CAPSI at work: Education, advocacy and support for Canada’s future pharmacists

The Canadian Association of Pharmacy Students and Interns (CAPSI) is dedicated to fostering unity, professionalism, advocacy, academic growth, and excellence. Representing over 4,000 members nationwide, we bring together pharmacy students from across Canada who are committed to advancing their professional development and addressing issues that impact the future of our profession.At the heart of our organization is the CAPSI National Council, made up of Executives and Local Representatives who proudly serve as ambassadors for pharmacy. Executive positions are filled annually through elections open to students from any Canadian pharmacy school, while each school elects two Local Representatives to ensure their student body has a strong voice at the national level.But what do we as CAPSI do to support students? Every year CAPSI hosts Professional Development Week (PDW), a week-long conference for pharmacy students, by pharmacy students. This is a great opportunity for students from across the country to learn from their peers and connect with leaders in the profession. Held at a different pharmacy school annually, students walk away with practical knowledge for practice, new connections, and great memories.One of CAPSI’s core values is advocacy, and we are committed to ensuring that the voices of pharmacy students are heard on issues that directly affect their education, professional development, and future careers. We have collaborated with national organizations such as the IPPC and CPhA to champion student priorities. For example, a recent initiative involved writing letters to local MPs to advocate for the inclusion of pharmacy students in Canada’s loan forgiveness program—an important step in reducing financial barriers to entering the profession and promoting rural pharmacy practice. By fostering advocacy early in our training, we build the foundation to continue championing the profession throughout our careers.In addition, through our partnerships with IPPC and L’Oréal, we established the Bridging the Gaps Fund, which supports students of Indigenous descent in attending PDW. This initiative is vital for promoting equity, representation, and inclusivity within the profession, ensuring that Indigenous voices and perspectives are better represented in pharmacy practice across Canada.Another cornerstone of CAPSI is education and excellence, which we champion each year through a variety of national and local competitions. These include events in compounding, patient interviews, clinical cases, and professional writing. Competitions are in collaboration with our national partners — leaders from all facets of pharmacy practice. Competitions begin at the local level, with winners advancing to represent their school on the national stage at PDW.These experiences provide students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge, strengthen their clinical and communication skills, and gain confidence in their professional abilities. By fostering a spirit of healthy competition, we encourage students to push themselves beyond the classroom, set a standard of excellence in pharmacy practice, and create memories that last long after graduation.In this blog series, we will be highlighting CAPSI chapters across the country, with Local Representatives writing their own posts celebrating their events, fundraisers, and more! We hope you enjoy as we show you a side of life outside of the classroom from your future pharmacy colleagues.Meriam Salih, current CAPSI president, is in her fourth year of the PharmD program at the University of Toronto. Before pharmacy school, she worked as a pharmacy assistant for over ten years and had the privilege of seeing firsthand the impact pharmacists have on their patients — including her own family. After graduation, she hopes to continue serving my community while advocating for pharmacists to practice to the full extent of their expertise.Jin He, CAPSI VP of communications, is part of the PharmD Class of 2026 at the University of Alberta. Before pharmacy school, she worked for her university’s newspaper: "I’ve always loved connecting with people and sharing stories." In the future, Jin hopes to work in long-term care.

CAPSI at work: Education, advocacy and support for Canada’s future pharmacists

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