CSHP grant supports advanced training program for hospital techs

The Canadian Society of Healthcare-Systems Pharmacy (CSHP) Foundation has awarded the William McLean Innovation Grant to two recipients who are developing an Advanced Training Program for Hospital Pharmacy Technicians.Dr. Allan Mills, director of pharmacy at Trillium Health Partners, and Katie Palmer, a resource pharmacist–education portfolio and lead residency coordinator, also at Trillium, will carry out the project as part of their working roles.“The grant will help us develop the foundational materials required to launch an advanced practice program for pharmacy technicians,” says Mills. “This includes our curriculum, assessment tools and supporting documentation to ensure the program is comprehensive, structured and sustainable.”He says this first-of-its kind program is being created to provide technicians with an opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills to be effective hospital pharmacy technicians and future leaders in the profession. Modeled after longstanding pharmacist residency programs, it will be an experiential training program focused on refining competencies in medication use systems.Read: The continuing education conundrumTraining will span areas such as project management, leadership, teaching, inventory management, clinical program support and specialized drug distribution roles. “The program is designed to provide exposure far beyond entry-to-practice training, fostering a deeper knowledge base and advanced skill set,” says Mills. “Through this, graduates will be prepared to navigate and resolve the increasingly complex problems facing hospital pharmacy practice, positioning them as leaders who can drive innovation and advance the profession into the future.” Mills and Palmer aim to finalize the overall structure of the nine-month program by early 2026 to recruit the first candidates later that year. The initial candidates will be individuals who are in their first few years of entering practice. “As the program grows, we see an opportunity in the future for new grads who are interested in a more advanced practice to participate,” says Mills. “Given the benefits we have realized with the pharmacist residency training, we are hoping that successful completion of the program will provide individuals with access to more opportunities and will support the ongoing evolution of the pharmacy technician profession.” This article appeared in the September/October 2025 issue of Tech Talk. Find it and other Tech Talk issues here.

CSHP grant supports advanced training program for hospital techs

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