Helping international pharmacists “find their way”

Pharmacist Havalee Johnson is paying it forward by helping new immigrants find the resources and tools needed to become certified to practise pharmacy in Canada. “The pass rate for the pharmacist qualifying exam in Canada is under 50% for international pharmacists and I want to change this narrative,” says Johnson, who was practising pharmacy in Jamaica for five years before she immigrated to Edmonton in 2020. “When I came here, I met brilliant people having some real challenges in passing the board exams and having their credentials recognized.” Johnson single-handedly sponsored herself and completed her own immigration proceedings to make the move to Canada. Although she failed one of her pharmacy board exams initially, she says it was a “blessing in disguise,” because it was a catalyst for starting her own coaching program helping other international pharmacists “find their way.” Through her company Immigrant PharmAssist, she offers free webinars where she shares her own experiences immigrating to Canada, along with the tools and resources available to help pharmacists transition through the Canadian healthcare system. For a fee, she also offers master classes and one-on-one sessions, where she provides a detailed blueprint of information and steps needed for pursuing Canadian pharmacist accreditation. “Most pharmacists fail [the board exams] because they don’t know the level of preparation needed or the resources available to them,” says Johnson, noting that there is preparation needed for language tests in addition to pharmacy knowledge. “They need someone who has gone through the process and can guide them to be successful in their licensure and transitioning into the healthcare system here.” Her services are hitting a chord, as Johnson says she is getting messages from people all over the globe wanting to know what permits and qualifications are needed to practise pharmacy in Canada. “It is heartbreaking when someone has the level of training but can’t practise here,” she says. “Immigrating to Canada has changed the trajectory of my life and I also want to help others on their journey to up-level in their lives and careers.” In addition to her coaching services, Johnson hosts a PharmAssist podcast focusing on health and wellness. You can follow her on Instagram by searching her at @havalee_89. Read: Young Leader in Pharmacy Anisha Kaur Sandhu: "...keeping busy and productive keeps me motivated and drives me to do better."

Helping international pharmacists “find their way”

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