PQ September 2015

Sept 2015

PQ PLUS 2 WELCOMING THE CLASS OF 2019!

Summer in Review

Read about student experiences with pharmacy in Italy, Taiwan, and page Tanzania 10

PRESENTED BY OUR TITLE SPONSOR:

PHARMACARE SPECIALTY PHARMACIES

IN THIS ISSUE SAMPLE

06

16

22

A quick overview of orientation and pharmacy clubs

We interviewed two pharmacists and bring their thoughts and career to you

This time we drop by Naanolicious! Eat on!

WELCOME BACK!

04

A MESSAGE FROM OUR COUNCIL

A warm welcome from APSA’s leader and our very own Publications Director

10

SUMMER EXPERIENCES Curious about how you could spend your next summer?

Editors' notes

Hello beautiful people, We are thrilled to present to you our very first issue —an extra special welcome to our first-time readers! Our aim for the PQ this year is to diversify contributions,

2 PHARMACY QUARTERLY

DAY IN THE LIFE

YOU’VE GOT TO TRY THIS:

27

20

COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS

Time to buckle down and give back to the community (and get bonus marks too?!)

RECIPES & HOROSCOPES

Want to try out your kitchen talent or take a look at your pharm-tastic fortunes this month?

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.

that means getting you all involved. I have no doubt that each one of you is talented and will make a positive contribution to our newsletter — so be sure to approach us for ideas. Participation could be as simple as taking part in the contests, or if you love writing, submitting an article for publication. Be sure to follow us on our media platforms to stay up to date with what PQ has to offer.

Here’s to another successful, memorable year!

GHASAK HUSSAIN

Hello! It’s good to see everyone again after our 4 month summer, and so exciting to welcome the first years into our Pharmily. For those of you who don’t know me, I’m a second year student who is very into visual arts, crafts, and cats. I apologize in advance if that last one makes its way into the PQ somehow over the next year... For those of you new to pharmacy, the PQ+2 is APSA’s pharmacy magazine that is written and designed by students for the students

WANT TO WRITE FOR THE PQ?

- anyone can submit, so we’ll look forward to your submissions! Hopefully we can make your PQ experience fun, interesting, and maybe get a few laughs out of you too :) WINNIE LO

CALENDAR

APSA CALENDAR Welcome back, Pharmily! The APSA Council has worked hard to organize events for you and your fellow pharmers; so go eat free pizza, meet new people, and learn lots!

r e b m Septe 23 24 26 28

ciety o S Film t: A S P A igh N e i Mov tion p Ince L1-490] A [ECH tion p e c e Re lub] m o C c Wel Faculty A [Uof M P 5-8 Base d n Seco nag n i Sav all Tour b Soft rk] a P t n men deratio fe [Con - 5 PM 9 AM hip

ers b m e

PM CSH e Driv 1-490] A [ECH PM 1 12 -

PQ DESIGN AND LAYOUT BY WINNIE LO

28

cil n u o C eral n e G ting 20] e e M L1-4 A H [EC PM 5-6

r e b o t Oc

he

or t un f

04

R CIBC chill r u h e Cur inston C [Sir W e] r Squa - 12 PM 8 AM

07

ness e r a Aw earn IPSF h & L BA] c n u L ion T t a c [Lo 1 PM 12 -

09

eet & M y lt Facu OR] t O e L e F r G 3RD A H [EC 1 PM 12 -

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 3

SAMPLE

PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS

BY HUMIRAH SULTANI, President help balance it all out, too. Maybe your first midterm in Pharmaceutics, or the dilemma of knowing how to spend and manage your time. Perhaps your marks may suffer, or you’re en route to being your class valedictorian, or hey,

maybe you’re sitting happy right in the middle. Whatever it is that you are up to, I’m proud that you’ve made it this far to be with this wonderful group of classmates and peers.

Dear friends & peers,

Welcome to another year at the University of Alberta. Actually, this may be your first year on campus, or your first year in the Pharmacy program, or this may be the last year of your degree forever! Regardless of where you fall in the grand scheme of classes and cohort years, I hope that this year can be something amazing for you.

For any number of reasons, you may get excited and want to celebrate this year! Perhaps for your new White Coat or your degree, or you first Practice Skills lab that you rocked, or for winning Mr. Pharmacy. This year will also be marked with some sadness to

04 PHARMACY QUARTERLY

But, let’s look forward to some of the exciting things in store for the upcoming year, like the ever stellar Mr. Pharmacy male beauty pageant for men’s health, and after the new year, a fantastic month’s worth of activities devoted to pharmacist awareness. Or, maybe you’re a fourth year ready to inject innocent students on campus with this year’s flu vaccine? Perhaps, you’re a first year and just settling into a casual community pharmacy job.

that will allow you practice in the way that you want to. I wish you all the success in the world and I’m sure I reflect everyone’s perspective when I say that I can’t wait to work with you in the future!

For those in third year, you’re getting close! You cannot understand just how quickly all of this goes by, and your proximity to the end. What you are learning and doing now in your third year is going to be the basis for your future practice in pharmacy. It is also a time where you can be stressed but also catch your breath and catch up with your friends. No matter how stressed or busy you find yourself, always take time to be with loved ones and friends. At the end, they’ll be there to celebrate with you!

To all the second years, I can’t believe you have time to even read this article! Your year will be jam packed with exams, midterms, labs and assignments galore. You will not know how you did it, but you’ll make it through – no worries! Second year is a challenge to everyone because the pressure is on, the struggle is real but all of us believe in you – every student that has already had to go through this, believes in you!

WANT TO WRITE FOR THE PQ?

We’re all at different stages of the program, but as we get closer to the end, we’re actually quite a resource and wealth of knowledge. For students just starting the program, or students in the hump years that are trying to manage & make it to the end, reach out to your upperclassmen for help! That could be drawing on their experiences or their selection of fourth year electives. And for fourth years, I hope that you all find direction and guidance and achieve a level of competence

For all the first year students that are just finding their bearings and getting used to the wonderful world of pharmacy, welcome! All of your peers & mates are here to help, here to answer questions and here to work with you. Our greatest asset as a profession is our competency and by supporting each other now and in the work place, we can all

COUNCIL MESSAGES work towards a higher standard for our profession! But, let’s focus on passing our first year though!

So welcome back to Pharmacy school, everyone! It’s time to get back to school, back to enjoying time with classmates and spending the night out with friends after a hard week. Let’s kick off the year right and work together to make some of the biggest changes that APSA and pharmacy has ever seen!

WELCOME MESSAGE

BY ALYSSA ACO, Publications Director

Hello everyone, hopefully you all had a good, restful summer.

Now it’s time to get back into the swing of things for another year (or first year!) of Pharmacy! I just want to share a quick message about our publications and opportunities to get involved. My name is Alyssa Aco and I am this year’s Publications Director. My role in APSA is to manage all APSA’s publications: the Yearbook, the Pharmacy Quarterly + 2 (what you’re reading right now!), the MyAPSA website and the APSA Facebook Page.

Some of my interests are photography, journalism and writ-

ing, which is why this role appealed to me the most. My main goal this year is to make our publications as student inspired as possible, which is why I highly encourage everyone to get involved!

If you want to be a photographer during Pharmacy events, help editing the Yearbook, or want to contribute articles to our newsletter, we would love to see your participation. If you have any questions, feel free to speak with our PQ+2 editors, Winnie and Ghasak and our Yearbook editors, Sherry and Morgan (and me too!).

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 05

ORIENTATION

welcome to pharmacy!

Orientation 2015 was, let’s just say, a complete success! The Class of 2019 came in with happy/anxious smiles, bright and early on August 31 and were immediately greeted

by Orientation Leaders from the Class of 2018. After lines for registrations and photos, students got the chance to get to know their colleagues in various APSA presentations. The Class of 2018 presented the newest members of the Pharmily with a video featuring tips, tricks and advice for surviving the next 4 years of Pharmacy school. Presentations from CAPSI, IPSF and SHINE followed, and the students were headed off to their first class photo in the 3rd floor of ECHA.

Shortly after, the students had the opportunity to meet their classmates and professors over a BBQ Lunch generously sponsored by Scotiabank. Council members, officers and students from all 4 years mingled and had a fun picnic in the last bits of summer sun.

Overall it was a great way to celebrate the newest members of the Faculty of Pharmacy. A day filled with popping balloons, Pharmacy trivia and hanging out with the Pharmily – it was definitely one to remember.

- Will Chan, VP Social

WANT TO WRITE FOR THE PQ? YOUR PERSONAL ORIENTATION COMPANIONS FROM THE CLASS OF 2018

06 PHARMACY QUARTERLY

ORIENTATION

PHOTO CREDITS TO SHERRY ZHU, MORGAN MOFFAT, AND KASEM MORAICH

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 07

SAMPLE

TIME TO GET INVOLVED! Now that school has started up, it’s time to get active and socialize with your fellow pharmacy peers! Take a look at the clubs your pharmily set up:

PHARMACY ROCK CLIMBING CLUB

BY AMANDA SHE

The goal of the Pharmacy Rock Climbing Club is to promote mental health and physical fitness through the sport of rock climbing and build camaraderie among the students, alumni and faculty members in the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

This club meets once a week at the UofA Wilson Climbing Centre in the PAW Centre. The PRCC welcomes all levels of climbers and no prior knowledge of rock

climbing is required to join. As a PRCC member you will be introduced to bouldering, top roping and evenlead climbing.

Instructional lessons for technique, top roping and lead climbing will be arranged based on member interest. Being a PRCC member you will also receive a discount when renting shoes at the wall. The PRCC is also looking at doing an outdoor climbing trip to Banff or Jasper after school lets out in the spring or summer. To

stay updated find us on Facebook and if you have any inquires please email us at pharmacyrockclimbingclub@gmail. com. Join the Pharmacy Rock Climbing Club and get belayed.

WANT TO WRITE FOR THE PQ?

08 PHARMACY QUARTERLY PHOTO CREDITS: NICK CROKEN

PHARMACY UNDERGRADUATE JOURNAL CLUB PHOTO CREDITS: CARESEARCH

BY MEHNAZ ANWAR Are you a pharmacy student interested in a hospital residency or PharmD? Or maybe you just enjoy critically appraising journal articles to find out if the results are really valid. Then you may be interested in joining the Pharmacy Undergraduate Journal Club (PUJC). It was initially created with the purpose of preparing pharmacy students for a hospital residency or the PharmD, but the PUJC also seeks to provide a greater deal of confidence in graduating students while motivating newer students to improve their critical appraisal process.

Members will have the opportunity of working with fellow students from different years as well as receive feedback and input from special guest appearances from some of our professors. Meetings consist of peer presentations of self-designed cases, the research process and a summary of an article that addresses the PICO question created in the case. Students from all four years and skill level are encouraged to join.

The club hopes to meet a minimum of once per month and strives to give every student the opportunity to share feedback and insight as well as present their own case. If you would like more information or are interested in joining please contact Mehnaz Anwar (VP Academic) at mehnaz@ualberta.ca.

INTRAMURALS Amidst the stress of exams, as your sleep habits disappear into sleepless nights in the PBLs and your eating habits deteriorate to the point that you can’t remember the last time you ate a vegetable that wasn’t deep fried and chip-shaped, remember to take care of yourselves this semester. Take time away from the books to stay healthy and get some exercise.

While you’re at it you might as well meet more of your future colleagues; two birds with one stone! And what’s a better way to do this than joining one (or many) of APSA’s Intra-mural sports teams. We have basketball, hockey (ice or ball), frisbee, dodgeball, futsal, volleyball, soccer, climbing, and squash. All are free to join for APSA members and welcoming to people of all skill-levels. APSA also works hard to organize and promote annual events like Saving Second Base, the Alumni Game, Curling Fun spiel and the Welcome Back BBQ. So remember, as the school year – and the inevitable stress – builds take time to take of yourself and enjoy your short four years here. You’re going to get that A+ anyways.

PHARMACY FILM SOCIETY

BY ALYSSA ACO

This is the first ever year of the Pharmacy Film Society, which is a group for students who have one thing in common: they love movies! For wannabe film critics and movie-goers, this is the perfect club for you.

The goal of the film society is to create a stress-free atmosphere where students from all years of Pharmacy can hang out, watch a free movie and bond over their love of movies.

For the film junkies with a flair for writing, you can write a movie review (of the movie we just watched) which will be published on the following PQ issue!

Free snacks will be provided on some movie nights because, really, what sort of movie night doesn’t have snacks? If you have any suggestions for movies to watch, feel free to email Alyssa Aco (aaco@ualberta.ca)

PHOTO CREDITS: STUDIOTEMPURA

BY SHAYNE RYBCHINSKI

SAMPLE

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 09

SUMMER FUN

CIAO! COME STA? VA BENE! CAPITO?

BY HANNAH SCHIECK

Ciao! Come sta? Va bene!

Capito?

Well, maybe right now you don’t understand what that means, but if you take part in Pharmacy 453 Intercultural Exploration of Pharmacy and Health, learning snippets of the beautiful Italian language is just one aspect this amazing experience has in store for you.

The island of Ischia is in the gulf of Naples, reached by hydrofoil or ferry. Set in the Tyrrhenian Sea, this gem of an island is picturesque and the perfect setting for a once-in-a-lifetime pharmacy experience.

10 PHARMACY QUARTERLY

The course content consisted of dissecting how food arrives on your plate from wherever it was made, the differences between Italian and Canadian physical activity, several group projects, cooking lessons, and Italian language sessions. The incredible class dinners each evening rounded off each day to perfection. We also had two field-trips incorporated into the three week course. One day to Naples to meet pharmacy students in Italy, and a day at the thermal spa Negombo, to discover the healing powers of mineral waters. (As if this course wasn’t already too good to be true!)

WANT TO WRITE FOR THE PQ?

SUMMER FUN

On our weekends, our group split off to explore the many sights and activities that Italy has to offer.

Our entire class spent one weekend experiencing Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, Mount Vesuvius, and Pompeii. The following weekend, people opted to split for various different adventures such as Rome, Pisa, further exploration of the Amalfi Coast, and remaining on Ischia to explore the island. It wasn’t difficult to find something fabulous to do; rather, it was difficult choosing from so many excellent options!

Our hosts, three brothers who owned and ran the Ring Hostel, La Rotunda Sul Mare (the classroom), and La Casereccia (the restaurant we ate at nightly) went out of their way to make an incredible experience even better than we could have imagined. Each supper was prepared specifically for us and presented in a way that puts many Canadian restaurants to shame. The brothers shuttled us to and from the supper in a tiny minivan that was crammed to the rafters, usually having 16 or more people stuffed into its miniscule frame. Careening through the back streets of Forio was an experience that was not for the weak-stomached, but so much fun and outrageous, that this was one experience that we all agreed was quintessentially Italy. One night, the family organized a moonlit trip to the hot spring in the bay where we crowded around the small spout of the hot spring, sharing some Italian wine with the waves of the sea coming in around us. Another day, one of the brothers took a group of us cliff-jumping – adrenaline rush!

The family saw to our every need while we were there, providing advice and directions as well as insight into the Italian lifestyle and culture.

They were integral in making our Italian experience as authentic and enjoyable as possible.

Now as the new school year starts, I can’t help but yearn for that tiny piece of paradise that was the Italian Course at the start of the summer. A course that felt like a vacation, incredible meals made with seasonal foodstuffs, the golden Italian sun, and three weeks to explore a part of Italy with some of my pharmacy classmates.

I ask you: What more could you possibly want?

Sun, sand, wine, thermal spas, and multi-course suppers prepared specifically for us… What wasn’t to love? Class time consisted of several hours of discussion/lecture per day, group work, and the nightly event of class dinners. The rest of the day was ours to spend as we wished, finishing homework in the sun, exploring the island, shopping, and hanging out at the beach.

So, being the efficient pharmacy students we are, we didn’t waste a minute of it! We ate bruschetta and gelato, shopped, basked in the sun, swam in the ocean, saw many Italian sights, and enjoyed experiencing another culture with our pharmacy friends. This incredible trip was an excellent way to start off our summers and an experience not to be missed!

PHOTO CREDITS: HANNAH SCHIECK

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 11

SUMMER FUN

I

mmediately after finishing the two weeks of my hospital rotation in Medicine Hat (give or take 36 hours of air travel) I landed in Dar es Salaam at 10 PM on May 18 slightly disheveled but excited to have reached my destination. Groggily shuffling through customs led to fingers being printed and photos being taken until I was handed my resident permit and officially began my journey living and working in Tanzania for the next three months as a volunteer with the Students’ International Health Association. Leading up to this point, I had spent the previous 8 months attending lectures about global health, local health issues, project planning and implementation, and cultural competency with a group of six other ladies who are passionate about public health. We come from diverse backgrounds (public health, nutrition, pharmacy, engineering, and neuroscience) and are a great reflection of the multi-faceted and interdisciplinary nature of health.

Travelling the 55 km into Mlandizi, the place we would call home for the next 11 weeks, was a breath of fresh air after bustling around dusty, crowded Dar for the first few days. Grassy plains, palm trees, the characteristic bright red dirt roads, and hectic markets would be the backdrop for our summer.

A typical day in Mlandizi started out with ginger tea and chapati followed by a quick meeting with our In-Country Representative, Melkiory, where we would lay out a plan for the day’s meetings. Once this was settled, we would fill up our camelpaks with water and spend the next 30 minutes dodging potholes and pikipikis as we bicycled the 15 km into Kikongo or Mwanabwito, the two small villages where the majority of our work took place.

There we would often meet with village leaders, community groups, and other NGOs with the aim of working together to find grassroots solutions to health-related issues in the villages.

12 PHARMACY QUARTERLY

PHOTO CREDITS: NICOLA GALE

Depending on the project, this could entail education, raising awareness, finding resources, connecting villagers to other groups with similar goals, or a letter to the local government.

After grabbing a quick bite of rice, beans, and kachumbari at Margaret’s house we would finish up our meetings and head back into Mlandizi for an afternoon of writing and planning. The bike ride back often involved a race up the ominously steep Mwanabwito hill and then a quick stop at the market for fruit and vegetables.

There you could find brightly patterned Kangas, mountains of shoes, ripe papaya, or a guy who knows a guy who could make you a bookshelf.

A walk down the street was always accompanied by a cacophony of sounds.

Everyone we passed would either strike up a conversation or amicably yell out one of the following: “Mambo!” (hello, how are you), “Habari!” (what’s the news/what’s up?), or “Mzungu!!” (white person). We always felt incredi-

bly welcomed into the communities and appreciated how eager everyone was to share their stories. Thinking back, one of my favourite memories from the summer was chatting with Melkiory and the translators in between meetings. We would exchange stories about Canada and Tanzania, compare Facebook photos, teach each other words in English or Swahili, or swap music. I feel like these times were a true representation of what SIHA offers both Canadian univer-

WANT TO WRITE FOR THE PQ?

SUMMER FUN

projects I was involved in this summer, come check out Global Health Rounds on October 5th from 12:001:00 in ECHA 2-430 where I will be presenting the results from our bednets project. There is also ample opportunity to get involved with SIHA on both the local and international side.

The future of healthcare deserves a well-rounded and diverse perspective on health and the many factors that impact someone’s ability to lead a healthy life. If you have an interest in global or public health, SIHA is a great place to explore these topics and get hands-on experience with health-related project planning and community engagement. To learn more about my summer or other cool stuff that SIHA is doing this year, check out our website (www.siha.ca) or come talk to me in the hallway!

HEALTH PROMOTION AND CAPACITY BUILDING IN TANZANIA

BY NICOLA GALE sity students and Tanzanian locals alike: the exchange of ideas, culture, and skills between people interested in the health of their communities, both local or global.

Projects this year included maternal health seminars with Maasai women, bednet sales, evaluating biosand filter use, and capacity building with local groups dedicated to educating their communities about local health topics such as water sanitation and hygiene, HIV/AIDS, sexual health, and malaria. Each year, we strive to continually build upon these projects and to ensure that they uphold our

four pillars of sustainability, community engagement, multi-sectoral action, and anti-oppression. Meaningful change takes time, long-term commitment, engagement with the community, and a lived experience of the factors that impact health. With these things in mind, SIHA’s projects aim to empower community members by connecting them with the skills and resources that they need to address challenges that they see in their community.

So much happened with our projects this year that it’s hard to lend our work justice in such a short space. If you would like to learn more about the

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 13

SUMMER FUN

A PHARMACY VACATION IN TAIWAN

BY SHELLEY SENO pharmacist technicians. However, some hospitals are trying to increase the pharmacist’s interaction with patients and lean toward a clinical role.

PHOTO CREDITS: SHELLEY SENO

Participating in the IPSF Student Exchange Programme (SEP) has been on the top of my to-do list ever since receiving acceptance into pharmacy. And this summer has proved my decision right. This exchange experience is one of the most exciting and meaningful moments of my life. Not only did I have a chance to step into the Taiwanese health care environment, I also made new friends, explored the island and learnt about Taiwanese culture.

I applied for SEP during my second year in pharmacy, and was lucky to be placed in the country of my top choice. Three other exchange students and I were arranged to job-shadow in retail pharmacies and hospitals

14 PHARMACY QUARTERLY

in Kaoshiung and Pingtung. We saw that there were different types of pharmacies in Taiwan, such as pharmacies for Chinese traditional medicine, OTC products, prescription medications, etc. In hospitals, pharmacists mainly work in the dispensary, while a few clinical pharmacists would operate on the ward.

The pharmacist takes more of a dispensing role, since Taiwan does not have

When we are not on our internship, we would attend some lectures, mingle with Taiwanese pharmacy students, or go sightseeing. The host students were so welcoming and supportive: from giving helpful advice, to arranging events and trips for us to explore Taiwan as well as their school – Tajen University. There were weekend trips to the beach, game nights, neon party, night markets…and the list goes on. 2015 SEP has been such an amazing experience, and I highly recommend more students to participate in this opportunity.

WANT TO WRITE FOR THE PQ?

BBQ & SUPERHEROES

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

“Travis Barber epitomizes the art

BBQ & BEACH VOLLEYBALL

BY ALYSSA ACO On Friday, September 18th, Shoppers Drug Mart kindly hosted their annual BBQ and Beach Volleyball Tournament

September 18 was the perfect day to get your game on! At the Garneau Tennis and Beach Volleyball Club, Pharmacy students engaged in friendly competition during a volleyball tournament generously sponsored by Shoppers Drug Mart.

Everyone enjoyed a delicious BBQ and received bags filled with free-

bies at the annual event. Shoppers Drug Mart also sponsored a big raffle with 8 gift cards and one, large gift basket!

“It was fantastic to see everyone come out and enjoy the afternoon with each other!

We really lucked out with beautiful weather,” Christine Boltezaar, our Female Sports Representative says “A huge thank you to Shoppers Drug Mart for their generosity.” With midterms slowly creeping up, students appreciated the chance to get out and play. Morgan Moffat, second year Pharmacy student, likes this sense of camaraderie “It might have been a kings court tournament, but we all left feeling like a royal family.”

of professionalism. Never in my life have I met someone who so eloquently represents our faculty in a professional manner. Whether it’s commenting on someone’s Facebook post with encouraging words, or just saying “hi” in the hallway, Travis goes the extra mile - and then some, to be the most professional of all.

Thanks for everything you do Mr. Travis Barber, PhD Candidate.”

“Ashwin Bhat: you are so incredibly humble and a genuinely kind-hearted person. Not only that-- but you’re a genius as well! Thanks for being a positive contribution to our class.”

“Hugo Tse, you have got to be the sweetest person in the world! Love how you are always smiling and spreading positive vibes. We need more people like you in the word.”

“Kevin

Thai, Will Chan, and Sahiba Khurana, thank you for all of your

hard work during this summer! All of you went above and beyond to ensure that APSA would be running smoothly by the time school started, and we all appreciate it! Keep being amazing.”

And a big, heartfelt thank you to all of

PQ’s writers, photographers, enthusiasts, and supporters - we couldn’t have published this issue without all of you behind the PQ team!

Submit a hero you know for our next issue at: tinyurl.com/pq2-questions PHARMACY QUARTERLY 15

A DAY IN THE LIFE

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF

TRENT LANE, BSP

NATIONAL DIRECTOR PHARMACY INNOVATION, PHARMASAVE DRUGS (NATIONAL) LTD.

QUESTIONS BY GHASAK HUSSAIN Hi Trent! Can you tell me a little bit about your unique career path that lead you to where you are today?

I went to the University of Alberta for a couple of years after high school, and then attended the University of Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy. I am a second-generation pharmacist— my father is a pharmacist, so I grew up at the back of the drugstore. After graduation, I moved to Ontario and worked for a company called Big V as a floating/relief pharmacist. When Shoppers Drug Mart bought Big V, I moved back west. I took a job as the pharmacy manager for Calgary Co-op. At that point I wanted more exposure to operations, which lead me to the Safeway position as the regional pharmacy manager for Southern Alberta. I was then promoted to director of pharmacy operations for Calgary Co-op. Two years ago I moved out here to British Columbia to work with Pharmasave National as the pharmacy innovation director.

I see that you have worked in various practices. In your opinion, what makes Pharmasave different than other companies?

At Shoppers, Safeway, and the Co-op, it is a corporate environment. The programs that we wanted in place were pushed down and implemented at store level. It was my job as the director

16 PHARMACY QUARTERLY

to make sure that the programs were executed; we monitored and followed up with stores to determine how successful they were. Pharmasave is a different environment in that the stores are independent owners. Pharmasave is made up of five Regional and one National office that work together to provide programs, tools and resources to the member owners. It is unique and certainly has it’s advantage: when you work with independents, you get to see passionate owners with a drive to keep their patients happy.

What does a typical day at the national office look like for you?

My job is about pharmacy innovation: coming out with innovative solutions to help pharmacies with their business and deal with the expanded scope. It involves government relations and third party payers to make sure that people have access and funding for their medications. There is also opportunity for private plans to pay for professional services offered by pharmacists.

Procurement is another area of focus especially with drug shortages. We work with our generic partners to make sure we have supply for our patients and the right molecules for our members. Our formulary gives our stores choice depending on their preference whereas in other environments, the formulary may be pre-determined for the stores.

PHARMACY INNOVATION DIRECTOR TRENT LANE PHOTO CREDIT: TRENT LANE

WANT TO WRITE FOR THE PQ?

It sounds like Pharmasave store owners take their own initiative.

Factoring that in with the changes that have happened since the Blueprint for Pharmacy came out, how do you think they have responded to the expanded scope?

No different than any other pharmacists in any other company. In any field or profession, there are three different types of people when dealing with change. You have the type that are excited and are doing a fantastic job with the expanded scope. There is a smaller type who are fearful about the prospect

A DAY IN THE LIFE of being shifted out of their dispensary roles. The dominant type are the pharmacists in the middle, those who know changes are happening and want to change, but just don’t know how.

That’s the biggest piece — getting them to move towards the direction of the expanded scope. The challenge is to be able to incorporate the change into everyday practice and recognize when the patient may benefit from expanded scope of practice such as a medication review. The key is to ensure that the service provided is in the best interest of the patient.

I see how that could be challenging for pharmacists as well as for yourself. What do you think is the most challenging aspect of your job, and on the flip side, the most rewarding part?

The most challenging aspect is the diversity in the scope of practice across regions. Why should someone in British Columbia, for example, have different access to pharmacist services than someone in Alberta? It is very rewarding to go into a store that has implemented almost every program that we have put together, and see that their business is doing amazing, their staff is happy, and the pharmacists are going above and beyond their scope.

It’s great to see owners know their customers by names.

How do you deal with the stores that are less inclined to implement innovative programs?

Change is difficult and the profession of pharmacy has experienced more change in the past 5 years than in the previous 50. It takes time but it involves understanding perspectives and having the pharmacists, technicians, pharmacy assistants and owners be part of the solution. It’s difficult to change and it can be scary but it is happening and there are some great success stories of the impact that pharmacists have on their patient’s lives because of the changes.

Where do you see the profession of pharmacy headed?

I think that pharmacists are going to continue to have a more consultative role, and technicians more dispensary.

Pharmacists will do more specialization: diabetes, tobacco reduction, travel health, women’s health, etc. I think in order for it to be successful, pharmacy (and the healthcare system) needs to focus on patient health outcomes.

Pharmacy has the ability to improve patient health outcomes while decreasing the cost to the healthcare system. Pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare professional and continue to be one of the most trusted professions. As the population continues to age, pharmacists have a tremendous opportunity to have a real impact on patient’s lives.

themselves; take advantage of your expanded scope. Get specialized and certified. When I first graduated I floated. Some days, I worked at 2 different stores on the same day.

What did it do for me? It shrunk my world. I could see how different stores do the same exact thing but operate differently. You can identify with how you want to practice. It was a really good experience. Finally, you have to always be willing to learn. Be humble in your approach, and push yourself outside of your comfort zone. You do not know what you are capable of until you do.

Great advice! Finally, just for fun, can you tell me a little a bit of what you do outside of pharmacy?

Based on pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone, I got that from CrossFit. I have been competing in the open games for the past four years now. The competitive environment is at first scary. But every year I have done it, I have seen progress and it’s opened my eyes to what people’s potential could be. Most people just don’t realize it. You also have to be humbled with failure. If you didn’t fail, that just means that you didn’t try hard enough.

What advice do you have for graduating pharmacists?

Be patient. Take advantage of the opportunities when they present

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

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 17

A DAY IN THE LIFE

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF Hi Albert! Thank you so much for joining me today. Before we dive in about your practice as a relief pharmacist, can you let us know about your career path and how you got here?

I started working as a relief pharmacist for Walmart. My shifts took me as far as Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie and Calgary. With good behaviour, I began working as a staff pharmacist for Walmart in Wetaskiwin and then Leduc.

My last staff pharmacist position was at Shoppers Drug Mart in Magrath Heights, Edmonton. It was with Shoppers Drug Mart when I understood the opportunities available to me as a self-incorporated pharmacist. Soon after I began operating under my own company, Good Times Pharmacy Corp.

Can you describe for us how often your schedule varies? What does a typical day look like for you?

My schedule varies as much as I want it to. Truthfully, my self-incorporating was just as much about greater opportunities as it was about my

ALBERT SHI

COMMUNITY RELIEF PHARMACIST, SHOPPERS DRUG MART, GOOD TIMES PHARMACY CORP

QUESTIONS BY GHASAK HUSSAIN inability to wake up in the morning!

As such my days usually start around 10-11am and my shifts start around 2-4pm. Travel times to work can be anywhere from 5 minutes to 2 hours .

Typical work weeks are around 40-50 hours.

Having multiple work sites sounds like it could be a challenge. How do you maintain familiarity with various chains’ operations?

It definitely can be, given that you are often thrust into an new store with unfamiliar staff and clientele. It is important that you can operate efficiently within your own practice as well as be able to adapt to any new environment, including demanding workloads, untrained staff, limited staffing, different physician prescribing practices, specialized

dispensaries and specialized patient demographics. Successful relief pharmacists are chameleons. We must be able to offer a seamless or improved experience for the patient.

This involves quickly developing a relationship with staff and patients alike. Not all are quick to offer forgiveness to a new face.

Multiple worksites also necessitates a high degree of organizational skill, which I still struggle with; passwords, keys all must be reliably accessible.

With regards to computer systems, I’ve noticed that less intuitive or cumbersome systems have been phased out over the years. As such, the basics of each can be grasped within minutes, as they are generally structured for efficiency.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

WANT TO WRITE FOR THE PQ?

I love forging new patient relationships. In a lot of rural settings, where healthcare providers are stretched to their limits, I see many opportunities to fill that gap in clinical patient care. My biggest challenge is maintaining continuity in that care as I am only there temporarily.

Nevertheless, I make every effort to offer care despite my brief time

18 PHARMACY QUARTERLY

A DAY IN THE LIFE

with them, and at the very least, set them on a direction towards reaching their goals either through nonpharmaceutical measures or another healthcare provider.

Based on your experience, what are some advantages that a relief pharmacist has over a full-time pharmacist employed at one location?

One big advantage is that I get to deal with different patient populations and different physician prescribing patterns. I get to see my practice with new eyes all the time, instead of being complacent. I am able to solve problems more effectively, having encountered a bigger variety of scenarios. Another advantage, in a field where wages are dictated by market value, and where we are increasingly wearing more and more hats, being an incorporated relief pharmacist allows me to control my destiny. I can set my rates, my hours, my vacations and my practice environment.

How can interested students get into the field of relief pharmacy?

Is there any advice that you have for students upon graduation?

I feel in this new workplace climate, relief pharmacy is almost the norm.

I want to let graduating pharmacy students know that this is far from a death sentence. This lets them experience all faces of community pharmacy, such that they can better assess future job opportunities. I also want to let them know that their fears of an unstable work week can be largely put to rest. The quality of work that you produce is the only determinant for the amount of job opportunities you get. Providing excellent patient care and building healthy relationships with other pharmacists and clinicians will provide you with more work opportunities

PHOTO CREDITS: ALBERT SHI

than you can possibly take.

In the face of increasing pressures by companies to provide more clinical services to maintain status quo, relief pharmacists know that no matter what, someone needs a day off sometime!

I know you’re a very talented individual! Can you tell us a bit about your hobbies outside of pharmacy?

Having been in practice for ten years, one may wonder why I do not choose to own a store.

In truth, I’ve preferred relief pharmacy to accommodate my many interests outside of pharmacy. I am also passionate about art, and have explored wedding photography and interior design. I also love music festivals, food, snowboarding and travel. As much as I love providing patient care, I refuse to be defined by my academic profession!

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 19

BY EMAN SALEH, Community Education Director

COMMUNITY EDUCATION

COMMUNITY ED

20 PHARMACY QUARTERLY

PHOTO CREDITS: HAFSAFE.ORG

Hello!

My name is Eman Saleh and I am your Community Education Director for the 2015/16 academic school year! There are A LOT of exciting things planned. As per usual, we have our first year students participate in the community education presentations as part of Dr. Guirguis’ Pharm 314 course. We will also be participating in the SET conference in November.

This event is hosted by the Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science & Technology (WISEST) organization and is targeted towards high school girls who will get a chance to speak with pharmacy students about the profession and compound some lip balm. We will have more awesome female pharmacy students participate in WISEST’s Choices conference in February which centers around girls in grade 6.

These activities are just a few among the many exciting community education activities planned for the year.

Something new I am planning to introduce this year is to give pharmacy students the chance to make groups and come up with

their own presentations to give in the community. What better way to put into practice all of the excellent clinical knowledge and skills you obtain throughout your pharmacy degree? These presentations will target adults and seniors. Some topics will include hypertension, diabetes (nutrition specific), smoking cessation, and much more!

We are always looking for new ways to participate in community outreach and advocate for our profession. So if you have any ideas, please bring them forward! You can email me at esaleh@ualberta.ca.

I’m looking forward to this year! Are you?

WANT TO WRITE FOR THE PQ?

RUN FOR THE CURE

RUN, RUN, RUN FOR THE CURE!

Pharmacy students at the University of Alberta have once again committed to raising awareness and money for Breast Cancer Research! The CIBC Run for the Cure will be taking place on October 4th, and includes a 5km run or 1km walk. This year our goal is $20,000 and we have already raised over $10,000! This means that we are currently the Top Team in Edmonton in terms of fundraising.

Our first big fundraising event, the Saving Second Base Slo-Pitch Tournament, is on September 26th and will allow members from each class to compete against one another to see who the true Slo-pitch champ is. You can get involved by contacting Alyssa or Marline, your local CAPSI Reps, or by contacting your class’s team captain.

As pharmacy students we run for

BY ALYSSA SCHMODE

our families, our friends, and our patients. As future pharmacists we strive to provide the absolute best patient care no matter the situation. Participating in the CIBC Run for the Cure is just one more way we can help improve the health of our patients. A really amazing statistic I wanted to share is that mortality rates from breast cancer have gone down 43% since the peak rates in 1986. This is due to research, new treatment options, and early detection, and just goes to show the amazing effect our fundraising has each year. Sadly

though 68 women are diagnosed with breast cancer daily in Canada and therefore there is much more work we can do.

This event is a great way to allow us to give back to our patients and their families and all proceeds for this event go towards life-saving research, so please sign up for our team, fundraise, and raise awareness. Happy Running!

PHOTO CREDITS: MYAPSA

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 21

YOU’VE GOT TO TRY THIS

BY WINNIE LO

YOU’VE GOT TO TRY THIS: NAANOLICIOUS 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! Feeling a strong craving for Indian food or some flavoured Chai? Run on over to Naanolicious - but not before you finish reading! In this issue - special guests from APSA council, as well as a tag-along...

Winnie – looking forward to lots of writing (and lots of eating!) in the months to come! #theonetheonly Naan-Wrapture: Lamb: fresh naan and organic greens presented in a cup Iced-flavoured Chai Tea – English Toffee The Chai was a bit sweet for my taste, but the spicy lamb and fluffy naan? Count me in! 4/5

Sherry – a drop in visit from our resident Yearbook Editor – smile for the camera!

Fish Bites: white fish dipped in a zesty lentil batter and deep-fried

WANT TO WRITE FOR THE PQ?

Fish was well seasoned and tender, side salad was meh. 3/5

Phoebe – say Hi to our Recruitment Director – or MiM, the asian sticker on FB Messenger!

Butter Chicken Poutine Iced-flavoured Chai Tea – Hazelnut Creamy and tasty… yummy in my tummy! 5/5

22 PHARMACY QUARTERLY

YOU’VE GOT TO TRY THIS Alyssa – my boss :) Tikka Kebab from the East: kebabs baked in our clay oven. Served with saffron rice on a hot skillet Iced-flavoured Chai Tea – Chocolate chip cookie dough An errotic blend of spices – definitely spiced up my night! The chai tasted a bit like Timmy’s iced cap, with a better name.

3/5 Monica – flip back to see her exciting Horoscopes! Seer into the future with her!

Coconut Mussels: fresh mussels sauteed in coconut gravy with a hint of Indian spices It was everything I dreamed of for a mussel dish... the sauce went perfectly with it :D 5/5

Anton – special guest appearance #interdisciplinarylove #4everpharMed #whatsmed Naan-O-Rific Pizza Naan - Hawaiian: Pizza ingredients baked on naan bread It was exquisite, yet pedantic, with flavours stimulating my palette like never before. 5/5

PHOTO CREDITS: SHERRY ZHU, NAANOLICIOUS

10331 Whyte (82) Ave NW Edmonton, AB T6E 4E4 (780) 705-5570

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 23

BY WINNIE LO

CAM CORNER CAM CORNER

CAM CORNER: GREEN TEA Camellia sinensis

Green tea has been consumed for centuries in Asia, but modern research has shown that it has more benefits than just upping your caffeine to prepare for that next midterm. But how much of what you hear on the web is true? Here are 4 things that green tea can actually do for you:

What is green tea?

Green tea is brewed from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis, but does not undergo as much oxidizing during processing. It is steeped at a lower temperature compared to most other teas – only at around 70° C. There are dozens of variations of the tea, and it is commonly believed to treat stomach disorders, vomiting, cancer, warts, as well as induce weight loss.

Limited research has been conducted on the role of green tea in the risk reduction of cardiovascular disease, but what little is there is very promising. It reduces the total cholesterol (specifically LDL) in the body as well as blood pressure.1 The compound L-Theanine, found in green tea, may have synergistic effects with caffeine. One study found that when consumed together, the rise in blood pressure caused by caffeine was negated by the L-Theanine.2 Another study found that consumption together could increase attention and focus.3 Tea is relaxing. In a study performed by Steptoe, platelet activation was used as a measure to find out if tea drinkers had lower stress levels before and after stress compared to the placebo population.4 The results? Yes! Green tea can promote weight loss? Count me in! In a review examining obesity and thermogenesis, it was found that green tea, which is rich in catechins, inhibits catechol o-methyl-transferase. This stimulates thermogenesis and fat oxidation in combination with caffeine (which has a similar effect). In a 3 month study, participants experienced a significant loss in body fat and weight. Green tea can also help to prevent weight gain after weight loss too!5

References: Hartley, L. et al. (2013). Green and black tea for the primary prevention or cardiovascular disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 6.

Rogers, PJ et al. (2008). Time for tea: mood, blood pressure and cognitive performance of caffeine and theanine administered alone and together. Psychopharmacology, 195(4).

Simon, K. et al. (2008). L-Theanine and caffeine in combination affect human cognition as evidenced by oscillatory alpha-band activity and attention task performance. The Journal of Nutrition, 138(8).

Steptoe, A et al. (2007). The effects of tea on psychophysiological stress responsivity and post-stress recovery: randomised double-blind trial. Psychopharmacology, 190(1).

Diepvens, K., Westerterp K., Westerterp-Plantenga, M. (2007). Obesity and thermogenesis related to the consumption of caffeine, ephedrine, capsaicin, and green tea. American Journal of Physiology, 292(1).

24 PHARMACY QUARTERLY

WANT TO WRITE FOR THE PQ? FLICKR IMAGES: FRANS SCHOUWENBURG, BRENT, J_ARLECCHINO

DEAR EDITOR

DEAR EDITOR, This is the first September I will be separated from my best friend. He is moving to another country for school and the concept of long distance honestly scares me to death. We communicate well, but I’m worried that we get so caught up in our lives that we forget each other. Relationships over Skype historically don’t end well, they usually just... end. With increased distance the force of attraction decreases, right? So what do I do?! Help?!

Dear Heartbroken & Isolated, Welcome to the #LDRLyfe. You’re likely going to end up hashtaging #relationshipgoals and tagging your best friend more often than you’d like in the next school year, but fret not: LDRs (long distance relationships) don’t have to be any less functional and satisfying than any other relationship.

First off, let’s look at the positives of your friend moving away. Your friend is is entering a period of self-growth and self-discovery.

Although it can be scary time for both of you, it has the potential to strengthen your relationship even more. When people think of LDRs, they usually think of a strained, unsatisfactory relationship lacking intimacy. If you are in a romantic relationship with this friend, you’d be glad to hear that most studies have not shown that those in LDRs are more likely to break up than those in relationships of close proximity. You might be questioning the validity of these studies — rest assured that many are randomized, controlled trials with sufficient sample sizes.

options to connect nowadays, but a few of these studies have shown that technology shouldn’t be dependent on. What they have found is it is how LDR couples think about each other throughout the day that predicts their success in a relationship. So next time you catch yourself daydreaming about your friend during class, don’t feel guilty— you’re promoting the health and longevity of your relationship.

At the end of the day, you cannot stop your friend from slipping away.

It is important that you let yourself feel the pain: jot your feelings down, talk with friends and family, and keep an open communication with your friend. Remember, it’s not the distance that indicates the survival; it is the quality of your love and feelings for one another. In the words of Khalil Gibran, “and ever has it been known that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.”

With love,

Ghasak Hussain PQ Editor

We have ample technological

FLICKR GRAPHIC: WEBTREATS

Our brand new questions column is now up and running! Do you have a question you’d like to ask our editors’? Drop us a word at our submissions page: tinyurl.com/pq2-questions

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 25

AMANDA’S KITCHEN

AMANDA'S KITCHEN CREAMY WHITE WINE MUSSELS

BY AMANDA LEONG INGREDIENTS: 2 tomatoes ¾ cup sweet white wine (I prefer a cheap Moscato) ¾ cup whipping cream 4-6 fresh Basil leaves, chopped coarsely 1 tsp paprika 2 lbs mussels 1 tbsp butter Optional: hard crusty bread (I prefer to make a rosemary bread, but just go with whatever your heart desires) and

PHOTO CREDIT: AMANDA LEONG

lemon to garnish

SERVES 2 DIRECTIONS 1. Chop the tomatoes finely 2. Melt the butter on medium heat in a dutch oven or whatever pot you have that is larger than your volume of mussels.

3. Put the mussels in the butter and stir it around for 1-2 minutes in the butter so that they warm up 4. Add the tomatoes, white wine, whipping cream, basil leaves, and paprika to your pot and give it a good stir 5. Cover the pot, turn the heat to medium-high, and let it cook for 5 minutes.

The mussels are cooked when they have opened.

6. Garnish with lemon as desired and eat to your heart’s content! Dip the bread into the delicious creamy white wine sauce =)

26 PHARMACY QUARTERLY

HOW TO CLEAN MUSSELS

WANT TO WRITE FOR THE PQ? Put the mussels in a large bowl and fully cover them with cold water and 1 tbsp flour. Let sit for at least 30 minutes. Drain the water, and scrub the outside of the mussels with a brush, and pull off any beards (brown stringy stuff) that you find on the mussels. Mussels that are cracked or do not close are dead, and are thrown away.

HOROSCOPES

PHARMACY HOROSCOPES

BY MONICA WONG LIBRA (SEPT 23 - OCT 22)

ARIES (MAR 20 - APR 19)

Has someone been making you feel frustrated lately? It’s not your fault. Frustration can be very frustrating. Take a break to enjoy the beautiful things in life: like rock climbing - or finding an empty PBL room.

Experiencing (heart)aches, pains, and fever symptoms? Don’t worry - it’s not due to pyrogens. Romance is in the air for you! Time to get some moist healing pads because your love is burning strong.

SCORPIO (OCT 23 - NOV 21)

TAURUS (APR 20 - MAY 20)

A new school year, a new you! Try expanding your social circle. Pharmiliarize yourself with a classmate sitting next to you or ask for help from that really cool professor. Joining a club or going to TGIF might be a great way to unwind!

Is your stomach growling, Taurus? As the motivated and talented student you are hungry for knowledge and also literally hungry, so save yourself some cash and attend those lunch and learns! Your stomach thanks you in advance.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV 22 - DEC 21)

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN 20)

Are you experiencing withdrawal from Mr. Pharmacy? It’s okay, just two more months. You can do it! Set a SMART goal to get you through this difficult time.

Right now it seems that studying is going through ADME in all the wrong ways; with no absorption phase and all elimination. Think twice about your QID dose of Netflix and you should be back on track.

CAPRICORN (DEC 22 - JAN 19)

CANCER (JUN 21 - JUL 22)

Ahhh right now feels like a good time to take a nap… but then you remember your upcoming midterm and a spotlight shines upon the nearest Tim Hortons. Timmies’ got your back!

On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate your pharmacy school experience so far? You’re in luck! The stars have aligned in your favor to help you reach your fullest potential #Balalalala

AQUARIUS (JAN 20 - FEB 18)

LEO (JUL 23 - AUG 22)

As the moons of Saturn align, this means you are going to have a pharmacoDYNAMIC month.

Remember to eat your vitamins, since YOU are your most important back to school supply!

Pop! Beware the formation of snore bubbles.

You will face many upcoming challenges; especially in that early morning lecture, - but you may succeed if you use effective studying techniques! Write little notes to yourself often.

PISCES (FEB 19 - MAR 19)

VIRGO (AUG 23 - SEP 22)

Do not underestimate the power of positive thinking! Have some tea to help ease your nerves, reduce your stress, and you will avoid becoming a negatron.

Whoa, where did all these assignments come from? Another lab coming up already?!? It’s time to tackle all your tasks like an extra strength ibuprofen tackling inflammation. HiYAH!

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 27

IMAGE CREDITS: ELAINE ROSS BAYLON, ANITA KAN, VANESSA IVEC, VICTORIA PRICE, AMANDA LEONG

Class has started once more, which means that all of us need to up our caffeine intake! Those of us at PQ gave you a chance to save on your coffee bill this month - and 4 lucky winner got it! The conditions were to take a photo of yourself using your APSA card at any of APSA’s sponsored locations, and then tag us on Instagram or facebook page!

Congrats to Anita Kan, Vanessa Ivec, Victoria Price, and Amanda Leong!

Happy Starbucks!

WHERE HAVE YOU TAKEN YOUR APSA CARD?