We hear you, pharmacists; now tell us more

Forget about the weather or even sports (now that the Jays’ historic season is over, and the Leafs’ season is, well, struggling to get going). The new go-to conversation starter? You guessed it: artificial intelligence (AI).It could be at a pharmacy conference, a dinner with friends or even a quick convo with a stranger at my exercise class recently—AI seems to be on everyone’s mind. And the question most frequently asked is, “How are you using AI to make your life easier?”That’s the question on many pharmacists’ minds too. The Canadian Foundation for Pharmacy (CFP) recently surveyed pharmacists about where we should target our funding for research studies and pilot projects in 2026, and the integration of AI in pharmacy practice came up again and again.We hear you, and we will actively encourage researchers and grassroots innovators to submit applications for funding for initiatives that incorporate AI.It’s not too late to let us know where you’d like to see more research and innovation in pharmacy practice. Our follow-up survey, now in the field, asks pharmacists to rank the top areas of interest identified in the first survey. Please take a minute or two to share your opinion. Your voice matters!The first survey’s results also validated that CFP is already moving in the right direction. For example, two of the seven research projects we are funding this year—a record high for the Foundation—focus on AI:One will evaluate the impact of AI scribes during community pharmacists’ consultations with patients, focussing on interactions for acute respiratory tract infections.The other will pilot an AI tool, the brainchild of a Canadian pharmacist, which delivers evidence-based drug information in mere seconds using a database of more than one million medical references.The five remaining projects also align with the priorities—such as workforce well-being and the integration of pharmacy in primary healthcare—raised by the more than 100 pharmacists who responded to our first survey. For example, a CFP-funded project will pilot the use of a computerized clinical decision support tools for asthma management; another will produce the first publicly available time-and-motion study to pinpoint inefficiencies in workflow; and a third will pilot a collaborative practice model between pharmacists and physiotherapists. More details can be found on CFP’s website.Policy development and fair remuneration are also key to advance the profession—and make your lives easier. That’s why CFP actively seeks to fund studies that get at the economic value of pharmacist-led services. We already know we can make a difference. For example, past CFP-funded research on the cost benefits of pharmacists prescribing for minor ailments helped lead to the establishment—and public funding—of minor-ailment programs across Canada.CFP is Canada’s only national charity dedicated to raising funds for research, innovation and leadership development in pharmacy practice. Our non-profit, “Switzerland” status uniquely positions us to collaborate with all stakeholders to facilitate timely, unbiased and high-priority initiatives.Yet many practising pharmacists don’t know about CFP, which is 80 years old this year. As a pharmacist myself, with more than 30 years in community practice, I didn’t really understand CFP’s role until well into my career. After learning more about it, I became a supporter and eventually a board member. In 2023, I hung up my lab coat to become CFP’s executive director because I knew the future of pharmacy needs organizations like CFP more than ever. I am passionate about what CFP can do for our profession, and it’s my personal mission to make more pharmacists aware of that. If I could shout it from a proverbial mountain top, I would—who knows, perhaps AI will help me with that.Meanwhile, if you haven’t already done so, please take a few minutes to complete our online survey and have a direct say in CFP’s funding decisions—and help shape the future of pharmacy.Linda Prytula is executive director of the Canadian Foundation for Pharmacy, Canada’s only national charity dedicated to funding research, innovative practice models and leadership training to help advance the profession of pharmacy and improve the health of Canadians. She can be reached at lprytula@cfpnet.ca.Opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect those of CanadianHealthcareNetwork.ca or its parent company.