Young Leader in Pharmacy Godwin Chan: "...pharmacy has to be much more innovative and tech-driven."
Snapshot
Education:
Doctor of Pharmacy at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto (2021-2025)
Master of Science, Molecular Biology, Systems Biology Option at the Université de Montréal (2017-2018)
Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours), Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization at McMaster University (2013-2017)
Current roles:
- Analyst, VU Venture Partners
- Business Development Associate, Front Row Ventures
- Marketing Lead, PharmAssess
- Podcast Host, Digital Introverts
What excites you about being a pharmacist?
Being a pharmacist is a dynamic career where you can wear many hats and play diverse roles. Gone are the days where pharmacists are merely regarded as pill pushers; we operate in communities, hospitals, industry, and entrepreneurship. Contrary to popular sentiment that pharmacy is a dying career, I believe that pharmacy is undergoing a radical transformation to ensure that we're regarded as consummate healthcare professionals.
How would you describe a great day at work?
To me, a great day at work would be one where there are equal parts meetings and deep work time and I know that I'm making a tangible impact on people's lives. It's one where I feel energized and motivated to put my best foot forward, and interactions with others feel genial and galvanizing. Having a great day at work shouldn't even feel like work at all; it should be fun and a natural extension of living life to the fullest.
How important is mentoring in your career?
Mentoring is becoming an increasingly important aspect of my career as it's a way for me to give back to the next generation of pharmacists. I've gotten on countless calls with students considering pharmacy school, current pharmacy students, and working pharmacists to learn more about their story and see how I can help with their journey. The most important thing I try to impart is to reject complacency and critically think about why pharmacy is the right career for you.
Was there an “aha” moment for you, when you realized the impact of the difference you’re making?
The "aha" moment came when I began to create pharmacy content on social media to reflect my new career transition. I've gotten hundreds of comments and DMs from folks all around the world thanking me for my non-traditional perspectives on pharmacy. For the rest of my career, I'll continue to inspire future generations of pharmacists through my words and actions.
If you can accomplish just one thing in your career, what would it be?
If I can accomplish just one thing in my career, it would be to positively impact as many patients as possible through leveraging the power of scale. I'll most likely achieve this via building and investing in health tech start-ups. Working at my local pharmacy will elicit a local impact; I wish to impart a global impact by operating in the intersection between science and business.
As a dynamic leader in the profession, what continues to drive you?
As a dynamic leader in the profession, what continues to drive me is the limitless potential that pharmacy has to be much more innovative and tech-driven. I've talked to enough pharmacists and patients alike to know that the pharmacy experience on both sides is far from ideal and can be more efficient and patient-friendly. I'm obsessed with optimizing all aspects of the pharmacy experience, including digitization, workflow, customer service, patient management, and expanded scope of practice, among many others.
How are young leaders paving the way for changes in the pharmacy profession?
Young leaders are paving the way for changes in the pharmacy profession by constantly questioning why we do certain things and refusing to accept the status quo. It's prudent for pharmacy students and recent grads to begin advocating for meaningful change and let their voices be heard. It could be as simple as joining school clubs and speaking with faculty members, participating in professional events with associations such as the OPA and CAPSI, and networking with key opinion leaders and pharmacy decision makers.