Pq february 2016

PQ PLUS 2

FEB 2016

Just me, myself and I

page 16

How to spend Valentine’s with only yourself for company.

PRESENTED BY OUR TITLE SPONSOR:

PHARMACARE SPECIALTY PHARMACIES

IN THIS ISSUE SAMPLE

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White Coat Ceremony 2019 Congratulations Class of 2019! You are now fully fledged pharmacy professionals with the honor of wearing the white coat... the dubious honor...?

COVER PHOTO CREDITS: LAPINDA CHITNUYANONDH & JILL BREEN

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Learn more about Immunoglobulin Y and it’s implications in celiac disease

No bae to spend V-day with? Spend it with yourself!

Who is your most compatible pharmacy hottie? Find out!

Dr. Sunwoo

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This year’s gathering was by the gorgeous waters of Niagara Falls - what did UofA students think?

The most common questions we’re asked, now answered for you!

Solve our crossword and send in your answers for some awesome prizes :)

PDW

Pharmacy Student FAQs

Valentine’s Crossword

FLICKR IMAGES: BALA SIVAKUMAR, SPARKY, PAT GUINEY, PETER MACDONALD Disclaimer: Any opinions or viewpoints published are directly from the contributing authors and do not represent the philosophy or viewpoints of the Faculty of Pharmacy or the University of Alberta.

ies this issue including Victoria’s Valentine’s day routine, Days in the Lives, and as always, quizzes and contests. As always, if you have an idea for something you want to see in the next issue, let us know!

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Pharmacy Hottie Quiz

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Editors' notes

I hope everyone has had a great start to the new semester. For those who have kept on track with their New Year’s resolutions, kudos to you! There are lots of good-

Single Girl’s V-day Routine

GHASAK HUSSAIN

Hello all! I know you’ve all been eagerly anticipating this PQ issue (you have... haven’t you?) and it’s even better than before, if I do say so myself!

There are a lot of fun articles in this issue, including a sequal to the popular Day-in-the-life-of-Victoria Valentine’s edition - as well some beautiful photos from those who attended PDW 2016 in Niagara Falls and Class of 2019’s White Coat Ceremony.

Good luck to all those with

midterms (everyone, right?), and remember, if you ever get stuck, procrastinate a bit with our Valentine’s Crossword :) WINNIE LO

APSA CALENDAR Although this is a belated greeting - welcome back to school! We are a month in and in the midst of midterms - but do not despair!

We have reading week this month for some R&R.

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PQ DESIGN AND LAYOUT BY WINNIE LO

You can find us on Facebook at PQ PlusTwo or Instagram @pqplustwo

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 3

APSA

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

BY HELEN MARIN, APSA President me, or we can even set up a meeting over some white wine (please note that I am not talking about drinking on school property, but at a restaurant for example...it’s always important to clarify...)

Welcome back to another semester!

I hope you were all able to refuel during the holidays, because it’s time to get back into the groove of things.

For this issue of the PQ, I decided to include random pictures of my furry fami- ly members. At least if you don’t end up reading the president’s message you will still get to see my adorable animals and possibly glimpse at some of the words (it’s like pet therapy!).

I am excited (and to be honest, a little bit nervous) to be your president throughout the year. I hope you all know that if you have any suggestions, feedback, or comments, you can just Facebook message me, email PHOTO CREDITS: HELEN MARIN

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First things first: elections will be coming up soon: in March, to be exact. One piece of advice I can offer you is to get involved with your profession. There are several ways to get involved, from running for an APSA position, starting a student initiative for APSA members, attending any of the many events in our faculty, or even joining another great student group! Stay tuned for more information!  Secondly, pharmacy can be stressful and overwhelming so here are a few tips: 1.Your grades will not determine if you will be a good pharmacist.

2.Do something that makes you happy (dance classes, jogging, Netflix or reading a novel).

3.Don’t take yourself too seriously.

4.Help each other out. Yes we

are curved, but if you reread #1 you can see it’s not all about the grades. Helping each other will just make everyone’s journey a little easier.

5. And like I told the first years during their white coat ceremony: always remember that you are more than enough.

I look forward to conversing with you throughout the semester, during all the activities APSA council has planned, or even the Tim Hortons line-up!

Helen Marin hmarin@ualberta.ca

PHARMACY SUPERHEROES

PHARMACY SUPERHEROES Sabrina Lorico She has the BEST baking and always has a smile on her face.

But seriously her baking. Like has a pharmacy- bakery hybrid been created yet... #businessplancompetition

Who is extra-super-amazing in our faculty? Here are this month’s heroes both big and small.

Mikhail Surgent

Alyssa Aco She is always the warmest & kindest person to be around. The world gets a little bit brighter with her around!

Karlson Kennedy

She ALWAYS brings the class treats (Tim Horton’s, etc.) for no other reason than to do something nice. Mikhail always has a smile on her face and a nice thing to say. Her presence has been a ray of sunshine for the whole class.

Cindy Wu

...has blessed me with love and compassion and stuff.

For her cheer, good humor, and compassion for everyone who crosses her path.

Jessica Huynh

James Tao

...from the class of 2017 -- we don’t talk much, but you seem like such an awesome & genuine person!

...has blessed me with kindness and generosity. He always finds a way to brighten my day.

And this issue’s winner: ALIAKSANDR SAVIN Thank you Aliaksander S for driving me home that one night! You saved me an hour and a half of bussing so thanks again, you’re a real rockstar!

From your friendly neighbor :)

Submit a hero you know for our next issue at: tinyurl.com/pq2-questions

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 05

WHITE COAT CEREMONY 2019 FORMATTING BY WINNIE LO

PHOTO CREDITS: LAPINDA CHITNUYANONDH & JILL BREEN

WHITE COAT

BY YUSUF NASIHI

What the white coat appears to be

What the white coat really is

A linen garment to be worn by pharmacists and pharmacy students

#PharmacySwag

An important piece of clothing for the next three years

Something that will cost you a letter grade because you forgot to bring it to lab on occasion

The continuation of a tradition

A white piece of clothing that can easily get stained

A representation of extensive academic training

A symbol of prestige over the general public

A symbol of membership to an exclusive faculty

We have three years left A symbol of serious responsibility to the general public A symbol of shared experiences among friends and colleagues

OFFICE HOURS WITH

DR. HOON SUNWOO

BY YUSUF NASIHI

Dr. Hoon Sunwoo is a biotechnologist and poultry immunologist who has spent over twenty years on antibody research.

After working in the private sector pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Sunwoo settled in Edmonton at our very own Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. You may recognize him from his oneoff lecture in the first year course Pharm 321 or his own nutrition course, Pharm 327.

My conversation with Professor Hoon Sunwoo started out where a great many ideas have been exchanged – the line up at Tim Hortons in the Katz Building.

He started off with a somewhat surprising comment. He told me that he was also involved in the student press while he was an undergraduate. Dr. Sunwoo worked on editing articles back when this process was done by hand. A lot has changed, but Dr. Sunwoo says that student journalists are still in a unique position because they do not answer to any organizations or interests.

For someone with so much success, which will be explained shortly, I had to ask: “Why Edmonton?” The professor explained that the city is close to all sorts of industry relevant to his projects. It would appear that Edmonton was not just a good place to do poultry research but the best place. The chicken farms needed for producing eggs, the facilities needed for cracking hundreds of thousands of eggs; these are all within reach of the University of Alberta. The whole process takes place on an industrial scale even though the important biological material in each egg is on

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the order of milligrams.

Edmonton is also where Dr. Sunwoo did his PhD on poultry immunology. Using chickens as a host for producing antibodies was known before Dr. Sunwoo appeared on the scene, but his development of techniques greatly increased the amount of relevant antibody produced in the yolk

To this day, Dr. Sunwoo is the only one who has mastered these techniques.

Having been featured both on radio and in print, a lot of the focus of the national media has been on Dr. Sunwoo’s contributions to finding a treatment for the symptoms of celiac disease.

Indeed, this particular research started when Dr. Sunwoo analyzed the intestines of a chicken. The chicken had antibodies to gluten, a protein in wheat, barley and rye, the consumption of which causes celiac disease. Surprised that even chickens could have their own form of celiac disease, the professor now knew that inciting a chicken’s body to produce antibodies to gluten proteins was possible. It is also worth noting that Canada is one of the only countries in which chickens are fed wheat-based feed instead of corn-based feed.

Immunoglobulin Y

The formation of the antibody Immunoglobulin Yolk (IgY) is based on what molecular structures (antigens) the hen’s immune system is stimulated by.

The yolks of the eggs from those hens contain some amount of any antibody that the hen herself produces and the scientist can

choose what antigens to expose the hen to. Isolated and made into a powder, the antibodies in these yolks have many applications.

So in this manner, Dr. Sunwoo’s laboratory has developed many different products.

One application is the antibacterial IgY. The cell walls of an E. coli cell, for example, cause the hen to make antibodies that are specific to those cell wall components. These antibodies pass from the hen to the egg and are taken from the egg yolk to be made into a powder that can be spread onto raw meat. Of course, the E.coli in the meat would still be consumed when the meat is eaten. But those cell wall structures which usually interact with the gastrointestinal tract and cause disease would be already bound to antibodies and have no interaction with the cells of the digestive tract.

The E.coli thus pass through the body and cause no harm.

This application has seen use as a powder to spread over meat on cruise ships as well as a supplement for those affected by natural disasters. For example, after suffering a tsunami, people in Bangladesh took supplements containing these antibodies in order to neutralize any pathogens in the contaminated water supply.

In the context of celiac disease, the antibody produced by the hen is complementary to gliadin, a protein in gluten. Giladin causes problems when it is presented by certain alleles of the HLA-DQ major histocompatibility complex by antigen presenting cells. In this class II MHC, gliadin is recognized

by T helper cells, which go on to produce an increase in inflammation as well as instruct B cells to produce

PHOTO CREDITS: GREG SOUTHAM EDMONTON JOURNAL

RESEARCH Gluten – there’s an app for that?

antibodies to gluten and antibodies to self-proteins, the origin of autoimmune diseases.

Giladin bound to an antibody does not interact with the small intestine and passes through the body. This natural health product is planned to be taken in a capsule and is set to undergo clinical trials in summer of this year.

It is also worth mentioning that, as a product derived from chicken eggs, the only known counterindication is having an allergy to agar.

Canadian media have focused mostly on the celiac disease applications, but in Asia, IgY for neutralization of the bacterium Heliobacter pylori has had more attention. Dr. Sunwoo tells me this type of IgY has been added to yogurt in Japan.

East Asia has less of a focus on celiac disease for a good reason.

The disease is nearly unknown there, as rice has no gluten at all.

Dr. Sunwoo explained that growing rice requires a lot of rainfall; rainfall that most parts of Europe simply do not have. For this reason these two parts of the world have very different agricultural practices.

Not to be restricted to the world of antibodies and chickens, Dr. Sunwoo wants to eventually have a phone app developed. His idea for an app would let the user take a picture and find out how much gluten is contained in the product. So far he’s built a database for products at many food outlets, like Tim Hortons and Olive Garden. “I want people to take a picture of the food and then the app will show them how much gluten is in it – 20 grams. Ok, I need to take two capsules.”

And it was at that point that I realized the significance behind us both having ordered a bagel at Tim’s. If gluten was such a danger to one’s health we should expect that wheat-based products would not have such a large role in our diet: if eating gluten makes us suffer, why have many so cultures based their civilizations around wheat?

Indeed, those who suffer from celiac disease are mostly Caucasian. Europe and the Middle East are dominated by wheat and have high rates of celiac disease.

“How’s this possible?” I asked.

Dr. Sunwoo made it clear to me that celiac disease has always been around. The prevalence of celiac disease appears to have increased because diagnostic techniques in particular have been improved. Today, physicians can diagnose someone with celiac disease quite easily with just a laboratory test for anti-giladin antibodies.

As a cause of autoimmune disorders, Dr. Sunwoo warned that celiac disease is associated with several other diseases, including diabetes. “The time when someone develops the disease varies, but you will develop celiac disease at a certain point in life if you keep eating gluten.”

The professor explained that,

today, the world’s wheat, and Canadian wheat in particular, has been genetically modified to have more nutrients and to withstand pesticides “GMO wheat increased the nutrients and protein of wheat crops, but this also increased the gluten.”

Additionally, Dr. Sunwoo claimed that simply going back to non-GMO crops would be impossible at this point, “The types of microbes in the soil have been completely changed from the time when wild wheat was grown.”

Just like with antibiotic resistance, humanity appears to be headed down a unknown path with genetically modified crops. But it was not lost on me that IgY technology has proven to be an answer to both of these. I asked, “Are antibodies the future of medicine, Dr. Sunwoo?” He replied, “they are not the future, they are medicine right now!”

Motivations

Despite the important connections to chronic diseases, Dr. Sunwoo’s motivation for working on celiac disease also includes improving the social lives of people with the disease.

“Children with celiac disease will no longer have to be excluded from their friends when they go to eat junk food,” he said with a smile.

Dr. Sunwoo also mentioned a close friend who has celiac disease. Dr. Sunwoo joked, “I can’t even drink beer with him!” Although the professor mentioned that his friend has a psychological reaction in that he gets a visible change in the colouring of his face even when he simply sees something that contains gluten, he too may soon be able to enjoy a cold one too, with the help of the anti-giladin IgY capsules.

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 09

PDW 2016

PDW 2016: NIAGARA FALLS Soaring to new heights!

CALVIN BACH

W

hen I first came back from PDW, I was asked by many, including myself, “What was it like? What exactly was PDW?” The answer would probably differ depending on the person you ask, but for me – a first year pharmacy student – it was undoubtedly an eye opener.

Over the 3 days at PDW, I managed to build friendships with classmates, students from other

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years at the U of A, and those from other universities as well.

Networking sometimes feels like a cliché statement at career fairs, but after PDW I’ve come to recognize that it’s actually essential to becoming a pharmacist in Canada, and not just Alberta. Sure, while it is perfectly feasible to be a marvelous pharmacist in Alberta without networking, you still owe it to yourself and to our expansive scope of practice to expand your scope of

learning to its absolute fullest – and there is no better way than to learn from others’ experience.

Most of the time however, was spent attending seminars with the rest of the delegates.

CAPSI Elections and Annual General Meeting had mandatory attendance. Others were optional or even restricted between two that occupied the same time slot.

These latter seminars interested

PDW 2016

PHOTO CREDITS: JASMINE HAN, HUYEE CHAN, NISREEN CHEHIMI

me the most. They focused more on developing the character of the pharmacist or highlighted the future of pharmacists’ practice. For starters, Kate Davis was the keynote speaker, she – a comedian – seemed like an odd choice for a pharmacy conference at first. However, her honest opinion on the topic of humor and its role in destressing our hectic lives felt like a wakeup call. Being just a first year student, I already feel like I just might burn

out … and I’ve still got 3, or was it 4, more years to go! There was also Jeff Adams, a Canadian Paralympian who received a standing ovation for his speech on connecting with the support around you – the family, friends, faculty, and community – that has lead you to where you are today. Lastly, returning to the more academic side of pharmacy practice, there were seminars on E-cigarettes and their role in smoking cessation (or rather harm reduction), as

well as probiotics’ ever expanding potential for use ranging from boosting antibiotic effectiveness to even addressing deficiencies in our bodies’ own microbiota.

Quite a few have asked me, “Was it worth it?” Personally, I find it pretty darn hard to tie cost to an experience. But if you ask me, “Do I regret it?”

Not a chance.

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 11

VDAY ROUTINE

MY SINGLE GIRL VALENTINE’S ROUTINE

BY VICTORIA PRICE

When February rolls around, most people don’t hesitate to start complaining about their lack of a Facebook relationship status. Being single throughout the entire year is tough enough as it is, but it’s extra horrible when all your friends are showering their significant others with flowers, chocolates and life-sized teddy bears—no amount of Polysporin will help the sting of those wounds.

But if there’s anything I’ve learned as a chronically single person, it’s that you can’t love someone else until you learn to love yourself. This time around, I’m going to prove that you don’t need love to have fun, so read on for my tips on how to make this your best Valentine’s Day yet. #NewYearNewMe, right?

9:00am: Wake up feeling fresh and cute and ready for a great day!

9:15am: Check the mail and—oh, flowers! Who could they possibly be from?

A secret admirer?

9:30am: Breakfast time! Instagram is always telling me to “treat yoself” and today is the perfect time to indulge.

(Note that these donuts are 100% homemade, and I know, my glazing skills are on point. Unfortunately they haven’t gotten me any dates on Tinder yet because everyone keeps thinking I’m lying. So rude.)

PHOTO CREDITS: VICTORIA PRICE

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VDAY ROUTINE 10:00am: Stuffed with sugary goodness, I embark on my first romantic excursion of the day: ice skating at Victoria Park! I can’t think of any winter date that’s more romantic than skating around with your beloved—aka yourself.

Tip #1: Try holding hands with yourself—it’s just as comforting as holding hands with someone else, even if it may throw off your balance a little…

12:00pm: I stop at Starbucks and demand a pumpkin spice latte from the bewildered employees who try and explain to me that it’s no longer fall. The fact that they are trying to define pumpkin spice by the social construct of seasons is just so offensive that I can’t even.

Tip #2: When going to a restaurant or coffee shop, always go alone. Don’t you just hate when you try and go somewhere with a friend and there aren’t any seats? If it’s just you, you can easily take one of the empty bar spots so you don’t have to stand there awkwardly waiting for that guy with the beard to finish writing his screenplay while your PSL gets cold.

VDAY ROUTINE 2:00pm: All that ice cream reminded me of something I’ve neglected today—fitness! It’s always important to take the time to treat your body right. My body is a temple and this temple likes ice cream, but it also likes bicep curls. I enjoy sharing my fitness journey online so others can be as inspired by my hard work and dedication as I am!

3:30pm: After my workout, I calm my dyspnea and tachycardia with a relaxing facial!

4:30pm: Now that I’m all refreshed, it’s time to utilize those compounding skills and get started on making dinner! I love cooking, and my friends and family can’t get enough of my creative and healthy recipes. I’m planning to make a super special meal to surprise my bae!

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VDAY ROUTINE 6:00pm: Sitting down for a lovely candlelit dinner with bae, laboriously prepared by yours truly.

Tip #3: Gazing lovingly into your significant other’s eyes will let them know just how much you care. And dang, that winged eyeliner is on fleek.

7:00pm: Time to curl up with a glass of wine and watch some of my favourite sappy romantic movies. The good thing about watching Netflix by yourself is that you don’t have to waste time finding something you’ll both like—hello, chick flick marathon!

10:00pm: Those post-dinner cravings are starting to hit, so I help myself to a Valentine’s Day chocolate—or two.

Tip #4: If a chocolate is eaten and no one else is around, do the calories really count? The answer is of course not! Without someone else around to judge you, you can eat as many heart-shaped chocolates as your heart desires. You do you!

11:00pm: By this point I think I’ve eaten myself into a chocolate-induced coma. Well, at least it was a happy end to a perfect day with the perfect date—me!

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 15

A DAY IN THE LIFE

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF

KIT POON OWNER, MINT HEALTH + DRUGS

QUESTIONS BY GHASAK HUSSAIN Hi Kit! Can you tell me a little bit about your career path and how you got to be where you are today?

I started getting into business when I was in my third year of pharmacy with a relief pharmacist company, then later got into management through London Drugs, Sobey’s and Rexall before starting my own pharmacy in 2010. We grew to 3 stores in 2012 and as of 2015 we are at 8 stores all across Alberta.

We all know you to be very involved with pharmacy — you must be very busy! What is a typical day for you?

There’s a lot of variety to my day, which I’m very thankful for.

Somedays, we’re sitting around arguing about the merits of hiring more pharmacists, other times we’re trying to solve housing issues for the homeless.

The number of different practice settings we’re involved with offers quite the opportunity to

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be challenged with a bunch of problems, all of which have creative solutions. Pharmacy has many facets to it and while there’s nothing quite like having a patient thank you for helping them improve their health, it’s also quite rewarding to build practice environments that foster clinical care.

Plain that’s still floating around of the pharmacy staff and myself looking like we are in a Marvel superheroes movie. A lot of fun, but, as I later found out, probably way too expensive and ineffective.

What are the challenges, and on the flip side, rewards of owning your own practice?

It’s definitely awesome to practice the way you have been trained to do so in school, but initially when I was just on my own in one store, there were some really long days.

It wouldn’t even be so bad if all those hours after work was spent doing sexy clinical work but it wasn’t. It was to do bookkeeping and accounting work that I later found out I was doing wrong anyways. There’s also the challenge of doing advertising....there’s a newspaper ad in Stony PHOTO CREDITS: GHASAK HUSSAIN LOGO CREDITS: MINT HEALTH + DRUGS

A DAY IN THE LIFE

With the changes to the pharmacy reimbursement model a few years back, many independent pharmacy owners were worried about the sustainability of their practice.

How has your practice been able to cope with the removal of rebates?

We were very lucky. At a time when there was a lot of emphasis about how to squeeze more rebates, we decided to focus on the new pharmacy services framework. Eventually, we ended up being able to establish ourselves as a place of healing, rather than a place of products. Nowadays, patients don’t come to us complaining about pricing, because they know they’ll instead get quality time aimed at solving their problems and holistic approaches to their health.

What advice do you have for students interested in owning their own practice?

Finally, where do you see the profession of pharmacy headed?

Ownership takes guts. Sure, you’ve got to be strategic as well, but ownership is 50% courage and 50% smarts. No, you don’t need to have a business degree, just some common sense and a strong work ethic. You’ll do more work in the first two to five years of ownership than working for somebody else but you’ll be at a much better place financially after that.

I see us starting to really get better recognized for diagnosing minor ailments and providing treatments for them. The framework we currently have now is great, and patients are starting to recognize the convenience.

I expect as we continue to provide health services, patients in turn will start to really demand more from pharmacists and we will see our scope expand.

WELLNESS CAMPAIGN Presented by APSA

February is a stressful time of the year. This is why we are presenting our Weeks of Wellness campaign #WOW this month. To help you achieve success in both your physical and mental health, we have set up the following wellness events for you to attend. Be sure to use #WOW and #fitpharm when you post photos of your attendance for a chance to win prizes!

Feb 3 12:1250 Country dance Feb 8 12:1250 Hip Hop all in Echa 2-430

Feb 24 1500-1600 Zumba class in Van VLiet 2-6250 Studio Feb 5 12:1250 Jive

Feb 29 1300-1400 Yoga in Van Vliet 2-650

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 17

FAQS OF A PHARMACY STUDENT

BY PAWAN GILL & JASMINE HAN Do you ever wish you could be unprofessional and express your inner thoughts? Have you ever been asked a question by a patient? What some questions you often get asked? For those of you in first years who haven’t had such experience, don’t you worry. You most likely will be asked the below questions on your rotation. Some questions we get asked are better than others. It is always important to keep in mind that we have to maintain our professionalism, no matter how bad the question may be. But, no one said we have to remain professional in our heads right? Below are the FAQs by the patients, our professional response, along with what our response would be if ACP wasn’t watching.

WHY DOES IT TAKE A LONG TIME? DON’T YOU JUST COUNT PILLS?

Sorry how long did you wait for your doctor? Surprisingly I was never taught how to count pills in my 5+ years of schooling. We just learned to tell if a medication is safe, indicated, effective, and manageable.

The wait time is approximately 20 minutes as there are people ahead of you. Counting pills is part of our role, along with ensuring that the medication prescribed is appropriate, safe, effective and manageable for you based on the information provided. We take your medical conditions, medications, allergies, and other information to ensure the medication is appropriate for you. Lastly, when you pick up your medication we will also provide information for you to ensure that you understand your medication. If you would like to know more about what pharmacists do please feel free to ask any questions. See you in 20 minutes!

WHERE IS PLAN B?

It’s in the planning ahead aisle... How ironic right?

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I can show you! I also have a few questions for you. What time did you have the intercourse?

FAQS

WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG TO COMPLETE A PHARMACY DEGREE?

Minimum of 5 years. Yup I’m in school for what feels like forever.

We do 4 years of pharmacy schooling, However this does not include any previous studies you do. It could be as little as one year and as long as 6 years and more for those who did their masters and researches.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COMPLETE PHARMACY SCHOOL?

Do you want us to kill people? We get educated so you don’t end up on the street dead.

We do 4 years of pharmacy schooling, However this does not include any previous studies you do. It could be as little as one year and as long as 6 years and more for those who did their masters and researches.

WHY IS BRAND NAME MORE EXPENSIVE?

Do you see how it’s called “brand name”?

Just like the name implies it’s brand name. Just like how clothes from ZARA is more expensive than clothes from Winners, brand name drugs are more expensive than the generic, but they serve the same purpose.

Companies that make brand name drugs have to go through a rigorous and expensive process to get the innovative drug on the market.

Generic drugs are released after an innovative drug’s patent has expired often as a lower cost alternative. Generic drug companies have lower costs involved regarding the research and marketing of the products. I hope this answer clears your question about the price difference between brand name drugs and generic.

WHY DO YOU NEED MY INFORMATION?

Please don’t make this difficult. I have enough challenges in my life as a student.

I need your information to ensure that the medication provided to you is indicated, effective, safe, and manageable for you. I need your healthcare number so that the medications provided to you can be updated on to the provincial file. Your provincial file can be used as a resource regarding your medications and health information in case of an emergency.

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 19

FAQS SAMPLE

CAN I SPEAK TO THE PHARMACIST?

You’re not even going to give me a shot?

You know they were students once too right!

Yes of course you can. What was the question you had for the pharmacist? Maybe I can help while we wait for the pharmacist.

IS YOUR POST OFFICE OPEN?

Wouldn’t it make sense to ask the post office worker?

Yes it is open, it’s right down this aisle and you should be able to see it on your right hand side.

WHY DIDN’T YOU GO TO MED SCHOOL?

Why didn’t you go to med school?

I chose pharmacy over medical school because I have a passion for medication and lifestyle management and educating others about those topics. I did not have such a strong interest in diagnosis. I also enjoy interacting with a diverse population of patients which is something pharmacy practice allows me to do.

PHONE QUESTION: HI! MY NAME IS *MUMBLE MUMBLE. I WANTED TO GET A REFILL FOR MY MEDS THAT MY DOCTOR PRESCRIBED FOR ME LAST MONTH. I THINK I FILLED THE PRESCRIPTION AT YOUR PHARMACY.

Thanks but can we start from the beginning since pharmacy phones make it impossible to hear names.

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I can definitely help you with that. May I get your last name so I can pull up your file?

D S A R R E G S I A R D N U

F

Friday February 5th – Breakfast Sale in Medsci!

Homemade goodies for breakfast?

YES PLEASE.

For Valentines

Pharmacy Matchmaker!

Ever wanted to know who your bae in Pharmacy is? Partake in the upcoming survey and get to see who you are most compatible with ;)

Cookie-grams! Send a message (anonymously if you like) to that special someone (or friends because that’s cool too) along with a handmade valentine cookie made by the lovely Sabrina Lorico

Now back to more fun things.

This year we will be hosting our annual Talent Show Night sometime in March. If you or a friend have an awesome talent you want to share with your fellow friends feel free to contact Grad Committee! If you don’t have a talent come support your friends and have a great time!

Expect more bake sales on February 29 and March 22!

Who doesn’t like baked goods?

SAMPLE

Onto some more academic things, we will be selling Student Manuals for the placements students go on this year. The physical copies are super handy to have for placement!

Do you enjoy playing Super Smash Bros? Mario Kart?

Foosball? Did you miss the games night back in January? Not to worry! We will be holding various game tournaments to see who reigns supreme! Bring your A-game!

Lastly, the HIGHLY ANTICIPATED GRAD APPAREL sale is upon us. We have come up with some great designs for hoodies, crewnecks, jackets, lanyards and more so there’s something for everyone! The designs will be up for sale on the APSA website so check them out and get some awesome Pharmacy swag! 21 PHARMACY QUARTERLY

Which Pharmacy Cutie is Your Ideal Valentine’s Date?

BY ALYSSA ACO

Looking for a date? Look no further as the PQ+2 team has gathered the most sought-after bachelors in our faculty!

Find out which heartthrob would make your Valentine’s Day special. *numbers available upon request* Disclaimer: This quiz is intended for members of our population who are interested in men. No ovaries necessary.

1.) Your ideal date would consist of: A. Watching the newest comedy movie with Seth Rogan and Zac Efron B. Romantic candle lit dinner. Then a moonlight stroll along the park..

C. Just a quiet night in, playing board games (Dungeons and Dragons FTW) D. Bungee jumping, skydiving, riding a motorcycle - basically anything your mother wouldn’t want you to do.

2.) What is the first thing you notice in the opposite sex?

A.) His laugh!

B.) Eyes. Dreamy, romantic eyes.

C.) His brain and intelligence D.) That sexy smirk 3.) You just finished a long day of exams. What is your favorite way to unwind?

A.) Scrolling through Reddit and looking at memes or videos of cats.

B.) A nice cuddle on the couch with a warm blanket. And some tea to warm you up.

C.) Play some League or Hearthstone. You just want to be alone in your own online world.

D.) Go for a walk in the middle of the night.

The darkness is relaxing for you.

4.) Which of the following is the perfect movie to watch on a first date?

A.) 50 First Dates B.) The Notebook C.) Star Wars D.) Fast and Furious 5.) Your first date with a guy is not going so well.

Your strategy to keep the party going is..

A.) Crack a joke. Laughing together is the best way to bond.

B.) Ask a personal question. You hate small talk and want to go straight to the deep stuff.

C.) Dish out a fun fact. If you can’t connect emotionally, maybe you’ll connect intellectually. Who knows, you two might be secret World of Warcraft geeks.

D.) Ditch him. If my gut is saying “no it’s not working” then why bother trying?

6.) You are at a house party with the rest of your class on a Friday night. Your ideal guy would most likely be found: A.) Doing funny poses while playing beer pong (and everyone is laughing, of course) B.) Having a heartfelt conversation with someone C.) Sitting in the corner with his two best friends D.) In the backyard, away from everyone else, probably doing something bad for you (and maybe ditches early)

PQ QUIZ

A = Hugo, The Funny Man (Class of 2017) You’ve got a serious thing for boys who can tickle your funny bone! Hilarious and fun-loving, Hugo is your perfect Valentines date! He can crack a joke and make friends of strangers easily, and that’s what you want in a man. He is a positive energy that simply brightens the room. With his silly antics and funny jokes, you will find yourself dating the life of the party!

B = Saleem, Prince Charming (Class of 2018) Sweet and romantic, Saleem is your ideal date! Similar to the prince charming you typically see in movies, he can sweep you off your feet with a romantic verse or a sweet serenade. Your ideal day would feature white horses and moonlight strolls - an all around fairy tale! Saleem is sincere and affectionate - exactly the kind of gentleman you’d want on Valentines Day!

C = Larry, Geeky Hearthrob (Class of 2017) You know what they say, geeks have more fun! Smart and cute, Larry is your perfect match. You prefer quiet, geeky guys who like to socialize in private settings. There’s something about his computer savvy skills that make your heart melt. You find his quiet demeanor charming and adorable, and I can guarantee a date with Larry will be nothing short of amazing.

D = Aaron, The Bad Boy (Class of 2019) Spontaneous and exciting, you hate the mundane - which is why Aaron is the perfect guy for you! Something draws you to his bad boy thrills, the killer smirk and the excitement of living life on the edge. But underneath the exterior, you know he’s a real sweetheart. There’s a mystery behind his mischievous smile and you find that simply irresistible.

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 23 PHOTO CREDITS: SHERRY ZHU

YOU’VE GOT TO TRY THIS

BY WINNIE LO

YOU’VE GOT TO TRY THIS:

JULIO’S BARRIO

And you’ve got to read this too! Each issue, the PQ will be visiting one of the many restaurants on our APSA membership card to give YOU an inside look at the food you’re missing out on!

This time, we’re spicing it up with a visit to everyone’s favourite Mexican restaurant!

Winnie – back once again to eat a small mountain of food #theonetheonly Julio’s Platter: A quesadilla and two enchiladas.

Chicken or beef Taco Salad: Julio’s salad topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, crispy tortilla strips and taco beef/chicken/veggie-ground-rounds The food comes with unlimited chips and salsa for the whole table, which is pretty awesome. The portions are huge though (yes, I shared!). The quesadilla was delicious; a wonderfully spicy sauce with tender beef inside. The enchiladas were a first for me, but a little too savoury. The Taco Salad had very interesting plating, and I enjoyed everything about it (especially the gigantic mystery chip). Next time, I’d go for the fish tacos. 4/5 PHOTO CREDITS: SHERRY ZHU

Sherry – The Serious One #dontmesswithme Baja Fish Tacos: corona-battered, fried Red Snapper fillet with Chipotle aioli (+ Mexican rice, refried beans, and corn salad) The fish was fried perfectly and complemented the salsa and veggies inside the taco. The sides were good, with the exception of the beans—I would suggest switching the beans for another serving of either the rice or corn salad. Overall great experience, great décor, and romantic lighting that would be perfect for a Valentine’s Day date ;) 5/5

YOU’VE GOT TO TRY THIS Anita – lover of caffeine and cats #CrazyCatLady Steak Tacos: Tender sliced steak, onions, tomatoes and just enough diced jalapeños for a hint of spice (+ Mexican rice and corn salad) First impressions, it’s slightly terrifying that there’s bodies hanging above us. Now food-wise, the tacos were okay. The corn salad, on the other hand… MMMMMMMM… I ordered a double serving of corn salad and cut out the beans. If I re-did my order, I would have cut the rice for more corn. 10/10 would get the corn salad again.

3/5 (if it was just corn salad, probably 6/5) Cindy aka. Cindolol: The Potato Awakens #YOLOswag2018 Quesadillas: A grilled flour tortilla filled with melted Monterey Jack and Cheddar Cheese, sauteed onions, red and green peppers and smoky chipotle sauce with chicken. Topped with lettuce, salsa chimole and sour cream (+ Mexican rice, refried beans, and corn salad) The quesadillas were alright—the beef was flavourful, but a bit dry, as were the refried beans. The rice was uncomfortably spicy. BUT, as Anita mentioned: dat corn salad doe. The dimly lit atmosphere was conducive to a wonderful evening with friends. 2/5 Monica – the cutest girl in all four years of pharmacy #theoracle Barrio Burritos: a flour tortilla stuffed with hearty Barrio Chili, then baked with Julio’s salsa and a blend of Monterey Jack and Cheddar Cheese. Topped with lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream (+ Mexican rice, refried beans, and corn salad) The food was overwhelmingly delicious, I loved the presentation and the amount of spice was just perfect. I would recommend coming here on an empty stomach since it was more than I could handle. I also loved how they served complimentary nachos with the tastiest salsa. A bit pricey here, so don’t forget your APSA Card!

Overall it was definitely a fiesta in my mouth! :) 4/5

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 25

DEAR EDITOR, How can I avoid daytime naps?

Yours truly, Anonymous

Dear Sleeping Beauty, Ah, the question that every student has googled at some point throughout their university career. It’s a seemingly simple question, but the answer really depends on your lifestyle, medical conditions, medications, and so on.

Let’s start off with the most common reason why you are prone to napping in the afternoon: you are sleep deprived.

You might be studying late into the night - but who are we kidding, you are probably on Instagram or binge watching some Netflix show. How do you know if you are sleep-deprived? If you find yourself sleeping at least two hours more on the weekends than the weekdays, that means you are likely not getting enough sleep throughout the week. Experts say it really helps to establish good sleep hygiene - if you study via osmosis in bed, for example, it’s time to kick that habit.

other hand will prevent that insulin spike and help you stay energized for longer.

Another tip is moving your workout to the afternoon rather the morning - so grab your pharmacy friend during lunch time and hit the gym!

But the truth is, life is chaotic sometimes all the time, and no one has time to munch on broccoli at lunch and go to bed at the same time every evening. A cat nap can actually be beneficial. Don’t let yourself feel guilty about having a 20-30 minute occasional nap (or 3 hours, whatever floats your boat). Happy napping!

If you are getting enough sleep but you’re still experiencing that afternoon slump (and perhaps slumping on your friend in class), it’s time to assess your diet. Are you drinking enough water throughout the day? If you are eating a high simple carbohydrate meal during lunch, this can raise your blood sugar levels too fast, leading you to crash soon after. Eating complex carbs on the

Love,

Ghasak Hussain PQ Editor

FLICKR GRAPHIC: WEBTREATS

Do you have a question you’d like to ask our editors’? Drop us a word at our submissions page: tinyurl.com/pq2-questions

26 PHARMACY QUARTERLY

HOROSCOPES

PHARMACY HOROSCOPES

BY MONICA WONG, MAYA CIKALUK, WINNIE LO, & CINDY WU LIBRA (SEPT 23 - OCT 22)

ARIES (MAR 20 - APR 19)

Ring in the new year with a fresh start! Since pharmacy students can’t get enough of reflections, reflect on your previous year, use what you’ve learned; both good and bad experiences to make this year a success.

Are you feeling BLUE AND don’t know what to do? Try adding GOLD into the equation :D It will surely lift your spirits. Disclaimer: the author of this article is not endorsing the purchasing of expensive jewellery that depletes your student loans.

SCORPIO (OCT 23 - NOV 21)

TAURUS (APR 20 - MAY 20)

It’s imperative that you spend the next couple days learning everything there is to know about the evidence hierarchy and whether or not you should pack that parachute during your next skydive - or if you are fundamentally different.

As you raid your fridge for the 8th consecutive time, hoping for the right food to appear before you, you drift into a daydream about the magically-wonderfully-colorful world of Canada’s Food Guide. It will lead you in the right direction.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV 22 - DEC 21)

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN 20)

Pharmaceutics Lab…where physical and mental challenges await…but do not fear because the USP IS HERE.

Words cannot espresso how amazing you are for making it (more than!) halfway through the year. This accomplishment deserves a special treat. Go reward yourself with a nice hot cup of coffee (or three).

CAPRICORN (DEC 22 - JAN 19)

CANCER (JUN 21 - JUL 22)

Getting information to absorb systemically is hard, especially when you have a narrow therapeutic range. Try studying in smaller doses more frequently to stay within your attention span limits, or find a relationship between your study dose and amount of information retained for max grades.

AQUARIUS (JAN 20 - FEB 18)

Tired of being alone on Valentine’s Day? Well, this year pump up your game and get the courage to finally ask that person out. With saturn’s moon aligned with Venus, your efforts won’t be in vein. If all else fails, you can drown yourself in half-priced chocolate the next day.

LEO (JUL 23 - AUG 22)

Valentine’s day is just around the corner… and your heart rate is going through the roof as you spot your favorite person across the hall. Don’t be shy, smile and wave!

Reading week is coming up soon, so work hard now and your break will be so much sweeter for the extra effort. Your grades will probably thank you too.

PISCES (FEB 19 - MAR 19)

VIRGO (AUG 23 - SEP 22)

Wishing there was a patient decision aid for studying or placebo (aka. Sleep)? Maybe it’s time to think about some time management strategies so you can get both in your day – WITHOUT compromises!

Is it one of those days where you dragged yourself out of bed, attended the lecture, but nothing stuck in your head? Give yourself a pat on the back for being a fighter and making it to school. (Go you!)

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 27

Valentine’s Day Crossword

ACROSS 2. No need for Covergirl mascara, this eye drop wil grow your lashes long and thick [generic] 5. You’re allergic to the roses your date brought you! What class of medication should you take?

6. Need a natural flush without blush? Try out this vitamin.

10. The perfect event to scope out hunky new dates! You can even judge their talents and pharmacy knowledge while you’re at it...

11. One of the feel-good hormones that gets released when you eat those yummy heart-shaped chocolates 15. This hormone might make you feel more feminine (and possibly a little emotional...)

16. You can take your significant other to this glam pharmacy event later on this month 18. You might need to get a shot of this drug if you eat too many sugary Valentine’s Day treats Submit your answers to us via our Facebook account to win one of three awesome gift boxes!

PLEASE DO NOT WRITE ON THE CROSSWORD DIRECTLY SO OTHERS MAY ENJOY IT

PLEASE DO NOT WRITE ON THE CROSSWORD DIRECTLY SO OTHERS MAY ENJOY IT

Test your Valentine’s Day-related pharmacy knowledge!

By Ghasak & victoria

DOWN 1. The little blue pill that helps with performance anxiety 2. If seeing your crush gives your heart a rush, use this class of medications to keep your heart calm 3. Take this anti-anxiety medication if you’re feeling nervous about your date tonight 4. You might experience this extreme swooning if your date proposes to you this Valentine’s Day 7. Male-pattern baldness? No worries! This drug can help you combat hair loss so you don’t have to worry about your toupee falling off during dinner 8. This short-acting beta agonist will help you out when your cute date makes you short of breath [generic] 9. A poisonous compound that was used to make women’s pupils larger (and therefore prettier?)

12. Also known as the “love hormone” 13. Use these muscle-building exercises to curb your urinary urgency during a date!

14. A common name for the kissing disease 17. Oops! This OTC drug might come in handy the morning of February 15th...