Christmas in June: Montreal pharmacy school gets $3 million gift from Shoppers Drug Mart

Pharmacy students at the Université de Montréal will soon do part of their learning in a state-of-the-art simulation and virtual training centre, thanks to a $3-million donation from Shoppers Drug Mart. The financial gift, which will be spread out over three years, will also fund scholarships for students from local communities and diversity groups, as well research projects focused on clinical practice within a community pharmacy. "Québec's healthcare system is called upon to evolve to better meet the population's new needs, and thanks to this donation from (Shoppers Drug Mart), our faculty of pharmacy will be able to keep pace with this evolution," said Université de Montréal rector Daniel Jutras. Slated for completion in 2024, the simulation and virtual reality centre will provide an immersive training environment, enabling students to cultivate their skills and apply innovative practices in real-world scenarios, according to a news release issued by Loblaw, the parent company of Shoppers Drug Mart. Read: Shoppers Drug Mart moves away from medical cannabis, will send patients to Avicanna The goal of the donation is to, ultimately, advance pharmacy practices in the province, enhance accessibility to healthcare and attract more pharmacists to the region, said the release. "The health care system is facing complex problems that require innovative and collaborative solutions,” said Shoppers president Jeff Leger. “We strongly believe that pharmacists can play a critical role in this collective approach, and we are proud to act as a catalyst for achieving this goal.” The donation will also support the provision of master's and postdoctoral scholarships for research related to community pharmacy practices. "This donation will have a transformative impact on our faculty. Above all, this gift opens the way for collaboration that will help evolve the role of the pharmacist, because by providing opportunities for research and graduate training to enhance community pharmacy practice, the entire field of pharmacy will emerge transformed," said pharmacy faculty dean Simon de Denus. Read: Galen Weston to step back from Loblaw’s day to day operations as company announces new CEO

Christmas in June: Montreal pharmacy school gets $3 million gift from Shoppers Drug Mart

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