DEAN'S DISTILLATE
ASSISTANT DEANS’ DISTILLATE Dr. Jill Hall
ASSISTANT DEAN, PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS & ASSOCIATE CLINICAL PROFESSOR Reflecting on my professional journey to date, I have been influenced,
pharmacy team week after week. The questions were tough but clearly
mentored and coached by so many inspiring women. When I think
delivered with the aim of developing us into exceptional members of
about how I want to give back, in who I am and how I lead, and as
their pharmacy team. It was like a parent’s ‘tough love.’ It not only
advice for those searching for their ‘how’ or ‘what’s next,’ a few key
helped me grow but laid the foundation for how I teach, in the classroom
things come to mind.
and in practice, and with whom I continue to surround myself. This
First, keep your eyes open for unexpected opportunities and embrace
ensures that I keep learning and growing in all aspects of my work,
the possibilities that they may bring. I didn’t know that as a first year
taking the opportunities that both challenge and ultimately energize me
pharmacy student looking to complete some internship hours that
as I fulfil my professional purpose in life.
walking into a tiny independent pharmacy in my community would
Third, be true to who you are—being able to name my purpose and
have such an impact on my career. Behind the counter was a formidable
the values that support that purpose is what enables me to find joy in
mother-daughter duo who were pushing the boundaries of practice
even the most difficult work and to search for that next opportunity.
before it was trendy to do so. They kept people at the centre of their
John Izzo and Jeff Vanderwielen’s work, The Purpose Revolution, says,
practice and did whatever it took to serve them, regularly completing
“When you come to the end of a day and really feel it mattered that you
home visits—wicker basket of prescriptions in hand—with the intention
got up in the morning and that you contributed, what is it that gives you
of not just delivery or assessment of effectiveness and safety, but to
that feeling? If you were missing from your team or organization, what
connect with isolated patients. The first ever pharmacist-conducted
would people really miss? What is the way you uniquely contribute?”
injection also happened in that little pharmacy—and look at us now!
For me, it is, and has long been, to help shape pharmacists better
Second, surround yourself with people who both support you
prepared to deliver exceptional care and to do so with people at the
and challenge you. I had the privilege of completing my residency
centre of that purpose. In overseeing the professional programs, I lead
in a hospital setting that felt like family and pushed me beyond what
from the heart. I truly care about the work we are doing and about the
I thought was possible. Expectations were high—patient loads,
people I am doing it with and for.
therapeutic discussions, and resident-led continuing education for the
4
THE MORTAR & PESTLE | SUMMER 2021
