Change Is Our Only Constant

The field of pharmacy is expanding at a rapid pace, and the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is transforming right alongside it. As the only school of pharmacy in Alberta for more than 100 years, our scope of teaching and research is growing to meet the needs of the diverse communities across this province and beyond, and to match the pace of change in our industry. Today, we are focused on preparing our learners for the workforce of tomorrow so that they can become true partners in advancing the profession of pharmacy. Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, our faculty has developed new programs that have already begun to flourish. anks to our dedicated sta from both academic and administrative areas — and our passionate preceptors — we have successfully introduced the entryto-practice Doctor of Pharmacy program (PharmD) and the Certificate to Canadian Pharmacy Practice (CCPP).

I’m very proud of the entry-topractice PharmD program, and of our very first cohort, which graduated this year. Designed to prepare graduates for the scope of pharmacist practice in Alberta, the

PharmD program o ers several pathways to practice, through in-person and online options, for new learners and for professionals returning to upgrade their skills. Meanwhile, in partnership with the Alberta College of Pharmacy, the CCPP supports the transition to practice for internationally trained pharmacists both here in Alberta and in other Canadian markets.

Along with these fantastic new programs, we are also bolstering our other degree programs with more opportunities for students to take part in team-based learning and gain valuable industry experience, while ensuring a strong focus on equity, diversity, inclusion and Indigeneity (EDII) in our teaching and research, which will translate to more culturally appropriate patient care.

We couldn’t do any of this without the robust alumni community that continues to support our faculty in so many ways — as mentors to the next generation of professionals and researchers, as donors to our programs, as leaders in the field. I’m filled with gratitude for the relationship we have with our alumni.

As I look ahead to the coming year, there is much to look forward to in our faculty. We will embrace the growth in opportunities for interdisciplinarity and collaboration within the College of Health Sciences at the University of Alberta and beyond. We will continue to share our research discoveries with the community and invest in preparing our learners for a bright future. And through it all, we hope to be able to gather in person as o en as we can, to connect with each other and with you as we celebrate our successes together.

Christine Hughes, ’94 BSc(Pharm) Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

PHOTO BY JOHN ULAN