Pharmacy U people

Advocacy … is a skill that anyone can learn, but being an effective advocate requires two things: a unique perspective and a lot of imagination. One must be able to envision the compromise and chart the way forward. These experiences taught me that true progress in pharmacy can be achieved through collective effort and the ability to imagine a better future.

In honour of the recent Pharmacy Technician Day, I want to take a moment to recognize and express my deepest gratitude to all the pharmacy technicians out there. In the fast-paced world of pharmacy, it’s easy to get caught up in the tasks, deadlines, and the endless flow of patients needing care. But behind every successful pharmacy and every patient served is a dedicated team of technicians who keep everything running smoothly.

We need to unite before we can tackle the external forces fighting us. Another challenge stems from a lack of understanding of the role of the pharmacist itself, from the healthcare industry and patients alike, who still see the pharmacist as a shopkeeper or pill counter.

All too often pharmacists pick continuing education topics based on availability and not on their learning needs or the demographics of their patients. If a pharmacist has a practice that predominantly serves older patients, learning should focus on skills and education tailored to this patient group.

When I graduated as a pharmacist, the horizon that awaited me was to start working in the community pharmacy and improve the healthcare model, going from a model centred on the product, to a model centred on the person and on professional pharmaceutical services assistance.

When Betty Golightly decided to add travel health services to her Calgary practice, she committed to offering the highest quality of care. “My goal when I started this program was to deliver the best possible pre-travel consultation provided by any healthcare professional.”

Although when I started my journey in pharmacy, I had a pretty extensive health background, I knew nothing about pharmacy. The lack of knowledge about pharmacy and what pharmacists do remains one of the biggest challenges that we’re constantly working to overcome.

Success as a migraine pharmacist means I am able to enhance patients’ lives through effective symptom management, empowering them with knowledge, and fostering strong relationships. It's about making a positive impact, gaining respect in the healthcare community, and finding personal fulfillment in improving lives.