Pharmacy tech Robert Solek: Open to opportunity

There are many interesting opportunities for pharmacy technicians who opt to pursue them, says Robert Solek. Now working as a pharmacy technician at Indigenous Services Canada, Solek speaks from experience, having held several unique positions as a pharmacy tech. Unsure of what he wanted to do following university, this pharmacy technician decided to go back to school in search of “something that I’m passionate about.” He found it in what was then called the pharmacy certification program at Hamilton’s Mohawk College. Upon graduation in 2003, Solek landed a job as in-patient pharmacy technician at St. Joseph’s Healthcare in Hamilton, where he participated in a pilot project that placed a pharmacy tech on the ward as liaison to the Acute Mental Health Unit. From there, he joined University Health Network (UHN), where he held positions as a clinical trials pharmacy technician in the Investigational Drug Department, an IV trainer, and pharmacy purchaser. In 2011, he joined health benefits manager Express Scripts Canada as a pharmacy auditor. In that capacity, he travelled across the country (pre-pandemic) to conduct on-site audits for the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program for First Nations and Inuit. That led to his current position in the policy pharmacy department of Indigenous Services. “Basically, it’s the pharmacy side of providing medication for indigenous people across the country,” he explains. He helps maintain the formulary of covered drugs and also acts as “point person” for any pharmacy-related communications emanating from the department to the providers and clients. A self-described “numbers guy,” Solek enjoys putting data into context and telling the stories it reveals. “That’s something that I’m passionate about when it comes to my work.” Regulated in 2010 as part of the pioneer class in Ontario, Solek now works primarily from home in his hometown of Montreal, commuting to the Ottawa headquarters as necessary. As a resident of Quebec, he says he is “looking forward to seeing how Quebec moves ahead with regulation” as the first pharmacy technician students began classes last fall. Solek gives generously of his time; he was elected to the board of the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Technicians (CAPT) in 2009 and now serves as president. “We’re all passionate about trying to move the profession forward,” he says of his CAPT colleagues. “We would really like to grow the scope of practice of pharmacy technicians.” He also serves on the board of the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC), which he says is “a fantastic opportunity,” as well as reviews pharmacy technician programs for accreditation with the Canadian Council on Continuing Education in Pharmacy (CCCEP. He also speaks to college students and at national conferences about diverse job opportunities for pharmacy techs. Solek finds all his volunteer activities rewarding, but none more so than a stint at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, where he was a member of the Whistler Polyclinic pharmacy team in the Athletes’ Village. He notes that it was “probably the best thing I’ve done in my life.” It all came about when he happened upon an ad on Workopolis for pharmacists and suggested to the recruiters that they would need pharmacy technicians as well. “So keep an eye out on absolutely all the job postings out there,” he urges. “It’s amazing what you can learn that’s out there. If I can stress anything for new grads, it’s to talk to people in the profession. Take the time to listen and ask a lot of questions.” As for his own future, Solek likes to keep his options open. “I’m very open to change and new challenges,” he says. “I think there’s a lot of growth opportunity within the Canadian government now for pharmacy technicians, so hopefully I will be there for a while!”

Pharmacy tech Robert Solek: Open to opportunity

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