Young Leader in Pharmacy Alyssa Low: "These are transformative years for the profession of pharmacy."

Snapshot:

Education: Entry-to-Practice Doctor of Pharmacy Program (PharmD) at the University of British Columbia in 2021

Current roles: 

• Clinic Director and Clinical Pharmacist at MedInfuse Health Infusion Clinic.
• Part-time pharmacist with London Drugs and as a Pharmacist Facilitator at the University of British Columbia. 

 What excites you about being a pharmacist?

Being a pharmacist gives me the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives and to work alongside healthcare leaders and partners to continually improve the way we deliver patient care. 

These are transformative years for the profession of pharmacy. With the increasing needs of an aging population, limited healthcare budget, and long emergency room wait times, there are many opportunities for pharmacists to develop and implement clinical services to meet the growing needs of patients in our country. For example, in my work at MedInfuse Health Infusion Clinic, I provide deprescribing consultations where I work collaboratively with patients and their physicians to safely taper and stop medications that are no longer needed or may be causing harm.  

When you graduated, what did you envision for your future?

When I graduated, my dream was to work as part of a collaborative healthcare team. I am excited about developing and implementing pharmacist consultation services as part of a sustainable pharmacy business model that benefits patients and keeps them healthy and well.

How important is mentoring in your career?

I am grateful to have had so many incredible mentors and teachers throughout my career. They played a pivotal role in shaping my career and have taught me so much. I feel like I’ve been learning something every day since graduating and I’m excited by the thought that the learning will never end. My mentors have offered helpful advice and feedback when I needed it most, and always showed me patience and kindness. My mentors have inspired me so much and I hope that I will be able to do the same for others throughout my pharmacy career.

What advice would you give to new pharmacy graduates?

I would encourage new pharmacy graduates to be open-minded and treat every interaction as an opportunity to learn. Before I started pharmacy school, I used to think networking was all about handing out business cards and asking the best questions or saying the right things. I’ve since learned that an important part of networking is simply listening and learning. You can learn so much from others whether they work in the same industry as you or otherwise. I’ve gained friendships, inspiration, knowledge, and countless opportunities by just being open to different perspectives and willing to listen.