this they were really excited about

the possibility of a student from Canada coming to the conference.

Once I had set my mind on the conference the planning started and after looking at flights and hostels I decided to combine this trip with an entire trip to Europe... as this only made sense and since I was already over there why not extend the trip a little bit and take time off school and work. The trip itself was a lot of fun but one of the most interesting things I made sure to do was visit a pharmacy in every country. Other than being a neat experience to see how community pharmacies differed between here and across Europe and I feel I was exposed to different ways of approaching patients. Plus it was an eye-opening experience seeing what medications they have there which are OTC compared to Rx here and visa versa (I couldn’t believe it when

The most exciting advice I got was when I was talking to a friend in the healthcare field and he suggested looking into conferences regarding oncology as a great way to learn about the topic with recent and relevant information being provided. So that night I went home and went looking right away for oncology themed conferences and after all my research I kept coming back to the WIN Symposium.

The only downside was that this conference was held in Paris. After almost immediately discounting the

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FIRST PHARMACY IN IRELAND PHOTO CREDITS: JOSH SIMPSON

TRAVEL

PHARMACY IN GERMANY

PHARMACY IN LONDON

I heard some allergy medication needed a prescription).

But back to the conference…

The conference was held in a conference hall which felt like it was only 10 blocks away from the Eiffel Tower. Having one hour for lunch and spending it eating a baguette under there was definitely a fun way to spend my time! The general layout for the event involved mostly guest speakers presenting on their research, however it was an exciting presentation of the material.

The topics ranged from targeting immune mechanisms to promising new multi-drug treatment options to the huge benefit of personalizing

cancer treatment, and was presented from individuals from the US National Cancer Institute, the European Medicines Agency, and the University of Texas MD Anderson Center.

While oncology may not be your thing, definitely take the time and look into conferences!

There are a lot of them out there and they present information in an interesting and unique way that you can use to supplement your own learning or passions. And don’t just settle for the easiest route to graduation, after all my desire to pursue this conference not only led me to coming into the third year

oncology class with knowledge that we didn’t even get around to in the course but led to me having a memorable summer. Remember to enjoy your learning and take up the opportunities around you!

Cheers, Joshua

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 19

SHKRELI SAMPLE

THE SCAPEGOAT WE DESERVE

BY NICOLA GALE

Is there an award for “Worst Human Alive”? Is this dude trying to get it? At this point I’m just really hoping that Martin Shkreli isn’t actually a real thinking, breathing human and this is all just a clever ploy to expose the seedy reality of price gouging within the pharmaceutical industry. But that would be giving him way too much credit. Martin Shkreli isn’t the type of guy to sneakily sell us on the idea that maybe we should be regulating drug companies. Or that profits aren’t the best incentives when it comes to healthcare. Nope. Shkreli is the type of guy to upload hours of live stream of himself surfing his OkCupid account (I wish I was joking). Shkreli is the type of guy who tries to buy Kanye’s new album for $10 million dollars just so nobody else can hear it. Shkreli is the type to jack the price of a life-saving medication 5400%.

the first place. Until we pressure government and industry to provide open access to clinical trial and research data, patent laws that limit monopolization, publicly supported R&D, and systems focused on health equity, who do we have to blame but ourselves?

As tempting as it is to blame Shkreli and his punchable face for all the problems of our broken drug development system, he isn’t the underlying condition; he’s just a symptom. Rather than asking ourselves why M Shkrizzle could be such a heartless douche nozzle, we should be asking ourselves why he was able to in

20 PHARMACY QUARTERLY

IMAGE CREDITS: YOUTUBE, MARTIN SHKRELI CNBC SARAH WHITTEN

SHKRELI

A DIFFERENT SIDE TO SHKRELI

BY YUSUF NASIHI

Unlike many businesspeople who are under investigation, Martin Shkreli has not shied away from the spotlight. By taking attention upon himself, he has been labelled “Pharma Bro” by American media and has taken heavy criticism on social media. The world has taken such a fascination in the thirty-threeyear-old CEO that otherwise dry footage of him refusing to answer the questions of a United States legislative committee have been discussed and reposted to social media many times.

Indeed, Shkreli appears to represent two industries thought to be full of greed: hedge fund management

and pharmaceuticals. The fact that he paid 2 million USD for a one-ofa-kind Wu-Tang Clan album and decided not to release it did not help his case with the public either.

Indeed, taking a look at Shkreli’s Twitter page, one would conclude he has accepted his reputation as “Pharmadouche.”

With so many outlets reporting on Shkreli, it is important to point out that the moral and criminal elements of Shkreli’s activities are completely separate. By raising the price of Daraprim, Shkreli has not committed a crime. He is only being investigated for fraud for mishandling the funds of a hedge fund he led. His refusal to answer questions is what anyone on trial would do This is not an indication of his character or an admission of guilt in the fraud case.

It is only when three separate things that are going on around him coalesce when his story becomes a media sensation: increasing the price of Daraprim, being under investigation for fraud, and being asked to give statements to members of the U.S.Congress. These are three independent events with almost no relation to one another and, yet, to the undiscerning eye of the public, they seem to portray a cruel business owner getting what he deserves from Congress.

fraud but it has been said that all or most people in the Wall Street have fraudulent dealings. Robert Reich, a political commentator and former U.S. minister of labour, said as much when he wrote about Shkreli in December 2015. Reich wrote that U.S. drug pricing operates with few restrictions and Shkreli might only have been targeted because he is more “brash” than other businesspeople.

What, then, should pharmacists make of this character? From the perspectives of the patients who have had their drug costs soar astronomically, Shkreli is clearly a villain. His insistence that the profits Turing Pharmaceuticals would make would go toward more effective medications is speculative at best and an excuse at worst.

On the other hand, Reich has noted that other companies make modest increases to their drugs every year instead. Particularly concerning is the fact that many of these drugs are for treating chronic diseases, like diabetes and high cholesterol.

If there exists any threat to the stability of health care then it might be modest increases over many years for drugs that are prescribed often that causes the system to collapse, rather than a large onetime increase in the price of a drug for rare conditions.

Martin Shkreli has been indicted for

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 21

Which Pharmacy Setting Best Suits Your Personality?

BY ALYSSA ACO Pharmacists are literally everywhere. Wondering which practice setting is best for you? Take the quiz and find out!

Disclaimer: This quiz is mainly for fun and does not 100% accurately depict your future.

1.) During a slow day at work, you are counselling a patient about their medication, when suddenly they ask about Glucosamine for Arthritis. What is your approach at answering this question?

3.) It is Sunday evening before the worst week of the semester. Two midterms, an oral presentation and the Integrated Case is due. What are you doing right now?

a.) Tell them the most useful and practical advice: there is not enough evidence for its efficacy, but since there aren’t significant side effects from the product, they can give it a try. b.) Bring them to a private counselling room and begin interviewing them and educate them thoroughly on Glucosamine, arthritis and their medications. c.) Ask them if you could perform a Med Review on them. They have arthritis? You want to check their risk of getting fractures using the FRAX tool. And maybe check Netcare for their past medical history. d.) Go on a reliable academic database and find the best double blinded, randomized control trial about Glucosamine, perform a thorough analysis of the paper and present your conclusions to the patient. Evidence Based Medicine, say what!?

a.) Studying for the midterm WHILE working on the Integrated Case. 10 million things to do? Pfft, you got this.

You don’t stress easy. Multitasking is an art and you are Picasso. b.) On the phone explaining the concept of “how blood flows through the body” to your classmate, as he is currently freaking out. You spend some time reassuring him that everything is gonna be fine and continue teaching him important concepts. c.) Analysing which midterm is worth more and deciding to prioritize that exam over everything else. Why bother for something worth 10% ? d.) Do each workload with patience and hard work. You genuinely want to learn the material, so why rush? (Who needs sleep anyways)

2.) During lunch, you are most likely found: a.) Organizing and running the bake sale fundraiser.

You love volunteering with people and getting involved! b.) Speaking with the professor in his office. You love picking the brains of your educators, especially about the latest and greatest in the profession. c.) Reading through the latest Canadian Diabetes Association’s Clinical Practice Guidelines. Got to stay up to date! d.) At the Journal Club meeting, where else will I be?

4.) Your life in Pharmacy would be incomplete without: a.) My life long friends b.) Your upstanding professors c.) Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties d.) Summer student research programs 5.) Which of the following do you have very little tolerance for? a.) People who can’t keep their cool. (You are the definition of cool under pressure) b.) When people resist your efforts to help or teach them something. c.) Disobliging people who refuse to cooperate. d.) Not knowing something. It frustrates you that your knowledge is finite.

PQ QUIZ Community Pharmacy You are practical, charming and enjoy talking to people, which is why you are best fit for community pharmacy! Everyday is always different, and because of your unbelievable multitasking skills and top notch empathy, you can handle every obstacle like a pro. You have high tolerance for stress and when everyone is freaking out at the pharmacy, you are who they turn to. You want to make a real difference in patients lives, which is why working in the front lines as their first contact in healthcare best suits you. Who knows, maybe you could own a pharmacy chain one day!

Faculty Oh hello Masters Degree! Your love of education best suits you for a position within the Faculty! Teaching is your forte and you’ve got the desire to mold young pharmacy minds. You are a natural born teacher with a unique way of explaining complex concepts - and your friends know it. They turn to you for homework help and would probably not pass Cardiology with you. You find school to be an invigorating place for professional and personal growth, which is why you’d make a great professor (or the next Dean!)

Hospital Pharmacy You like working in groups, especially with other healthcare professionals, which is why a close, collaborative atmosphere like the hospital best suits you! You would enjoy going on rounds with a medical team and do a team-based approach on every treatment decision. You are very clinically-focused, which is why therapeutic drug monitoring or complicated anticoagulation regimens do not scare you. In the hospital, there is usually too much to do in too little time, but you prioritize your tasks well, so you would fit in perfectly!

Research Your inquisitive and curious mind makes you a perfect fit for a career in research! You crave knowledge and genuinely love learning, which is why you spend most your days reading new research articles and perusing through academic journals. You never take “approved professional guidelines” at face value and want to delve deeper for legitimate evidence. Like the best researchers in the world, you are hardworking, patient and committed, which is why we hear a big research project coming your way soon!

IMAGE CREDITS: GRAPHIC LOADS

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 23

YOU’VE GOT TO TRY THIS

BY WINNIE LO

YOU’VE GOT TO TRY THIS:

TUTTI FRUTTI

And you’ve got to read this too! Each issue, the PQ will be visiting one of the many restaurants on our APSA membership card to give YOU an inside look at the food you’re missing out on!

This time, we pick the coldest day of February to go try some frozen treats - there’s never a bad time to have froyo!

Winnie – back once again to eat a small mountain of food #theonetheonly Dulce de Leche, Chocolate Chip Chocolate, Soy Bean Peanut Butter, Gingerbread Toppings: Yogurt chips, Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips, Chocolate Crumbs, Sunflower Seeds, Skor, Oreo The Tutti Frutti we went to was on Jasper, located in a colourful basement (which adds a lot of brownie points for me). They have a lot of boardgames you can pick from to play as well, which would make for a great place to hang out after exams.

Although my one true love is Banana, it was not available (*sobs*) so I decided to branch out and try a little bit of everything. Dulce de Leche was very mild, with a light sweetness and the faintest taste of caramel. It doesn’t stand out on it’s own, but soooo good when you combine it with the chocolate crumbs.

Gingerbread is delicious – it’s a little spiced, which is a fun contrast to the creamy frozen yogurt. It sounds like a bit of an odd flavour, but if you like any kind of spiced dessert, then I would highly recommend it.

While I know I added Chocolate Chip Cookie to the mix somewhere… I couldn’t figure out which one it was afterwards… As for the toppings – I loved everything I added! Sunflower seeds were especially delicious!

The crunch they add is irresistible. I was surprised to see Skor and added it because YOLO, but it was a very wise decision. Very wise.

Favourite Froyo: Gingerbread (maybe it’s the Christmas longing in me…)

Favourite Topping: Sunflower seeds and Skor

PHOTO CREDITS: WINNIE LO

YOU’VE GOT TO TRY THIS

Anita – lover of caffeine and cats #CrazyCatLady TF tart, Grape, Dulce de Leche, Hazulnut Spread, Chocolate Chip Cookie Toppings: Graham Cracker Crumbs, Chocolate Crumbs, Crushed Oreos, Rainbow Bites Me I decided to have my graham crumbs, chocolate crumbs, and crushed oreos with the creamier froyos: Dulce De Leche, Hazelnut Spread, and Chocolate Chip Cookie. They were all good however I wouldn’t recommend getting both the chocolate chip cookie and the hazelnut spread because they kind of tasted the same. I really enjoyed the more taart and fresh froyos: TF tart and Grape. TF tart is your typical frozen plain yogurt, it’s very pleasant and doesn’t melt easy! For people who enjoy artificial grape candy tastes (ME!) the Grape froyo is the way to go. It tastes just like a grape lollipop. The Rainbow Bite topping was not that enjoyable. I think it had been sitting out on the counter for too long because it wasn’t chewy.

Favourite Froyo: TF tart Favourite Topping: OREOS!

Monica – fine dining and wining with frozen yogurt #theoracle Soy Bean Peanut Butter Toppings: Maraschino Cherries, Kit Kat Bars, Heart Shaped Candies, Cookie Dough Pieces We definitely picked the coldest day to do a Tutti Frutti Review but thought it would be a nice treat to celebrate the start of Reading Week. Since we just finished our nutrition final, I decided on the Soy Bean Peanut Butter for those extra isoflavones! I loved how the Cookie Dough Pieces went well with this flavour of frozen yogurt. The Heart Shaped Candies were mostly for aesthetic purposes but they surprisingly were quite tasty once the outer part was melted away. I think the Kit Kat Bars brought out the flavour of the peanut butter that was mixed in with the Soybean froyo quite nicely. The Maraschino Cherries were a great addition to my froyo because it made me feel a bit healthier. My only regret is that I didn’t try the Kiwi Sorbet flavour as well since I was mostly aiming for the non-dairy selections. I liked the atmosphere since they play very upbeat music and the place is very cutely decorated. 5/5 For sure on this place!

Favourite Froyo: Soy Bean Peanut Butter (it was the only one :P) Favourite Topping: Cookie Dough Pieces

Top Recommendations from Froyo guru PHOEBE HSU Froyo: papaya, pomegranate, melon Toppings: strawberries, mango

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 25

DEAR EDITOR,

Dear Editor, I’m wondering if you’d recommend getting involved in a lot of extracurriculars in 2nd year. I’m in 1st year now, but 2nd year sounds like serving on APSA positions or working at a pharmacy could be too much.

Thanks, Anonymous Dear Anonymous, That is an excellent question! Your decision to run for an APSA position depends on many factors, including the level of time commitment you can afford, your interests and hobbies, and reasons why you wish to get involved.

Let’s start with your primary concern: time. You’ve probably heard that second year fall semester is no walk in the park -- in the midst of juggling PK assignments, labs, and weekly quizzes/ examinations, having time for social interaction let alone involvement may seem impossible. The good news that it certainly can be done; your ability to succeed in both school and your position depends on your time management abilities, as well as other factors such as your involvement outside of school.

A good idea would be to email or chat with the person currently holding the position that you have your eye on and inquire about the time commitment that it requires. For some positions, you may have the opportunity to work on some material throughout the summer to lessen the load during the school year.

Learning to manage extra-curriculars and school is one of the greatest skills you can master-- I am confident that you have the ability to juggle the two!

Secondly, I think it is very important to get involved in activities which you are interested in or passionate about. There are so many opportunities to get involved in APSA, CAPSI, and various other student groups, but without the interest and enthusiasm, it may end up feeling like a chore. Do not feel pressured to get involved in a lot of extracurriculars; rather, narrow it down to the ones that are the most important to you. For example, if you have a knack for planning large events, consider running for VP External.

If you love writing and/or graphic design, consider the position of Publications Director or PQ Editor (*wink*). The point is: run for something that stimulates your interests!

Overall, the majority of people who are involved in extracurriculars within pharmacy would certainly recommend it -- it is a great way to meet new people and get hands on experience working in teams and groups. Happy campaigning, and good luck!

Love,

Ghasak Hussain PQ Editor FLICKR GRAPHIC: WEBTREATS

Do you have a question you’d like to ask our editors’? Drop us a word at our submissions page: tinyurl.com/pq2-questions

26 PHARMACY QUARTERLY

HOROSCOPES

PHARMACY HOROSCOPES

BY MONICA WONG

LIBRA (SEPT 23 - OCT 22)

ARIES (MAR 20 - APR 19)

The weather has you feeling extremely ready to March into spring. Has it ever been so warm at this time of year? Use this bizzare weather pattern to transition into a new chapter for yourself – Don’t forget to wear green!

Is it summer yet? It certainly is starting to feel like it! As the sun is finally shining more than 2 hours a day, remember to apply that SPF sunscreen. Getting Vitamin D is important, but so is protecting that flawlessly heartbreaking complexion of yours. You dog, you.

SCORPIO (OCT 23 - NOV 21)

TAURUS (APR 20 - MAY 20)

Take a few moments to appreciate all your hard efforts so far in school, fitness, or any resolution you started in the New Year. if you haven’t started, then take a running leap forward this month with your new #fitpharm self. Go you!

*Click.* At long last, you finally hit the submit button. But wait, are you sure? Having dreams of forgetting to hit submit has caused you to be more proactive on submitting everything early - you may as well get a jump start finishing your assignments while you’re at it.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV 22 - DEC 21)

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN 20)

Have you been waiting for a chance to do something you’ve never tried? Well, just like a local anesthetic waiting it’s action potential, your moment is here! Make sure you don’t miss the opportunity!

CAPRICORN (DEC 22 - JAN 19) Thanks to reading week and your newly formed eyebags (from reading… obviously), you feel that you need another reading week to catch up on all the reading you should have been doing... Try setting yourself a 9-5 work schedule to work hard and sleep solidly.

AQUARIUS (JAN 20 - FEB 18)

Are you still star struck from the performances at this year’s Blue and Gold? Us too! We hope this “healthy” competition will inspire you to nurture your talents in areas other than Pharmacy school.

CANCER (JUN 21 - JUL 22) Has there been someone who’s been getting on your nerves lately? What a pain! Even though he or she makes chronic appearances, methaDON’T let them interfere with your routine and charming personality.

LEO (JUL 23 - AUG 22)

Be kind to your fellow pharmily members, everyone is fighting their own battle with different weapons and final bosses. Be sure to spread the empathy! Your skills will be needed when you least expect it.

Feeling down from that last midterm? There are still plenty (unfortunately) of exams for you to ACE! Don’t inhibit yourself from trying harder next time :) May the curve be ever in your favour.

PISCES (FEB 19 - MAR 19)

VIRGO (AUG 23 - SEP 22)

At last, the event we have all been waiting for student elections! Not only should you vote for our Student Union representatives, maybe take a large step out of your comfort zone and consider applying for an APSA position. Only good things can happen, we promise.

Are you bored with class material or itching to get involved in our profession? Look no further!

PAM is going to be great time to get involved in whatever your heart desires - even better, a volunteer position might be just what you need to spiffy up your resume.

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 27

A Very Generic Wordsearch

By Ghasak Hussain & Victoria Price

PLEASE DO NOT MARK THE HARDCOPY OF THE PQ

PLEASE DO NOT MARK THE HARDCOPY OF THE PQ

Find the following words and send it in to us on our PQ facebook page for a chance to win 1 of 3 prizes! You can find the online copy of our wordsearch can be found at http://tinyurl.com/PQ-marchcontest The submission deadline is March 11th at 11:59 PM