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Organized by our lovely Co-VP Socials SYDNEY FACETTE & BROOKLYN SMITH
The 1st years’ performance
packed a big punch with their striking choreography! Dancing to Fly Girl by FLO, they wowed the audience with their moves!
Paying homage to their IBD lectures, the 2nd years’ Rumpelstiltskinumab skit got a laugh out of everyone. Vincent Chiang’s impressive vocal work really sold the act!
The 3rd years took a jab at the other years punches it just had to be perfect for Goldilocks! Turns out, she preferred the 3rd year punch!
The 4th years’ loyal yet humourous reenactment of the I Need a Hero scene from Shrek 2 sure left an impression on the audience! Despite being separated by distance, they took home the prize of Best Punch for this year.
By: Nick Yamamoto
THANKS TO ALL THE SOCIAL REPS FOR ORGANIZING THE PUNCH BOWL SKITS!
Pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare professionals,andwithAlbertanpharmacistshavingthe
largestscopeofpracticeinCanada(betyouhaven’theardthat onebefore),patientsandthehealthcaresystemalikesurely appreciateus Ontheoffchancethatyouoryourpharmacy peers are feeling underappreciated, there is always PAM: PharmacyAppreciationMonth(alsoknownasMarch)!PAMis anannualmonthlycelebrationofpharmacy,ledbylocalCAPSI representatives Zach Yopek-Stabel and Angela Zhao, the PAMcommittee,andotherhelpfulAPSAmembersTheaimis toeducatestudentsonthecurrentworldofpharmacy,while alsohostingavarietyofstressrelievingactivitiestooffer supportthroughoutthesemester Moststudentsarefamiliar withtheLunchandLearns,bringingamultitudeoftopics includingpresentationsfromcommunitypharmaciessuchas RexallandPharmasave However,thisyearinparticular,there weresomefeaturepresentationsbroughttoyoubyAPSAaffiliatedclubs
Arelativelynewgroupthatwasfeaturedinthis month'sPAMsproceedingswas pharmacystudents 4mentalhealth.Iinterviewedcurrentpresident TianyiWangforsomeinsightontheclub.
Canyoutellusabitmoreabouttheclubsorigins?Whendiditstart,andwhatwasthe visionforPharmacystudents4mentalhealth?
Thisclubfirststartedwhenagroupoffriendswithapassionformentalhealthcametogether andrecognizedthatthereweregapsinmentalhealthcareforpharmacystudentsand educationforusasfuturehealthcareprovidersBothpersonalexperiencesandstruggles,as wellasthedesiretolearnmoreaboutmentalhealthmotivatedustoformthisclubWe recognizedthatdespitethegreatstridesbothbytheUniversityandtheFacultytofoster awarenessaboutmentalhealth,thereisstillalongwaytogowhenitcomestodestigmatizing theseconversations.Soinlatewinterof2023,wecametogetherandstartedthisclub,with greatandmuchappreciatedsupportfromAPSA,FoPPS,andevenfacultymembers
Ourvisionistoempowerallpharmacystudentstobeabletosupportmentalhealthfor themselves,theirpeers,andtheirpatientsWewanttopromotetheimportantrolethat pharmacistsplayasprovidersofcareformentalhealth,andplayaroleindestigmatizing conversationsaroundmentalhealth.
Whataretheclub'scurrentgoalsandhowareyouhelpingthepharmacycommunity?
Ourcurrentfocushasbeenincreasingeducationanddiscussionsurroundingmentalhealth.Weran asocialmediachallengeaskingpharmacystudentshowtheytakecareoftheirmentalhealth.We hoped,throughthischallenge,forpharmacystudentstolookintrospectivelyintohowtheytake careofthemselvesandtoremindthemoftheimportanceofprioritizingthemselvesandtheir mentalhealth,especiallyinsuchabusyanddemandingprofessionalprogram [DuringPAM2024],weinvitedtheCentreforSuicidePreventiontospeakontherolethat pharmacistsplayinsuicideprevention,mythsandfactsaboutsuicide,whoisimpacted,andsteps tobeginconversationsaroundsuicide.
Iunderstandyourclubcollaboratedforacommunityeducationevent—couldyoutellmea bitmoreaboutthat?
OurgoalsforcollaboratingwithCommunityEducationweretoincreaseconversationaroundmental healthinourcommunity,educateandnormalizetheseconversationsforyouth,helpdecrease stigma,andpromotethepharmacyprofessionbyhighlightingthewaysthatpharmacistscanhelp individualsstrugglingwithmentalhealth
Ourteamconductedresearcharounddifferenttypesofmentalillnesses,howtheypresent,how theydifferfromregularnegativeemotions,statistics,selfcaremethods,andcommunityresources aroundEdmontonthatyouthcanreachouttoiftheyneedhelp.Fromthereweconsolidateditinto apresentationthattweensandteenscanunderstandandengagewith.
Inwhatwayscaninterestedstudentsgetinvolvedwith thisclub,andhowshouldtheycontactyou?
Unfortunately,wegotlockedoutofouremail �� sothebest waystocontactuswouldbetodmusonInstagram @/pharmacystudents4mentalhealth(atrociouslylong handle,Iknow),emailingme(twang7@ualberta.ca)or shootingamemessagethroughFacebook(TianyiWang)
Ourteamismostlythirdandfourthyearsrightnow,and mostofusaregoingtobeleavingnextyear!Therewillbe plentyofleadershippositions,creativeopportunities,event planningopportunities,andmoreIt’llbeagreatwayto learnmoreskills,promoteourprofession,andgivebackto thecommunityAndofcourse,Iwillbetheretosupport newmembersandtheteam.
Onenotablepresentationwasgivenbythe newlyfoundedMuslimPharmacyStudents’ Club (MPSC) This group has been in development for a while, and were very excited tobringatalkonmanagingpatientprescriptions duringRamadan IwasabletospeakwithHadeel Mohamed,theclassof2025representative fortheclubtogetsomemoreinformation
TellmeabitabouttheMPSCandwhatinspiredyouandtheteamtocreateit.
AsSalaamuAlaykum/PeaceBeUponYou!TheMuslimPharmacyStudents’Clubwasfoundedthispast FebruaryaftermanyMuslimstudentsinthefacultyidentifiedaneedforacommunityoflike-minded ystudents
llintegratedintoourdailyhabitsand timesaday.Oneareaofconcern rs,andhencesoughtanadvocacybody graminclusiveofourneeds
!HavingacommunityofMuslim ongingTheMPSChopestocreate onandcareers involved?
fferentwaysforstudentstoget eachingouttoanexecutivemember, mMPSCmemberswillbeinformedof ntinuestogrow.Whilemembershipin pentoeveryonefromdiversefaithsand achclass,aswellasonehonorary theircontactinformationbelow!
C2024:AazarHameed(sahameed@ualberta.ca)
C2025:HadeelMohamed(hymohame@ualberta.ca)
C2026:AminahAssaf(assaf@ualbertaca)
C2027:AmmarBurhani(maburhan@ualbertaca)
HonoraryExecutive:HananAbdullahi
GraphicDesign/SocialMediaCoordinator:LeenaAnwar
This March PAM organizers brought in Sheezyla Sajwani, Co-Chair for the Canadian Association of Pharmacy for the Environment (CAPhE) Dr Sajwani’s presentation involved an overview of the current climate crisis, how pharmacy is contributing to it, and what we can do on a personal level to mitigate climate change. She prefaced her talk with the fact that the world is not on track for the Paris Climate agreement to stop world warming at 1.5-2 degrees by 2050. As a result, intensification of mitigation efforts needs to be taking place on all levels of pharmacy practice
You might be wondering why as a healthcare practitioner it would be pertinent for pharmacists to care about the environment, and this is a valid question and concern. However, there is ample evidence showing that climate change is going to increase ailments in most major body systems Examples that are relevant to Alberta are the consequences of wildfires and the prevalent impacts of the worsening heat dome. It does not come as a shock to most that winters are becoming shorter and more mild, and summers increasingly dry. Wildfire conditions are starting earlier and lasting longer, and with wildfires come the consequences of asthma and COPD complications, and longer, more intense allergy seasons, among others. Increased heat has implications for a wide range of cardiovascular conditions, including blood pressure, and increasing rates of heat stroke. It is important to note as well, that in North America, Indigenous and Black communities are disproportionately impacted by negative consequences of climate change
Prescription and OTC medications together represent over 25% of the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that the pharmaceutical industry is responsible for annually GHG emissions are directly linked to heart attack and stroke, as well as contributing to global heating in general. One example of how pharmacists can mitigate GHG emissions is in switching inhaler prescriptions. Metered dose inhalers come with canisters that are pressurized, and each inhaler comes with an increased carbon footprint compared to dry powder inhalers, which involve the patient inhaling the product through their lungs.
At this point, you may be wondering what you, as a student, can do to help. When I asked Dr. Sajwani how students could get involved, she said that there are plenty of opportunities for students to volunteer with CAPHE and even cater their roles to what they are passionate about. This could look like creating infographics to be circulated, or even conducting literature reviews and writing articles on the findings. They do have social media platforms, but it would be best to contact them through their website directly! Go to caphe.ca to learn more.
The Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (CSHP) is a professional organization representing pharmacists who practice in hospitals and other collaborative healthcare settings across Canada Founded in 1943, CSHP aims to advance pharmacy practice and patient care through education, advocacy, and research.
The CSHP Alberta Branch is a regional CSHP branch serving the province of Alberta. As a branch of CSHP, its mission aligns with that of the national organization: to promote excellence in pharmacy practice, education, and research to optimize patient outcomes within healthcare settings.
The Alberta Branch hosts the CSHP Banff Seminar annually The event is held in the Banff Centre for the Arts, a leading arts, cultural, and educational institution The seminar is one of CSHP's flagship events, attracting hospital pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and other healthcare professionals from across
The CSHP Banff Seminar had some interesting Keynote Speakers. I had the pleasure to introduce Amy Lamb and listen to her discussion on Indigenous Led Pharmacy Practice in Saskatchewan. Amy spoke about her experiences as a Métis woman and how pharmacy practitioners can better meet the needs of Indigenous patients. I also had the opportunity to sit through a riveting discussion on some recent systematic reviews. Anthony Kapelke, a U of A Faculty of Pharmacy alum, presented four current ‘hot-button’ EBM topics on HFpEF, SGLT-2 inhibitors in CKD treatment, semaglutide use, and emerging HIV treatments Overall, I thought each of the trials were summarized well and presented in a very simple format I enjoyed hearing the brief refreshers on what superiority vs non-inferiority trials were, and how to evaluate them from a student perspective, I felt like I was re-listening to some of the BASE lectures! I liked the friendly academic banter from audience members in this seminar and some of the other seminars. Many participants were quick to point out gaps in some of the studies, such as the tolerability of 2 mg semaglutide or the feasibility of implementing dalbavancin in practice.
Panel Session - Breaking Barriers: Empowering Feedback in Healthcare Training - Strategies, Solutions and Self Reflections
The Role of the Pharmacist in the Opioid Crisis Ketamine for Major Depressive Disorder
Indigenous Led Pharmacy Practice
Pharmacy and Climate Change
Staphylococcus Aureus Infection and Antimicrobial-specific Tips and Tricks
We are a group of students aiming to grow in our Christian faith as we journey in the PharmD program and profession. We strive to create a safe space with peer support and a community built upon compassion, love, and faithfulness reflected in our Christian faith.
Anyone is welcome to join! Whether you are just curious about Christianity, or want to discuss life's big questions through a Biblical lens we would love to have you!
We meet on a bi-weekly to monthly basis during lunch hour (usually Mondays) in a PBL. This year, we have been focusing on the series "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry", which makes a case for an un-hurried life, and healthy productivity.
DespitemanypeopleknowingEasterasafunholidaywithacutebunnyandanegghunt,Christianscelebrate EasterwithadifferentperspectiveGoodFridaysignifiesthedeathofourSaviourJesusChristonthecross asasacrificeforthesinsofhumanity.Inbrief,ChristiansbelievethatJesusistheSonofGod,senttoEarthin humanform,torescueusfromoursinandcorruptionInsteadofwelcominghimliketheSaviourthatthey hadbeenwaitingfor,Jesuswastreatedlikeanoutcast,andpeopleplottedagainsthim;evenoneofhis friends/disciples(JudasIscariot)betrayedhim.Jesuswasarrested,humiliated,andhungonthecrossaform ofdeathreservedonlyforslavesandtheworstcriminals.Jesus'deathisoftenreferredtoasan"offering" becauseHediedinourplacesothatwecanpresentourselvesasholyandblamelessbeforeGod.However,the storydoesnotendhereOnthethirdday,EasterSunday,Jesusdefeatsthepowerofsinanddeathandis raisedtolife.Afterhisresurrection,Jesusspendsthenext40daysonEarthteachingandministering,before ascendingtoHeavenJesus'resurrectioniskeytotheChristianfaithbecauseitmeansthatwearesetfree fromthebondageofsin,andwehavethefreedomtolivelifeinharmonywithGod.ThisistheGoodNews (Gospel)forChristiansanddeeplyaffectsourvaluesandhowweliveoureverydaylives.
TolearnmoreabouttheBiblicalstoryofEaster,youcanrefertothefollowingpassagesintheBible:
Matthewchapter26-28
Markchapter14-16
Luke chapter 22-24
John chapter 18-21
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
WhenisEastercelebrated?TheresurrectioniscelebratedonthefirstSundayfollowingthefullmoonafter thevernalequinoxonMarch21.
HowlongisEaster?Contrarytopopularbelief,Easterisn'tjustaonedaycelebration,Easterisa50-day season.
Please email xueyan5@ualberta.ca if you have any questions related to Christianity or would like to connect!
PieintheFace
By: Joseph Lam and Nick Yamamoto
The International Transgender Day of Visibility falls on March 31 each year. It is meant to celebrate transgender individuals, in addition to bringing attention to the discrimination that transgender individuals have and continue to face. Transgender patients are disproportionately affected by mental health conditions (among others) and healthcare providers are pivotal in resolving these disparities. “Inclusive care ” is a model for care that focuses on addressing discrimination against racial, sexual and gender minorities in the next page, Joseph Lam speaks to what this entails to him in the context of providing care for queer patients.
Queer and Trans Health Collective
A local organization promoting equity and positive wellbeing within the queer and trans community.
Rainbow Health
An Ontario-based resource covering topics affecting 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, including provision of gender-affirming care and hormone pharmacotherapeutics.
There’s a quote by Andrea Gibson, award-winning queer poet and activist, that I still find beautiful so many years later: “I don’t have a single plan in my life more important than learning to love people well.”
When I imagine inclusive care, I think of the night light my dad bought me at 13 years old when I told him I was still scared of sleeping alone in the dark. I was not out yet to him, or to my friends, or to my best friend who, even then, I suspected would have loved me the same anyway. Despite my dad’s insistence that I was too old for it, I came back from school to a red-lantern style nightlight I still keep to this day (but no longer works).
To that end, I believe that inclusive care is mindfulness of the people around you. For queer, trans, and gender-diverse folks, pharmacists are often the first point of contact into a healthcare system that is still underpowered in terms of studies and support for these patient groups. As healthcare professionals invested in the holistic health of our patients, care includes seeing and hearing all aspects of a person in our care. These actions can include visible signs of support, such as displaying pride flags at our workplaces and pronouns on our name tags. This idea also extends to being knowledgeable on counseling patients on gender affirming care and familiarizing ourselves with hormone therapies, administration techniques, and associated supplies. Another aspect to consider is normalizing conversations around inclusive-care, like asking for pronouns, preferred names, and giving patients the option of extra privacy should they need it when they come in for care.
At its core, I think pharmacy is an insistence on standing up for and serving the people in our community. This could not be more so for trans and gender-diverse folks. On this International Transgender Day of Visibility, I hope we can not just honour, but celebrate trans and non-binary people everywhere, and reflect on how loving and caring for people can look like everywhere.
The LGBTQ+ Pharmacy Students’ Club provides a safe space for queer pharmacy students and are involved in supporting and advocating for queer students. Follow them on Instagram at @uofa_lgbtq_phsc or reach out at sgottsch@ualberta.ca or cgphilip@ualberta.ca!
University of Alberta alum, Jennifer Lockwood (Vu)
graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy in 2009 and Doctor of Pharmacy in 2021. She has been with Alberta Health Services (AHS) since her fourth-year and is currently a Clinical Practice Leader (CPL) that supports clinical pharmacy practice provincially. Jennifer worked at the pharmacist led ambulatory clinic, Edmonton Cardiology Consultants, and has pursued her interest in education through facilitating cardiology seminars at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Jennifer graduated when Alberta pharmacists’ scope of practice was the broadest in Canada and clinical pharmacy services were acknowledged with compensation. Placements during COVID-19 validated how her expanded scope of practice continues to improve patient health outcomes.
What motivated you to pursue the hospital route?
The pharmacists that mentored-me: professors, preceptors, managers, and CPLs. They inspired me through their innovative approaches to better pharmacy practice. I was also motivated to explore the application of clinical skills in a variety of areas outside of my comfort zone. I enjoy group work where different perspectives and feedback are shared to facilitate learning -A fourth-year pharmacy placement with Dr Stacey Ginther in gynecologic oncology at the Royal Alex further inspired me. I was not proficient with the therapeutic knowledge but found this experience the most gratifying because I gained a better understanding of patient- and family-centered care when I had to appreciate how patients’ values and preferences are needed to determine their goals of therapy. I learned a deeper level of empathy and gratitude, and how to treat others with respect and dignity, which have extended into all facets of my life.
Having worked as a cardiology pharmacist, is there anything you would say that makes this specialty unique?
My primary clinical practice was cardiovascular intensive care (CICU) and my secondary clinical practice was neonatal intensive care (NICU). Both clinical practices were
on an integrated-multidisciplinary teaching team and effective communication was paramount to collaboration. The patient’s immediate and continuous need for intervention and monitoring required the pharmacist to anticipate problems rapidly in an environment that was dynamic with quick turnover Knowledge of life support to identify critical care needs even if it was not within the pharmacist’s scope or competence to perform was an asset. These were specialized practices but having learners on our team not in pharmacy challenged my understanding when having to translate complex concepts into something comprehensible enough to manage. More valuable than the similarities were the differences between the practices that allowed me to broaden the application of my critical care knowledge and skills. CICU had a vast body of evidence to access, did not require the pharmacist to perform order verification, and practice was based on prevention and treatment of modifiable risk factors.
What does a typical work day look like for you?
The CPL role provides leadership in developing and implementing strategies for clinical pharmacy practice advancement throughout AHS Pharmacy Services. We ensure policies, procedures, standards, and new programs support best clinical practice.
We serve as a resource in our clinical area of specialty, and support research and scholarly contributions. We work in teams to provide clinical support, mentorship, and clinical training.
What attributes would make someone successful in this position?
Learning how to move forward when working with an unprecedented situation that’s compounded with uncertainty --Anticipating scenarios to develop creative solutions. Being adaptable as your role and responsibilities will inevitably change in an environment that is dynamic and requires advancement to meet continually increasing demands. Recognizing the importance of relationships and how to build teams as broad as provincial operations and as narrow as your clinical practice. Providing support when proximity is challenging. Engaging stakeholders when it is outside of your profession. Flexibility with how you lead, mentor, or train Understanding your outlook, the way in which you make decisions, and how you are perceived by other.
What do you find most rewarding and most challenging about your role?
The most rewarding aspect of my role as a CPL is the provincial perspective –approaching clinical practice concerns with a broad lens to understand their reach and connecting with the right stakeholders to ensure alignment with expectations The most challenging aspect is how to triage the limited pharmacy resources when faced with competing clinical priorities provincially and at the site level.
What advice do you have for students considering a hospital career?
Reflect on your reasoning and challenge that belief by listening to multiple perspectives from those in positions you are aspiring to. Broaden your experience by selecting placements and employment in areas that are
knowledge to a patient. Explore hospital pharmacy services opportunities beyond clinical practice, such as distribution, leadership, and drug utilization and information stewardship etc. Be inquisitive and approach both new and old knowledge and skills with curiosity to evaluate your practice and constantly grow. Seek feedback and reflect to develop insight on how to improve by learning strategies for continual learning as a professional. Prioritize team meetings and educational opportunities
different and challenging. Recognize that you don’t need to start off with advanced knowledge of a disease or drug in order to participate in a patient’s care. What is more valuable to providing good quality pharmacy care is consistently learning how to identify knowledge gaps, how to then close them and apply that
By: Haleema PannuBaked by: Nick Yamamoto and Laura Huynh
Inspiration from: www.kurashiru.com
PLAIN MOCHI:
80 g glutinous rice flour
40 g sugar
90 mL water
MATCHA MOCHI:
80 g glutinous rice flour
40 g sugar
120 mL water
6 g matcha powder
TOPPINGS:
175-200 mL evaporated milk
3 strawberries
200 g red bean (if desired)
Condensed milk to taste
1. Add all dry ingredients and mix well (2 bowls for each type of mochi).
2. Add water as required for each portion and mix well.
3. Wrap the top of the bowl with saran wrap and heat in microwave for 60 seconds at a time. Between each heating, mix/stir the mixture well. Heat until the mixture is elastic and bouncy.
4. Over a cutting board, spread a light layer of glutinous rice flour and roll the mochi flat until 2-3 mm thick.
5. Cut the mochi into square and/or triangular pieces with scissors.
6. Place a bed of red bean at the bottom of the bowl (if desired), then stack the mochi pieces into preferred arrangement.
7. Pour desired amount of evaporated milk.
8. Dice the strawberries and place them on the edge of the bowl in a circle around the mochi.
9. Drizzle condensed milk and sprinkle matcha powder to taste.
rotation tips (Good luck with your rotations! You got this!)
Reachouttoyour preceptor(s)early andintroduce yourself.
keepasmall notebooktowrite downquestions andnotes.
a big thank you to our sponsor: Contact:
takecareof yourfeetand wearcomfy shoes!
reachouttoupper yearswhohave experienceatthat site.(excelsheet)
whenindoubt, askyour preceptor(s) andpeers!
