Pharmacists gather in Vancouver for in-person Pharmacy U conference

Almost 600 BC pharmacists gathered in downtown Vancouver on November 27 for the return of Pharmacy U Vancouver and it was almost like old times. Mind you, there were a few signs that that things were not quite back to normal: the requirement to show your vaccine certificate before picking up your badge, the mandate to keep masks on at all times except when eating or drinking and the presence of an official hand sanitizer sponsor (Pamecare). But the sessions were lively and informative, the break hall rang with the sounds of greetings and conversations and manufacturers and service providers were kept busy describing their offerings to pharmacists keen to learn about something new. Attendees could choose from among concurrent CE sessions on clinical topics from insomnia to hypertension to insomnia or sign up for a full-day stream focused on key topics in pharmacy ownership including legal issues related to owning a pharmacy. University of Waterloo professor and Pharmacy 5in5 founder, Kelly Grindrod set off the day with a keynote talk titled “Re-invigorating your role post-pandemic.” While pharmacists have faced numerous and difficult challenges pharmacists over the past 21 months, by rising to these challenges, pharmacists have opened up new horizons in terms of how the profession is perceived by both the public and health policy makers. As pharmacists deftly stickhandled the twists and turns thrown at them by an unpredictable public health crisis, the “pharmacy shifted from being seen as essential retailers to being seen as essential healthcare professionals,” said Grindrod. While addressing the very real issue of pharmacist burnout and stressing the importance of key workplace changes needed in order to keep pharmacists healthy and productive, Grindrod also noted that opportunities are almost limitless in terms of the patient care roles pharmacists can play when healthcare eventually returns to a less COVID-centred environment. It will be important to take this newly-earned respect and use it to ensure that pharmacists have the autonomy they need in order to practice their profession the way they can and should, based on the skills demonstrated throughout the pandemic. Getting personal Afternoon keynote speaker, Peterborough pharmacist and Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy instructor Samier Kamar, broke the day’s focus on clinical and business education with a heartfelt and personal story about his role in helping patients through their cancer journey. That journey can start with gently guiding a patient as they seek answers to medical issues that are not properly being addressed, said Kamar, describing his experience helping patients to get tests and access to medical specialists when they had persistent health problems. In cases he described, that persistence led to cancer diagnoses. Kamar’s experience caring for these patients (including, in one case, his own mother) has led him to become an advocate for early cancer testing and for patients (including pharmacists) being assertive when a health issue is not being addressed satisfactorily. After an afternoon of more educational sessions, the conference wrapped up with an informal reception‑one more opportunity to catch up with colleagues and friends. Pharmacy U Toronto is planned for April 2, 2022. Watch for details at pharmacy.ca.

Pharmacists gather in Vancouver for in-person Pharmacy U conference

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