Discover Magazine. Issue 9, Fall 2015.

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE FACULTY OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES ISSUE NINE • FALL/WINTER 2015

A Week of Firsts Beginning Four Years at UBC Pharm Sci

Reflections & Memories of the Early Years at UBC Pharm Sci Caring for Patients, Making a Difference, and Giving Back: The Story of Marvin Nider and the Nider Family Discovering the Origins of + Meaning Behind the White Coat

INSIDE THE FALL 2015 ISSUE 3

Message from the Dean: Shifting Pharmacy Education in British Columbia

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PHOTOESSAY: A Week of Firsts: Beginning Four Years at UBC Pharm Sci

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Discovering the Origins of + Meaning Behind the White Coat

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A Crash Course in Creating Courses and Programs

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SSRP: Planting the Seeds of a Research Career

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Reflections and Memories of the Early Years at UBC Pharm Sci

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Caring for Patients, Making a Difference, and Giving Back: The Story of Marvin Nider and the Nider Family MMCP: A Transformative Experience

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SHIFTING PHARMACY EDUCATION IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

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HIS September, as the University embarked on its Centennial year, the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at UBC began an exciting new chapter in its academic history. Our new Entry-to-Practice Doctor of Pharmacy (Entry-to-Practice PharmD) program officially launched, and 224 students began their first year of study alongside their peers in years two, three and four of the Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy program.

The Entry-to-Practice PharmD program represents a significant shift in pharmacy education here in BC. As the first academic institution in Western Canada to offer this degree, we’re excited to be launching an innovative new curriculum that is commensurate with our number one standing in Canada (QS World Rankings, September 2015).

More medications are available now than ever before. People are living longer, and often living with multiple complex health conditions. Governments are striving to look for ways to improve the nation’s health care system in terms of services provided, resources available and outcomes for patients. And rapid advances in technology provide health care professionals with more individualized options for treating patients – for example, whole genome sequencing, tele-health, Big Data and high resolution imaging. Thus as caring for the health of Canadians evolves, so too does the role of pharmacists. We have already seen an increase in their scope of practice, and even more is on the way. Greater integration of healthcare delivery provides the opportunity for pharmacists to contribute to patient care in different ways, and we aim to provide our students with the high level of skills necessary to flourish in a wide range of clinical settings. To extend our academic programs even further to meet this challenge, we will be introducing our Flexible Doctor of Pharmacy program (Flex PharmD) in 2016. The program is designed for pharmacists that want to obtain the PharmD degree while continuing to work in their clinical practice.

Developing and delivering programs that meet the demands of today’s and tomorrow’s healthcare environments is a challenging task faced by all academic institutions, but we are fortunate to have the committed and highly talented faculty and staff who are making this happen. We are also fortunate to have so many friends and colleagues who contribute so much to our students’ education and training. At the Faculty, we are preparing our students for a rewarding career as pharmacy professionals, but we are also teaching them to be adaptable and responsive to the changing landscape of healthcare delivery and to be future leaders in the profession. These are exciting times indeed.

Michael Coughtrie, PhD Professor and Dean

EDITOR Jimi Galvão CONTENT Jimi Galvão, Julia Kreger, Ivan Yastrebov LAYOUT & DESIGN Julia Kreger PHOTOGRAPHY Ivan Yastrebov

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PHOTOESSAY:

WEEK OF FIRSTS: BEGINNING FOUR YEARS AT UBC PHARM SCI A

WE FOLLOWED EMESE LETA, FIRST YEAR ENTRY-TO-PRACTICE PHARMD STUDENT, AND ASPIRING HOSPITAL PHARMACIST, ON HER FIRST WEEK HERE AT UBC PHARM SCI. PHOTOS BY IVAN YASTREBOV

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"I WAS SO SURPRISED AT THE NUMBER OF BOOKS WE NEED. THANK GOODNESS FOR THE LIST MAKER AT THE BOOKSTORE AND LKS/ CAPSI FOR MAKING OUR LIVES EASIER. ALSO, THE SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT PLANNER CONTINUES..."

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"ICEBREAKERS ARE ALWAYS FUN AND AWKWARD. IN FOUR YEARS WE'RE GOING TO LOOK BACK AT THIS MOMENT AND SEE HOW MUCH WE'VE CHANGED AND HOW FAR WE'VE COME."

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DISCOVERING THE ORIGINS OF + MEANING BEHIND THE

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ACH year, the Faculty celebrates incoming classes with an event that centres on an important article of clothing for pharmacists and health care professionals the world over: the white coat. The White Coat Ceremony is an event that brings first year students together to take part in the recital of and reflection on the Faculty’s Pledge of Professionalism, an oath that outlines core values and commitments expected of each pharmacy student relating to patient care and ethical practice. White coats are presented to the students before they recite the pledge, and the act of receiving one symbolizes their acceptance into the ranks of not only the Faculty but the profession of pharmacy as a whole.

Having been with the Faculty for almost five years now, I’ve had the pleasure of being present at many of these ceremonies. And it’s always great to see the pride beaming from the faces of our students and their families. But something struck me as I started thinking about this year’s event. I knew very little about the origins of and meaning behind white coats. When were they first worn? Why are they white and not another colour? Did doctors wear them first?

My curiosity sent me on a quest to learn more.

"TO ME, WEARING A WHITE COAT SYMBOLIZES THE LIFELONG COMMITMENT YOU MAKE WHEN YOU STEP INTO THE ROLE OF BEING A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL. WHEN I REMOVE MY WHITE COAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT’S STILL MY RESPONSIBILITY TO CARE FOR PEOPLE AND DO MY BEST TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THOSE AROUND ME." - JACKSON STEWART, SECOND YEAR UBC PHARM SCI STUDENT Origins When I Googled “white coat” I was amazed at how many hits appeared (more than 58 million). And almost as many hits (more than 52 million) appeared when I searched for “history of the white coat.” In general, the white coat originated in the field of medicine and didn’t turn up until the late 1800s.

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WHITE COAT Before being worn by doctors, white coats weren’t white at all. They were beige and covered the arms and torsos of scientists working in labs. When physicians adopted them as part of their professional attire, they were black. According to Andre Picard, author of “Why do physicians wear white lab coats?,” physicians “dressed in black to reflect the sombre nature of their work.” Dr. Mark S. Hochberg, author of “The Doctor's White Coat--an Historical Perspective,” offers another possibility. He explains that “until the late 19th century seeking medical advice was usually a last resort and frequently a precursor to death.”

Black was replaced in the late 19th century when physicians began incorporating science into their practice, which resulted in advances in the efficacy and reputation of medicine overall. The changes brought about the demise of hospitals being associated with death and despair as recovery rates for patients increased. The revolutionary new direction for medicine called for a new look and the colour white, with its various positive meanings and connotations, was chosen for that look.

“WHITE COATS GIVE PHARMACISTS A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP PEOPLE IN NEED OF HEALTH CARE SUPPORT. IT ALSO REPRESENTS OUR COMMITMENT TO BE THE BEST DRUG EXPERTS.” - KATIE PARK, THIRD YEAR UBC PHARM SCI STUDENT Meanings White has many meanings, but several key connotations include purity, cleanliness, light, hope, safety and goodness.

Valerie A. Jones, author of “The White Coat: Why not Follow Suit?,” adds that the colour white also “symbolizes seriousness of purpose” and explains that the white coat “serves as a symbolic barrier that maintains the professional distance between physician and patient.” Jones goes on to say that it is “a cloak of compassion.”

Aside from deep philosophical meanings, I encountered a

IMAGE: Students recite the Pledge of Professionalism at the 2015 White Coat Ceremony.

few practical applications as well. The author of “White Coat Ceremony: Origins and Meaning of the Clinician’s Uniform” explains that white doesn’t “fade when washed at high (germ-killing) temperatures.” White also allows for the quick spotting of stains.

“WEARING A WHITE COAT MEANS WE ARE PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR PATIENTS IN MIND. IT IS MUCH MORE THAN A PROTECTIVE LAYER OR FASHION STATEMENT. I BELIEVE IT REPRESENTS THE KNOWLEDGE AND CARE THAT WE SHARE WITH THOSE THAT SEEK OUR ASSISTANCE.” - NIC JONES, FOURTH YEAR UBC PHARM SCI STUDENT Onward And so, the newly envisioned white coat was adopted in the medical community as accepted professional attire. Surgeons were among the first to wear them. Then came physicians practicing in hospitals, followed by GPs. By the year 1915, the wearing of white coats was wide spread, with most pharmacists wearing them by the late 1950s.

Today, white coats continue to be worn but there is much debate as to whether or not they should be. Picard writes that “one in eight doctors now wears a white lab coat, according to a U.S. study” and that “one of the reasons physicians have abandoned the traditional garb is that they feel the visual symbol of hierarchy impedes patient care.” He also points to the cost of having white coats cleaned (hospitals used to launder them for free but now only offer this service for scrubs) and the appropriateness of white coats in teamwork environments as other reasons.

At the Faculty’s Pharmacists Clinic, white coats are not worn. “Our clinicians wear name tags but not lab coats to demonstrate our view that a consultation between a pharmacist and patient is a meeting of experts,” says Barbara Gobis, director of the Pharmacists Clinic. “The pharmacist has expert knowledge about drug therapies and the patient

is the expert on their own beliefs, values, daily routines and behaviours.”

All that being said, white coats are not totally unwelcome.

According to Picard, “surveys show that the majority of patients like the white coat, largely because it helps them figure out who’s who, something that is impossible where every health worker wears scrubs or street clothes.”

“WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING CARE AND EARNING TRUST FROM OUR PATIENTS.” - SANDY CHU, THIRD YEAR UBC PHARM SCI STUDENT So what does the future hold for the white coat? It’s unclear, at best, but for the time being the white coat is an extremely important part of what our students experience at UBC Pharm Sci. And there’s far more to the history of white coats and how they’re perceived today than my allotted word count will allow. To learn more, I strongly encourage you to read the following articles that I referenced and do some Googling of your own. - JIMI GALVÃO WHY DO PHYSICIANS WEAR WHITE LAB COATS? - ANDRE PICARD

THE DOCTOR'S WHITE COAT: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE - MARK S. HOCHBERG, MD THE WHITE COAT: WHY NOT FOLLOW SUIT? VALERIE A. JONES

WHITE COAT CEREMONY: ORIGINS AND MEANING OF THE CLINICIAN’S UNIFORM WHAT SHOULD PHARMACISTS WEAR? - LIN-NAM WANG

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CRASH COURSE IN CREATING COURSES & PROGRAMS

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UBC PHARM SCI INSTRUCTOR JANICE MOSHENKO SHARES HER EXPERIENCES AND THE STUDENT LIGHT BULB MOMENTS THAT MAKE IT ALL WORTHWHILE

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ACK to school season is a hectic time of year, especially for students. Attending classes, completing assignments, and studying for exams are just a few of the many activities they need to get used to again. For the instructors responsible for preparing said classes, assignments and exams, this time of year can be just as hectic.

It’s safe to say that we’re all familiar with how much work is involved in participating in a course or program. But it’s just as labour-intensive to create one. To get a glimpse of what’s involved, I reached out to Janice Moshenko, instructor at the Faculty.

What courses do you teach at UBC Pharm Sci? This year, I am teaching in a number of courses including PHRM 100 (Foundations of Pharmacy), PHRM 111 (Medication Management I), PHAR 403 (Injection Training), and guest lecturing in other courses. I am also co-leading the Student Success Program, leading the Professional Communications Stream, and am a member of the Faculty’s Interprofessional Education Team.

What are the steps involved with creating a course or program?

There are too many to count! But I can share some key ones with you:

• Conduct a literature search, environmental scan, interviews and surveys to collect information needed to develop the course or program.

• Determine the purpose. As a part of this step, it’s essential to define what the learning outcomes and learning objectives are.

• Determine the expectations you have of your students. For example, what knowledge or prior experience are students required to know before they enroll?

• Identify potential assessments and assessment strategies that you will use to measure student learning and development.

• Identify appropriate instructional strategies. For example, case-based learning, didactic lecturing, role-playing,

demos, discussions, or labs (and what proportion of each). Also, consider what activities students must be required to do to prepare for each session.

• Plan the content and schedule. Determine what topics and subtopics will be emphasized, what can be left out, and how the course or program will progress.

• Develop the syllabus.

• Determine resources needed for the course such as facilitators and space.

• Develop student evaluation mechanisms.

What do you find most challenging about the process?

Aside from the amount of work involved, I find it’s difficult to completely anticipate the needs of my students and the resources required. It’s impossible to plan for every scenario and probability.

What do you find the most rewarding?

I really enjoy seeing the light bulb moments that students have when they suddenly understand a concept or solve a challenging learning problem. It’s when I truly enjoy the fruits of my labour.

Is there anything else about creating courses or programs you think people should know?

It can take more time and energy than expected.

What advice do you have for someone faced with creating a course or program for the first time?

Stephen Covey sums it up well in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People when he describes beginning with a vision of where you want to end up. Plan ahead, do your homework, ask questions, and talk to people with experience in creating courses and programs. Also, accept the fact that it’s not going to be perfect the first time you do it! - JIMI GALVÃO

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ENTRY-TO-PRACTICE PHARMD PROGRAM

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SSRP

PLANTING THE SEEDS OF A RESEARCH CAREER

IMAGE: Dr. I fan Kuo in the Pharmaceutical Sciences building.

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N a beautiful summer day in 2002, the waves were slowly splashing on the beach and the sun was shining through the windows of the faculty’s previous home, the Cunningham building. Not a cloud in sight, but for one third year bachelor of science in pharmacy student there was only one thing on her mind. That summer, then third year student, Dr. I fan Kuo had signed up for the Summer Student Research Program (SSRP), where she would spend her summer working with faculty member Dr. Thomas Chang on measuring the kinetic activity of the enzyme substrate with different G. biloba extract concentrations. On that beautiful summer day her samples were being processed by a spectroflourimeter. Having worked weeks on these samples, the excitement built as she waited for the results to appear. As they did, another story emerged. A failed test, but yet another step towards progress.

That was Dr. Kuo’s first taste of independent research, planting the seeds which would eventually draw her back to research after years away from the lab practicing in a hospital setting. After graduating with a BSc(Pharm) from UBC she completed a hospital pharmacy residency program and spent a few years working as a hospital pharmacist. Eventually she came back to the UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences (UBC Pharm Sci) to do a doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) degree, after which she continued working in a clinical setting. It was there that the seeds planted by the SSRP started to germinate.

“There are often questions you encounter in clinical practice that you wish you can solve, but know that you can’t,” says Dr. Kuo. She goes on to explain that you are neither trained to do so nor are you in an environment where you could.

She was given very specific tasks or goals to accomplish for her patients, and research was not a priority. Every time these incidents came up, her mind would start drifting. Thinking of how nice would it be if she was a researcher where she could refine her own research questions, coming up with a methodology, going through the experimental process and finding out the answers for herself.

This train of thought led her to a research fellowship at UBC Pharm Sci with Drs. Larry Lynd and Carlo Marra while also pursuing a master’s of science in pharmaceutical sciences. Eventually she ended up with three degrees from the Faculty and now works at the University of Manitoba as an assistant professor focusing on dementia care and population health. Loving what she is doing, Dr. Kuo has no plans to leave the profession.

“It was one of those decisions I never regretted,” says Dr. Kuo reflecting on her summer with the SSRP. “IT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST FULFILLING AND PRODUCTIVE SUMMER I HAD EVER HAD IN SCHOOL. I FELT LIKE I WAS GETTING SOMEWHERE, THAT I WAS MAKING PROGRESS. EVEN WHEN YOUR TESTS FAILED OR DIDN’T WORK PROPERLY, YOU DIDN’T GIVE UP, YOU JUST DID IT AGAIN AND AGAIN UNTIL YOU GOT IT RIGHT. I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT PATIENCE AND PERSISTENCE.” Now on a beautiful summer day in 2015, the sun is shining down on Winnipeg, the fields are glistening, but for one student there is only one thing on her mind.

This student is no longer Dr. Kuo though, but one of her summer undergraduate students getting her own taste of pharmaceutical research. Coming full circle, Dr. Kuo is now taking on her own students to show them the excitement of independent research. For those students contemplating research experience, she has one piece of advice. Just do it. - IVAN YASTREBOV

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REFLECTIONS

AND MEMORIES OF THE EARLY YEARS AT UBC PHARM SCI

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HEN Ed Rowley, BSc(Pharm)'49, was in grade 7, he was attempting to make hydrogen gas at home when it blew up on him. He wasn't injured, his parents never found out, and the experience did nothing to rattle his interest in chemistry. In fact, it was this interest and curiosity that led Ed to become a pharmacist (although he tells us that the fashionable white lab coat was also a contributing factor). Mostly, Ed felt that obtaining a pharmacy degree from UBC would give him the skills to do well in a profession that interested him. And it has. Ed's life as a pharmacist has brought him tremendous joy, and he was pleased to share some of his experiences and memories with us.

act, holding on to his trombone with one hand and steering with the other. In grade 12, Ed joined the Bernie Porters Dance Band and played a regular Saturday night gig at the local YMCA.

The Journey to UBC Pharm Sci

Studying Pharmacy in the 1940's

While in high school in his hometown of Victoria, BC, Ed took up playing trombone and joined the Kinsmen Boys Band. The instrument came without a case, and the slide hardly worked, but Ed has fond memories of carting the behemoth of an instrument to band practice on his bike. It was a balancing

When Ed commenced his pharmacy studies in 1946, the Cunningham building had yet to be built so classes were held in old army huts. There were 72 people who started the the program alongside him and 38 went on to graduate.

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In 1944 Ed signed up to serve in the Royal Canadian Navy, where he played trombone and string bass in CFB Esquimalt's Naden Band. He completed his training in eastern Canada and was then stationed in Victoria for the duration of his service.

Upon leaving the navy Ed enrolled at the University of Victoria and began apprenticing at the local Owl Drugstore. His sights were firmly set on transferring to the newly established UBC Pharmaceutical Sciences program.

Ed recalls getting up to mischief (much to the dismay of Dean

E.L. Woods). More than a few card games would take place between classes, and on more than a few occassions Dean Woods had to break them up (much to the dismay of the students).

Ed also recalls that grain alcohol was one of the chemicals available in the labs. On Friday afternoons, he and a few of his buddies would unwind from the week by enjoying a drink with lime syrup. This came to a halt after one Christmas at the Hotel Vancouver bar when a fellow student took it upon himself to spike Dean Woods' drink with said alcohol. Dean Woods declined to say anything and continued to partake in the festivities. But when the students returned to school after Christmas break, they discovered all the grain alcohol had vanished from the shelves.

Ed was an entrepreneurial fellow and worked hard to pay for his schooling over the years. He describes driving his classmates to UBC in his 1929 Buick for a small fee of 10 cents each way. He was also in the dance band at UBC, where he received union scale, and washed dishes at UBC's trailer park student housing.

of pharmaceutical distribution for long-term care homes. Ever the businessman, Ed saw the potential in this and founded another venture: Rowley’s Pharmaceutical Consultants Inc., with his three sons as shareholders. This new business supplied care homes in the area with pharmaceuticals. In 1986 he sold Gonzales Pharmacy to Grant, who had fulfilled his dream of becoming a pharmacist and graduated as a member of UBC Pharm Sci's Class of 1982. In 2007, Ed sold Rowley's PCI to Rexall. Craig and Bruce are both still employed with Rexall today. Ed himself continued to work part-time until his retirement in 2008, at the age of 83.

Ed tells us that his proudest accomplishment as a pharmacist is being able to work with all three of his sons in his business.

He continues to play trombone recreationally with the Celebration Brass Band, and is grateful that these days he no longer needs to haul it around on his bike! - JULIA KREGER, ARTI MAHARAJ & AMANDA SCOTT

A Pharmacy Love Story Ed returned to work at Owl Drugstore in Victoria after graduation. He frequently noticed a beautiful woman passing by the store, and enquired with his boss as to who she was.

He told Ed that her name was Kathleen Whittaker, and that she worked at the Rexall Pharmacy across the street. Upon further investigation Ed discovered that Rexall's was the only pharmacy in the area that stocked MI31 tooth powder. Armed with this talking point, Ed crossed the street to purchase some and introduce himself to Kathleen. They were married nine months later and had three sons, Craig, Grant, and Bruce.

A Rewarding Career After his time spent working at Owl's in Victoria and Doug Halliday's Island Drug Company in Duncan, Ed learned of a closed-down grocery store in the Fairfield area. The owner agreed to rent the building to Ed free of charge for three months, on the proviso that he would fix up the space. It was here that Ed opened his first pharmacy.

Later, in Duncan, the owner of Gonzales Pharmacy (named after Captain Vancouver’s cabin boy) passed away unexpectedly. Upon learning that this store was available for purchase, Ed obtained a $5,000 bank loan to acquire both the pharmacy and the building that housed it.

Ed recalls working from 9 a.m to 9 p.m. every day except Sundays when he took a bit of a break, only working from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. At this time, he and Kathleen lived in a small room at the back of the store. The early days of the pharmacy hold a really special place in Ed’s heart. He recalls when his son Grant, as a grade 5 student, wrote a story for school about how he wanted to be a pharmacist like his father so he could grow up and have lots of friends and be successful.

In 1977, a new law was passed that put pharmacists in charge

IMAGES (from opposite): Class of 1949 graduation composite; Hut 021, one of the army huts which housed the pharmacy classes and labs, 1946—1950. A lab inside an army hut.

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IMAGES (Clockwise from top left): Marvin and Barb with six of their (now eight) grandchildren - l to r: Yosef, Zoey, Aviva, Daniel, Sari and Ephraim; Marvin with his grandson, Daniel; Marvin with former employee and fellow pharmacist, Paulo Tchen BSc(Pharm)’05; Marvin at Marks Plaza Pharmacy with employees l: Daniella and r: Faten; Marvin in 1977, working at London Drugs; Marvin in 2010 at Marks Pharmacy Oak St.; Marvin with his grandsons l: Epharaim and r: Yosef.

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CARING FOR PATIENTS, MAKING A DIFFERENCE & GIVING BACK: THE STORY OF MARVIN NIDER AND THE NIDER FAMILY

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HE Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences has a very devoted and generous family of donors. Throughout the school’s history, these individuals and organizations have made so many things possible, from the education of our students to the construction of our teaching and research facilities (just to name a few). And while their individual reasons for giving may differ across the board, one thread that connects them together is a strong belief in the collective good that the profession of pharmacy brings to society.

An example of a family amongst those supporters that demonstrates this belief is the Nider Family. Their story is one of dedication to caring for people, a commitment to making a difference, and giving back to those who need help. It’s a story that begins with Marvin Nider.

About Marvin Nider Marvin Nider (October 12, 1948 – March 13, 2014) moved to Vancouver from Cornwall, Ontario with his mother and siblings at the age of 18 just after his father passed away. When he got to Vancouver, Marvin started working for his uncle, Harry Caine, delivering drugs to patients. Harry owned a pharmacy at 42nd and Oak (Oakridge Drugs) and he also took care of several longterm care (LTC) facilities. It was this experience of working for his uncle that inspired Marvin to pursue studies in pharmacy.

Marvin graduated from the Faculty in 1975 with his BSc(Pharm).

Marvin was very entrepreneurial and put that passion to good use during his time as a student. He sold calculators to help fund his tuition out of the student lounge in the Faculty’s former home, the Cunningham building. When it came time to eke out a living, Marvin relied on that same drive to launch a long and successful career.

When he first graduated, Marvin worked for a short time as a pharmacist at a Vancouver location of Fedco (a department store chain that existed from 1948-1999) and then at London Drug stores in Vancouver and Richmond for approximately six years. In 1982, he took over the operations of his uncle’s LTC business and launched Boulevard Prescriptions. In 1987, Marvin was able to acquire Marks Plaza Pharmacy on Cambie Street and in 2005 opened Marks Pharmacy on Oak Street. In the years that followed, he sold all three highly profitable businesses.

Marks Plaza Pharmacy was sold in 2010, Boulevard Prescriptions in 2012 (to Medical Pharmacies Ltd.), and Marks Pharmacy in 2013.

In addition to his pharmacy businesses, Marvin was also active with the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia. He was a council member from 1982–1990, and during that time served as vice president from 1987–1988 and president from 1988–1989.

No matter the pursuit or business opportunity, Marvin held a steadfast commitment to patient care. He was very focused on ensuring his patients were healthy and spent time teaching them about the medications they were taking. He also strived

to provide the best possible customer service. So much so that he was on-call to his patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week (which back then was made possible by the use of a pager).

The Nider Family In time, Marvin went on to start a family with his wife Barb.

Barb, his four children (Jeff, Kevin, Alisa and Craig) and eight grandchildren brought him much joy over the years. Jeff Nider also graduated from UBC and has fond memories of accompanying his father on visits to the Cunningham building to reminisce over framed class composite photos on display throughout the facility’s walls.

Today, Jeff carries on in his father’s footsteps of providing excellent customer service and quality patient care in his role with Medical Pharmacies Ltd. Even though he is not a pharmacist, Jeff often encounters his father’s former clients and associates, and they remind him how valued and appreciated Marvin was. He credits his father’s superb service standards as the reason for the ongoing business relationships Medical Pharmacies Ltd. has with so many LTC facilities. It’s a legacy that Jeff is proud to be a part of.

The Marvin Nider Memorial Bursary in Pharmacy In September 2014, the Nider Family established an endowed bursary at the Faculty in memory of Marvin. The Marvin Nider Memorial Bursary in Pharmacy awards $1,000 annually to a deserving UBC Pharm Sci undergraduate student.

When asked why the family chose to establish this award, Barb and Jeff explained that they felt this was the most fitting way to honour Marvin’s memory as pharmacy had been his whole life, and because of his unwavering devotion to be of service to his community. This award, like Marvin, provides a valuable community service in the form of financial support to students.

“Marvin was very proud of his time at UBC and the Faculty’s new building,” says Barb.

“WITH THIS AWARD, WE HOPE TO HELP PHARMACY STUDENTS BY OFFERING THEM FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN SUPPORT OF THEIR EDUCATIONAL GOALS.” Before Marvin passed, he began to write his autobiography but was unable to finish it. His family members have taken up the task of completing it and hope to publish it one day.

“The life my father lived and what he’s been able to achieve is truly inspirational,” explains Jeff. “I hope that students who receive this bursary will be moved by his story to be the best possible pharmacists they can be.” - JIMI GALVÃO & ARTI MAHARAJ CONTACT MANDY KHARA TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ESTABLISHING AWARDS

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IMAGE: Barbara Gobis, director, UBC Pharmacists Clinic, provides expert medication management services to a patient.

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MMCP:

A TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE

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HE Medication Management Certificate program is a unique learning opportunity for licensed, practicing pharmacists. The goal of the program is to increase the confidence and skill level of practicing pharmacists in the provision of comprehensive medication management services to patients in an ambulatory care setting. The program consists of an online component, along with five days of hands-on training in the UBC Pharmacists Clinic alongside a clinic preceptor.

Earlier this year, the Pharmacists Clinic welcomed Maki Tsubai, a community pharmacist originally from Japan, and the very first Medication Management Certificate Program student. Maki has worked in clinical community pharmacy since 2001 and is currently employed at Burrard Pharmasave. Maki describes wanting to register in the program to "make myself more useful to (the) company."

"I wanted to do medication reviews properly and efficiently. I wanted to learn," she explains.

Maki described her first day at the Clinic as "intense", "coming in as an adult learner and feeling like a full-time student again." However by days two and three, she found her groove, was feeling more confident, got to know the Clinic team, and was enjoying herself.

Maki's Clinic preceptor, Dr. Rosanne Thalakada, felt that day 4 in particular was a turning point for Maki. "It was the day when her new process was starting to solidify," explains Dr. Thalakada. "She had practiced her new skills enough times that her approach became more natural."

"ON THE LAST DAY, AFTER PRACTICING AND APPLYING HER SKILLS WITH MANY PATIENTS, (MAKI) HAD MUCH MORE CONFIDENCE IN ASSESSING PATIENTS FOR DRUG THERAPY PROBLEMS. SHE WAS MORE COMPREHENSIVE IN HER PROCESS AND SPENT MORE TIME GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF MEDICATION-RELATED ISSUES." Maki agrees. "I was given the opportunity to talk with patients and prepare reviews," she says. "I was given lots of feedback and useful assessment tools. By Friday, I had developed confidence and was feeling very glad to have taken the course."

Barbara Gobis, director of the Clinic, also noticed a transformation in Maki over the course of the week. "On the last day she presented a case using the language of a clinician, thinking like a clinician. She is a comfortable, confident, capable, and caring practicioner."

The Medication Management Certificate Program is a CCCEP-accredited Certificate Program offered through UBC Continuing Pharmacy Professional Development (CPPD) and the Pharmacists Clinic. Participants who successfully complete this program receive one continuing education unit (CEU) per contact hour for a total of 32 CEUs. - JULIA KREGER

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MEDICATION MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

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