Q&A with PharmacyU presenter Trish Molberg: ‘Continuous learning has always been a driving force in my career.’

Learn more about Trish Molberg’s work in obesity management at Pharmacy U Vancouver Tell us a bit about your background – education and career path as a pharmacist.I grew up admiring both our small-town pharmacist and my schoolteachers, which sparked my desire to pursue a career that combined healthcare with educating others. This led me to pursue a pharmacy degree from the University of Manitoba. After graduation, I began my career as a pharmacist manager at Walmart Pharmacy, where I gained invaluable experience in patient care, medication management, and counseling while managing various locations over a 14-year span. In 2013, I transitioned to Sandstone IDA, an independent pharmacy in South Calgary.By 2019, I took on an additional role at LMC Healthcare in Calgary as a diabetes educator pharmacist, working closely with endocrinologists, a position I still hold today. In early 2024, I became a co-owner of my pharmacy location with Neighbourly Pharmacy. My current role in the pharmacy involves splitting time between dispensary work and clinical appointments with patients referred to me for specialized care in diabetes, obesity management and tobacco cessation.Continuous learning has always been a driving force in my career. I’ve earned certifications as a Certified Respiratory, Tobacco, and Diabetes Educator, which have opened numerous opportunities and helped shape my practice. These qualifications, along with strong connections with local physicians, have been instrumental in evolving my practice into what it is today: focused on patient-centred care and medication therapy management.How did you become interested in the area of obesity? Was it through work on diabetes management?Yes, my interest in obesity management developed as a natural extension of my work in diabetes care, as managing diabetes effectively often required addressing obesity. Many of the endocrinologists who refer patients to me also manage patients with obesity, and I receive referrals for managing this disease state as well. Currently one in three Canadians is living with obesity, making this a widespread problem with overwhelming effects. In working with my patients, I realized that addressing obesity was not only crucial for better diabetes outcomes but also for improving overall health. I began to focus more on obesity-related pharmacotherapy, lifestyle interventions, and how comprehensive weight management could prevent or mitigate health complications. As well, navigating the insurance coverage challenges was a great challenge for these patients as well and I spent time working to understand private and public insurance coverage and ways to support patients with the cost of these meds.Seeing the profound impact weight loss had on improving glucose control, reducing the need for medications, and enhancing patients' quality of life sparked a deeper interest in the field. As a result, I pursued additional training in obesity management, including staying updated with the latest research on weight-loss medications and treatments. This has allowed me to offer more comprehensive care to my patients, particularly those dealing with both obesity and diabetes. I had the pleasure of co-presenting on the topic of obesity with brilliant endocrinologist Dr. Sue Pedersen at the Diabetes Canada conference in 2022. Obesity management seems to have entered a new and potentially exciting phase. What role can pharmacists play in helping their patients in this area? What’s on the horizon?Pharmacists are in a unique position to play a pivotal role in the emerging and exciting phase of obesity management. With new medications and treatments becoming available, along with a broader understanding of obesity as a chronic disease, pharmacists can provide a range of services to support their patients. Pharmacists can serve as accessible, knowledgeable healthcare providers who offer a multi-faceted approach to obesity management, combining pharmacotherapy, education, lifestyle support, and chronic disease management. With new treatments and technology on the horizon, our role is likely to expand even further, making us essential players in addressing the obesity epidemic.Are you finding there’s a lot of excitement among pharmacists in this area?Yes, there is growing excitement among pharmacists regarding obesity management. I get great satisfaction by offering solutions that genuinely change lives, and this fuels my enthusiasm for further involvement in obesity management. The recent introduction of highly effective medications like GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., semaglutide) and dual agonists like tirzepatide has significantly shifted the landscape of obesity treatment. These medications have demonstrated unprecedented results in terms of weight loss and improved health outcomes. As a pharmacist, I am excited to be part of this new era where pharmacotherapy for obesity is finally showing real promise and can offer impactful solutions to patients.The shift in recognizing obesity as a chronic disease, rather than simply a lifestyle issue, has elevated the importance of its management within healthcare. Pharmacists are excited because this change aligns with their focus on chronic disease management and provides new opportunities to address obesity with the same seriousness as diabetes or hypertension. Also, the chronic nature of obesity management requires support from HCP such as pharmacists for the long term.We are aware of the strains on the healthcare system nationwide and the lack of family physicians and inability for patients to see their primary care providers, as well as specialists. Considering this, there is growing recognition that pharmacists can play a much larger role in addressing obesity. As a prescribing pharmacist in Alberta, the opportunities to help patients with prescriptions for obesity medications as well as insurance coverage issues has been very rewarding. As more effective treatments continue to emerge, our role will only become more central to addressing the obesity epidemic.Your bio says that you are mentoring other pharmacists and pharmacy students in this area. Tell me more about what form that mentoring takes.Over the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of serving as a preceptor for pharmacy students from various regions across Canada, primarily from the University of Alberta Faculty of Pharmacy. Additionally, I’ve worked with pharmacists interested in my practice, helping them learn how to better support patients. My focus is on normalizing conversations around obesity and enhancing healthcare professionals' comfort in asking for permission to discuss this sensitive topic with patients. It’s important to me that we work to minimize bias in these discussions and approach them with empathy. There’s often an emotional aspect to conversations about obesity and understanding that a patient’s journey is challenging is key. My goal is to ensure we are there for our patients in a supportive, compassionate way and through mentoring students and fellow pharmacists, it helps me to learn and grow as well.Learn more about Trish Molberg’s work in obesity management at Pharmacy U Vancouver

Q&A with PharmacyU presenter Trish Molberg: ‘Continuous learning has always been a driving force in my career.’

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