Q&A with Pharmacy U presenter John Papastergiou: 'Entrepreneurial pharmacists can drive meaningful change in their practice.'

SnapshotEducation:Bachelor of Pharmacy, University of Toronto Roles:Associate Owner, Shoppers Drug Mart Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto What excites you about being an entrepreneur? Personally, the drive to innovate is the most exciting part of being an entrepreneur. Innovation requires thinking outside the box and pushing the boundaries of traditional practices. By challenging the status quo and exploring alternative approaches to patient care, pharmacy entrepreneurs can foster innovation and ultimately change practice.Innovation in pharmacy also requires an openness to exploring new technologies and emerging trends. It requires you stay informed about the latest advancements in healthcare technology. My team and I have had much success in exploring novel areas like point-of-care testing, pharmacogenomics, and most recently, artificial intelligence and machine learning. By embracing these novel tools, we hope to optimize medication therapy and enhance patient outcomes. What are the biggest challenges to being an entrepreneur? One of the most significant challenges that pharmacist entrepreneurs encounter is obtaining buy-in from their team members, particularly within the dynamic and regulated landscape of the healthcare industry. Pharmacists often face the task of convincing their colleagues and staff to rally behind their ideas and vision. This challenge is rooted in the fact that healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, prioritize patient care and adhere to established practices, which can create resistance to change and skepticism towards new approaches or technologies. To overcome this hurdle, pharmacist entrepreneurs emphasize how their ideas can improve patient outcomes, enhance efficiency, or provide novel solutions to existing healthcare challenges. Presenting evidence-based practices and showcasing successful case studies or pilot programs can help build credibility and instill confidence in the proposed initiatives. Another effective approach is to identify early adopters within the team, individuals who are more receptive to change and open to exploring innovative ideas. I have found much success with this approach. By collaborating with these key influencers, pharmacist entrepreneurs can leverage their support to gain traction and create momentum among other team members. These early adopters can serve as champions, advocating for the entrepreneurial initiatives and helping to alleviate concerns or resistance from their colleagues. What advice would you give to colleagues who want to become entrepreneurs? Any budding entrepreneur will require a willingness to take calculated risks and learn from failures. Entrepreneurs understand that not every idea will be successful, but they view failures as valuable learning opportunities. By embracing a continuous improvement mindset and adapting their strategies based on evidence and feedback, entrepreneurial pharmacists can drive meaningful change in their practice.

Q&A with Pharmacy U presenter John Papastergiou: 'Entrepreneurial pharmacists can drive meaningful change in their practice.'

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