Intraprofessional day draws more than 800 participants to Humber College

Pharmacy and pharmacy technician students from across Ontario gathered earlier this month for one of the largest intraprofessional pharmacy education events held in the province.Hosted by Humber Polytechnic on March 11, the Intraprofessional Pharmacy Day welcomed 731 students from 14 universities and colleges, along with 97 faculty, staff and support personnel, bringing total attendance to more than 800 participants focused on collaborative learning within the pharmacy profession.The event paired pharmacy and pharmacy technician students in mixed teams to work through patient care scenarios designed to strengthen communication, clarify scopes of practice and encourage collaborative decision-making—skills that are becoming increasingly important as pharmacy roles continue to evolve.“The event went exceptionally well, and the feedback from students was overwhelmingly positive,” says Sandra Gerges, program coordinator in Humber’s Pharmacy Technician Program. “They truly enjoyed learning about each other’s scopes of practice and appreciated the opportunity to interact with our sponsors, who showcased a variety of career pathways available after graduation.”Throughout the day, students worked through case-based exercises and facilitated discussions aimed at improving their understanding of how pharmacists and pharmacy technicians collaborate in real-world practice. Many participants reported that the experience gave them a clearer understanding of each profession’s training, responsibilities and contributions to patient care.Organizers say the activities also helped students build confidence communicating across roles and better appreciate the value of team-based care in pharmacy settings.Opening remarks from Justin Bates, CEO of the Ontario Pharmacists Association, and Anthony Amadio, president of the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists–Ontario Branch, helped set the tone for the day’s focus on collaboration and shared learning.“It was inspiring to see students across the pharmacy profession come together so naturally,” Gerges says. “The energy in the room highlighted how much they value opportunities to learn with, from and about one another.”Gerges says the strong turnout and enthusiastic response from students reinforce the growing importance of intraprofessional education as scopes of practice expand across the profession.“This event reinforced the importance of intraprofessional collaboration in pharmacy, especially at a time of change and expanded scope of practice,” she says. “The enthusiasm we saw from students will help shape future programming and keep the momentum going as we work to make this an annual event.”

Intraprofessional day draws more than 800 participants to Humber College

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