Pharmacy U news

I trust the new year still finds you well and well on your way to achieving your goals for 2023. Over the course of the next several articles we are going to look at the idea of what I will call “directional leadership.”

We have been helping pharmacist-owners sell their businesses for decades now, and we have often been surprised that the one part of their operations to which they are closest – the dispensary – is also one to which they pay the least attention in terms of measuring performance.

Pharmacy U Toronto is just around the corner and returning for its 11th year of innovative and actionable pharmacy education. Pharmacy U is the only event in Canada that unites changemakers, innovators, and pharmacy leaders from across Canada – and beyond.

With the introduction of new and increasingly effective treatments, it is important for pharmacists to ask, engage and assist people with obesity. But many pharmacists and healthcare professionals don’t feel they have the tools and knowledge for effective management.

It is not uncommon when it is time to sit down and write one of these articles that I reach out to my editor to see if there are any specific topics that I should address. This time when I asked the question, I received a request that I must admit, I found to be extremely challenging.

As pharmacists we can’t live like students in an adult world. We need to invest in life structure because life as a pharmacist is longer than a four-year degree. In order to show up for our patients, staff and business while managing life and family, we need to last. We need to take care of ourselves so that we can take care of others.

Considering what to write this week, I am reminded of how many leaders are lonely and feel isolated and disconnected from others.

What do you do when faced with patients with questions and concerns? What about your staff? What are the key lessons we need to learn and impart?