Young Leader in Pharmacy Justin Dovale: "I'm truly amazed by the creativity and ingenuity of our young pharmacy leaders."

Snapshot

Education:

B.Sc. (Pharm.), University of British Columbia in 2011

MBA, Simon Fraser University in 2017

Current role:

Executive Director and Co-Owner of Two Nice Guys Pharmacy in Kelowna, British Columbia.

What excites you about being a pharmacist?

As accessible healthcare providers, pharmacists are well-positioned to make a great impact for their patients in various ways. I'm most excited about using our accessibility and positioning within the broader healthcare system to fulfill unmet needs.

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

I graduated with a keen interest in the business side of pharmacy. I envisioned that I'd work my way up the ladder, so to speak. Shortly after graduation, it became quite evident to me that I needed to move on from dispensing roles in large-chain drug stores. I saw too many missed opportunities, short-term thinking, and defensive decision-making to ever truly be happy in a large corporation with rigid policies. In response I knew that I would be better suited to working in smaller organizations or in self-employment.

How has your career evolved since your graduation?

To be frank, I took a rather discursive path through my career. While I did start off looking to accumulate a series of promotions that would eventually require me to move to Toronto, I later learned that it's not what I truly wanted. Along the way, I completed a part-time MBA program which added a new perspective to how I viewed my career as a pharmacist. Taking a bit of a soft reset, I set off to travel around the world for a year. I returned and took a clinical informatics role on a joint venture among 3 of the health authorities in BC. I learned a lot about health information systems and the relative strengths and weaknesses of the hospital and healthcare system. I've regularly had people tell me things like, "Hey, let's do this [project/business] together," or "you should do...." Anyway, the pandemic was the catalyst I needed; I began using some extra time to transition to the current phase of my career – pharmacy ownership. 

How would you describe a great day at work?

They're all great days. It's remarkable to step back for a second to take a look around and see a busy team all working towards our mission of clinical excellence and collaborative problem-solving for greater good. 

How important is mentoring in your career?

I was fortunate enough to have several opportunities to learn from examples set by others which helped me broaden my own perspective and shape my own thoughts and opinions. A university degree in pharmacy does not prepare pharmacists for the realities of the profession, so it is essential that we guide and mentor those who are newer to the profession. I'll happily pay it forward and give frank advice to any new graduates, pharmacy students, or anyone interested in becoming a pharmacist. 

Was there an “aha” moment for you, when you realized the impact of the difference you’re making?

I seem to have those moments pretty often these days, but I think the word-of-mouth referrals that we receive from healthcare providers, other pharmacies, and our patients really emphasize the positive impact we're having. We've also been recipients of a local award as "Unsung Heroes" of Kelowna, and we've been featured in an article by Interior Health for our contributions in helping people experiencing addictions and mental health issues. 

If you can accomplish just one thing in your career, what would it be?

I would love to be a multi-location pharmacy owner, replicating our concept in multiple cities across health authorities.

As a dynamic leader in the profession, what continues to drive you?

Right now, I'm just enjoying the hustle and seeing results. Our pharmacy staff is fully committed to our cause so it's great to work among people who care and share the same passion that I do. I'm motivated to continue building our clientele, and to continue to work with providers and our allies in healthcare to meet patient needs. We're approaching the point where we'll need to move to a larger location or open another pharmacy – the thought of that project also continues to drive me. 

How are young leaders paving the way for changes in the pharmacy profession?

I'm truly amazed by the creativity and ingenuity of our young pharmacy leaders. Where some of the veterans see roadblocks and red tape and decide that the juice may not be worth the squeeze, I see young leaders continue to look for ways to make things possible. I'm also noticing a trend that pharmacy is starting to return to its entrepreneurial roots. Lots of pharmacists have passion projects on the side, or are actively seeking novel ways of solving problems, and refusing the status quo. It's an encouraging sign because I was starting to get concerned about a general apathy and defeatism about the profession. 

What advice would you give to new pharmacy graduates? 

Get a diverse array of experience, and then double-down on what you're good at and enjoy doing. Also, remember that as a professional you have more control over your circumstances than you realize.