PUBLIC PROTECTOR

Jonathan Lu, Silver Fox Pharmacy

Why they won: When Ontario’s long-term care pharmacy sector was impacted by a transition from a fee-forservice to capitation model in 2020, the result was significant cuts to pharmacy operations. But rather than lay off staff and reduce operations for seniors, Silver Fox Pharmacy adapted its service to address those early needs during the pandemic. As a family-owned senior care pharmacy, Jonathan Lu and his team were quick to act to provide the best care possible.

Q&A with Jonathan Lu

What do you most enjoy about what you do?

I’ve been able to make my work part of my life, or to borrow a ikigai. My day-to-day tasks are varied and engaging, whether it’s direct patient care or IT development. While working in pharmacy has been hard these past years with strains on funding and staffing, there is still work to be done and I’ve been lucky enough to have some amazing colleagues and a stellar team that make it happen.

Is there someone who mentored you, or served as a role model?

foster excellence in a pharmacy practice, whether it be through procedures, culture or technology.

Name something you’re really good at, that has nothing to do with pharmacy. I’ve always had a soft spot for the arts. I used to teach violin and I’m a competent enough multiinstrumentalist.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give a young pharmacist who wants to make a difference in their career? Sometimes there is a difference between hard work and smart work.

What’s your favourite way to spend time outside of work? Every day after work I do a workout to be in my body and take a break from my head, which I think has helped me become more resilient, healthy and balanced.

What one judge said:

“In spite of facing huge cutbacks from government, this pharmacy stepped up for one of the most vulnerable sectors to address COVID-specific problems in longterm care—even putting their own health at risk.”

Among numerous initiatives championed by the team was one of the first LTC-specific e-prescribing platforms that let prescribers order and review medications securely and remotely, with nurse access to complete order processing and immediate transmission to pharmacy. As evidence emerged around best practices in COVID-19 care, Silver Fox Pharmacy worked with medical directors and leaders in the space to develop COVID order sets to guide clinical decisions, which were upated as new information came to light. This has included a dedicated Paxlovid order set to guide prescribing, clinical decisions and document eligibility.

The pharmacy also implemented an outbreak on-call pharmacist to support clinical needs after hours, and partnered with Silver Lining Health Care to ensure all their homes received required medical supplies, including surgical masks, N95 masks, gloves, gowns, sanitizer and face shields.

Even when the majority of nursing staff were off due to illness, pharmacy staff went on-site and supported them daily for weeks until staffing stabilized. Having staff on the front lines further highlighted pharmacy’s role in long-term care and its potential to help alleviate and pilot important care decisions.

It’s hard to pick a single role model because I’ve been shaped by a diverse community of people. The ethics of daily life provided by my family inform my work and continuous learning. Colleagues and preceptors have shaped my professional practice. My friends ground me in life, and some motivate me to be a better person.

What is your biggest challenge?

Lately, it’s determining the boundaries of a sustainable and scalable pharmacy practice. The past three years have highlighted the importance of work-life balance and the limits of individual excellence, so it has been a question of how to sustain and

Otherwise, I really enjoy communal activities—I grew up with Italian neighbours and my family have carried the tradition of tomato passata since I was eight years old. One of my favourite annual events is hosting a dumpling- and lantern-making party for my friends.

What’s next for you—any goals or dreams you hope to achieve in the future?

I’m trying to improve my Mandarin and keep my indoor plants alive.

Raise Your Voice

Lindsay Dixon

A credible voice dispelling misinformation

Why she won: It all started in 2020 with a series of videos to combat misinformation circulating around COVID-19. Since then, Lindsay Dixon has posted some 120 videos to her popular Friendly Pharmacy 5 YouTube channel (https:// www.youtube.com/channel/UCFhP_ Yn_5xF0_bRDmaG_5qg), which reached more than one million views in August 2022 and currently has more than 15,500 subscribers. Dixon is using her video platform to empower community members to better understand health issues and advocate for their own health through easy to understand, science-based education that their doctors or other healthcare professionals may not have the time or thought to share.

Dixon’s videos have included more than 30 interviews with healthcare experts from around the world, covering topics such as diabetes remission, childhood vaccination, vitamins and supplements, polypharmacy, seasonal affective disorder and more. She also educates people about the pharmacy profession and the value of the pharmacist through appearances on local news and radio.

Q&A with Lindsay Dixon

What do you most enjoy about what you do?

Every video is an opportunity to create change in the mind of the viewer, to help them understand their health better, and to help them value their pharmacist or healthcare provider that much more. Using storytelling to elevate the role of pharmacists and other healthcare professionals, by providing evidence-based education on a platform where the public is actively searching for solutions to their health problems, is truly the most rewarding part of this work.

What is your biggest challenge?

There are endless possibilities for this type of platform. I have so many ideas every day about what we could do to reach more people and increase our impact, but at the moment there is a very real limit of both time and resources.

Is there someone who mentored you or served as a role model?

I have been privileged to have had many influential leaders in my life. Most recently, I started working with Heart Pharmacy Group in Victoria, B.C. I cannot say enough good things about them and how they treat their people. In particular, President Rasool Rayani has been an incredible mentor and encourager. We meet for 30 minutes every other week and he always seems to be at least 10 steps ahead of me. When you are trying to do something new, there are times when you really need someone with a big vision to remind you of what’s possible.

What advice would you give a young pharmacist who wants to make a difference in their career?

Ask yourself who you want to reach and how you can best serve those people. Stay focused, be generous and always give more than you take. Go after that thing that interests you, even if it seems unconventional. Choosing something now does not mean that you cannot do other things in the future. Find a mentor who believes in you and commit to getting 1% better every day.

What’s your favourite way to spend time outside of work?

I read books about marketing and the creator economy, or listen to podcasts about innovators in healthcare or digital health while I’m exercising. I read the latest news on Canadian Healthcare Network and plan out videos and infographics. The only way I truly turn this off is when I’m busy with my kids. Aside from learning more about all things content creation, and the future of healthcare, my favorite moments are when I’m surrounded by nature while on some type of adventure with my family.

What’s next for you—any goals or dreams you hope to achieve in the future?

Partnering with other innovators in the healthcare industry, launching an audio podcast of the interviews from the channel and creating online courses with subject matter experts are short-term goals. Eventually, I would love to write a book and create a framework to help pharmacy owners and innovators create their own content and get their message out into the world.

What one judge said:

“Phenomenal work!

Her YouTube channel has garnered more than half a million views on one video alone.”

Rising Star

Fairuz Siraj

Empowering patients through education

Why he won: As a recent pharmacy graduate, Fairuz Siraj is already making an indelible impact on both patients and the profession. His unique and comprehensive consultation service for patients with diabetes or those suffering with migraine empowers them with knowledge to optimize their therapy and improve their quality of life.

During migraine consultations, for example, Siraj educates patients on migraine pathophysiology and non-pharmacological measures, then reviews their past and current medication use to assess migraine frequency, severity and risk of medication overuse headache. Based on his assessment, he provides recommendations to the patient’s doctor and/or neurologist to optimize therapy—and follows up to reassess as needed.

What one judge said: “So many accomplishments in so little time; and the impact of his outreach is Canadawide.”

Passionate about inspiring others to move the profession of pharmacy forward, Siraj is now working with Migraine Canada to develop a Migraine Educator Certification for pharmacists. He has been featured in media outlets on how pharmacists can address the primary care access challenges patients are currently facing in B.C., and is a local speaker/educator on chronic disease topics such as diabetes and migraine management.

Q&A with Fairuz Siraj

What do you most enjoy about what you do? I absolutely love patient consultations. This allows me to connect with them, empower them with appropriate knowledge and provide them with multiple medication options. It also gives patients an active role in decisionmaking about managing their conditions. Patients taking ownership in managing their condition is music to my ears.

What is your biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge for most community pharmacists, including myself, is the lack of individual billing codes. The current model for pharmacy cognitive services reimbursement is limited, and unique consultation services such as the ones I provide for migraine management, are not recognized by government and third-party insurance. Furthermore, the lack of individual billing codes means that pharmacists must be attached to a pharmacy to claim reimbursement for cognitive services, which limits our abilities to be entrepreneurs and start our own businesses. I believe that if pharmacists were given individual billing codes, many more would start their own ventures and not be tied down to their dispensing roles.

Is there someone who mentored you, or served as a role model?

There are so many, but here is a short list. Andre Gauthier (Walmart Pharmacy in Hawkesbury, ON.). His ability to connect with patients and his knowledge about therapeutics really inspired me to pursue a career as a pharmacist. Terralyn Scharnatta, (Save-On-Foods in Kelowna, B.C.) was very supportive while I was a student and allowed me to learn, grow and develop skills that I use today. Darin Shaw (Kelowna General Hospital). He shared practical, real-life knowledge that helped me be ready to practise as a pharmacist.

We still keep in touch and talk about patient-centred care.

Name something you’re really good at, that has nothing to do with pharmacy.

I think I’m pretty average at everything. But I do like to think that I’m kind of a comedian and I like making people laugh with a good story. However, if you asked my wife, she would advise me to not quit my day job anytime soon.

What advice would you give a young pharmacist who wants to make a difference ?

However impossible it may seem and whatever the obstacles are, if you believe in yourself, are willing to put in the hard work and are not afraid to fail, you will succeed.

What’s next for you ?

I have a few collaborative projects in mind for chronic disease management that I’m hoping to work on for 2023. The aim is to optimize patients’ chronic disease management and show the value that pharmacists can play in a collaborative setting.

Technician Initiative

Kayla Ross

Spearheading new roles for pharmacy techs in cancer care

Why she won: With her unique team of Drug Access Navigators in Atlantic Canada, pharmacy technician Kayla Ross helps to eliminate financial barriers around medication access so cancer patients can focus on their health and treatment. As hospital employees, navigators work on a referral from the oncology team to investigate and coordinate funding for a patient’s prescribed therapy, staying up to date on drug plan submission processes, temporary drug release programs, and financial assistance options. The ultimate goal is to keep the patient and the oncology team informed, while also keeping the treatment plan moving smoothly.

With no formal training for this role, most navigators learn on the job. In 2020, Ross became the co-founder and vice president for Atlantic Canada Oncology Drug Access Navigators Association (https://acodana.ca), a not-for-profit organization with a goal to improve the quality and availability of

What one judge said:

“This is a great ‘best practice’ that is shareable and shows real innovation and leadership.” oncology drug access navigator services throughout the region. Since its inception, the group has been instrumental in standardizing the role of oncology navigators in the region. Its website features education opportunities and information-sharing, as well as resources for cancer patients/their families, healthcare professionals and plan and program representatives. Since Ross become the first Drug Access Navigator in Nova Scotia in 2015, there are now a total of 22 navigators across the province (18 of whom have a pharmacy technician background) and counting!

Q&A with Kayla Ross

What do you most enjoy about what you do?

Helping others, specifically cancer patients! The role of the Drug Access Navigator has endless opportunities. Finding innovative ways to help patients gain access and funding for their treatment lifts one of the many burdens these patients and family bear—and I am happy to be a part of this.

What is your biggest challenge?

Being in a unique role means that there is no specific education to prepare for it. However, this is also one of the many reasons I love this role. You must be self-motivated, passionate and driven as you learn on the job.

Is there someone who served as a role model?

As I was the first Drug Access Navigator here in Nova Scotia, I owe many thanks to the large body of drug navigators in Ontario who helped me navigate this new role, specifically Alan Birch and Amy Pilon. These individuals helped me bring more accessible access to Cancer patients here in NS.

What’s your favourite way to spend time outside of work?

I am a single mom to a beautiful little girl. Most of my time is spent running around to different activities such as dance! I also enjoy volunteering to support other navigators and cancer patients through the Atlantic association, where I am the co-founder and hold the role of Director of Education.

Name something you’re really good at that has nothing to do with pharmacy.

Event planning and do-it-yourself craft projects!

What’s one piece of advice you’d give a young pharmacy technician who wants to make a difference in their career?

The opportunities are endless! Don’t stop looking for your dream job until you find it!

What’s next for you?

I hope to see a course developed for pharmacy technicians and others who want to further their education and become a Drug Access Navigator. Furthermore, I hope to be involved in creating this course. I think if more pharmacy technicians knew about this, it would help expand this role within many parts of the healthcare system, which in turn helps patients and families with the burden of a cancer diagnosis.

Learning objectives

After completion of this continuing education lesson participants should:

1. Know the prevalence of hypoglycemia in Canadians with type 1 and type 2 diabetes treated with insulin

2. Know the difference between mild, moderate, and severe hypoglycemia

3. Be comfortable with asking patients with diabetes if they are experiencing hypoglycemia

4. Know how much carbohydrate is used to treat hypoglycemia and know the two options for glucagon

5. Be able to offer options to prevent future episodes of hypoglycemia

Instructions

1. After carefully reading this lesson, review the test questions. Answer online at eCortex.ca.

2. To pass the test and earn your continuing education credit(s), a grade of at least 70% (5 out of 6) is required.

3. Complete the required course feedback at eCortex.ca.

Disclosures

The author and expert reviewers have each declared that there is no real or potential conflict of interest with the sponsor of this CE lesson.