Students in UM’s undergraduate Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program spend their entire fourth year at different sites – like primary care, hospital, community and research – so they encounter the many settings where they could start their future careers.

The Community IV Program (CIVP) provides care to patients not admitted to hospital who require IV antimicrobials. Zimmer recently held a Q&A with UM students on Instagram to share what she is learning through her hands-on work in the program.

What’s a typical day like for you?

When I get to CIVP the first thing I do is check my inbox to see if there are important messages from nursing or the physicians that need my attention. The main role of pharmacists at this program is reviewing all new referrals to the program to ensure they are receiving the correct antibiotic and proper dose. ID (infectious disease) clinic is in the afternoon today. So, I’ll be spending some time this morning reviewing new patients.

At the clinic this afternoon, the health care team of myself (pharmacy), a nurse and a physician see each patient. Pharmacy provides information to patients about their antibiotics, provides recommendations about drug therapy and necessary bloodwork to physicians and ensures medications selected are safe and effective, as well as accessible financially to the patient.

Another main role for pharmacists here is monitoring all of the routine bloodwork and ensuring physicians are aware of critically abnormal values.

What has been the coolest fact you’ve learned in pharmacy?

My favorite fact has to be when I learned there is actual research that showed improved patient outcomes (cost, safety, etc) when pharmacists are involved on a patient’s health care team.

What route did you take for getting into pharmacy?

Prior to starting pharmacy I did one year in U1, then I did one year taking microbiology/ nutrition. If I didn’t get into pharmacy, my plan was to become a dietitian or pursue a microbiology degree.

Rebecca Zimmer

What inspired you to pursue a career in pharmacy?

I have always loved science, especially chemistry and microbiology. And I also wanted a career where I could help empower people about their health. Pharmacy seemed like the perfect fit.

What has been your favorite part of the program?

Fourth year has been a blast. It is 4 x2 month blocks of practicum and a 3 month research project. I’ve worked with so many amazing pharmacists and physicians and learned a ton.

What do you wish you knew sooner?

I wish I knew the importance of networking. The connections you make in pharmacy have a huge impact on future opportunities. It’s a small world.

When should we apply?

The application deadline for PharmD is March 1!

The Pharm.D. degree has been adopted as the entry-to-practice pharmacy requirement for Canada. The previous Bachelor of Science (Pharm.) program has now been phased out and is no longer accepting applications.

The Pharm.D. provides comprehensive coverage of the pharmaceutical, clinical and practical sciences required for pharmacists to succeed in the profession. The program relies on extensive experiential learning opportunities to ensure students have the knowledge and skills needed to enter one of the most respected of Canada’s health care professions.

The College of Pharmacy has a long tradition of excellence in pharmacy education, research, and service, with our professional program considered to be one of the top ranked programs in Canada. The College is housed in a state-of-the art facility on the UM Bannatyne Campus, with access to technology, patient care and simulation laboratories, enabling students to prepare for an exciting career in health care.

The College has introduced a number of changes to the Pharm.D. admission requirements for the 2022 application process. These changes will ensure students are better prepared for the more clinically oriented program. The information sessions will discuss the new requirements and offer advice as to which UM undergrad courses are required to apply to the Pharm.D. program.

Click here to sign up for an info session.

Donors, alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends are invited to join us for this special event:

          November 19, 2018 | 3:30 p.m.  – 5:30 p.m.
          College of Pharmacy, Apotex Centre, 750 McDermot Ave.
          Tours, presentations, reception
          Please RSVP at: Pharmacy@umanitoba.ca

Dr. Lalitha Raman-Wilms and other members of the college’s leadership team look forward to sharing news about the new PharmD program and other advances at the Nov. 19 event. “If you haven’t visited the College of Pharmacy recently, now is the time,” said Raman-Wilms, Dean of the College of Pharmacy. “It’s a great opportunity to celebrate where we’ve come from, and share with our community where we plan to go next.”

Located on the Bannatyne campus of the University of Manitoba, the College of Pharmacy is housed in the Apotex Centre, a striking new building on the corner of McDermot Avenue and Emily Street. With spacious classrooms and state-of-the-art labs, students and faculty are well-equipped to lead innovative research activities and address healthcare challenges related to the profession.

While the building is modern, the college hasn’t forgotten its past. Along the main hall on the first floor is a series of cabinets dedicated to a history of the practice of the pharmacy. This fascinating collection of materials, instruments, books, and artifacts illustrate the changing nature of pharmacy over the years.  

Constructed in 1899 and still standing, 422 Notre Dame Avenue is the original site of the College of Pharmacy.

A mere 15-minute stroll west from the Bannatyne campus will take you even deeper into the college’s past, to a one-storey building with a sign that reads ‘Winnipeg Modern Brush Company’. The name is from the 1940s, but the building at 422 Notre Dame Avenue wasn’t always a factory. Originally built in 1899, the modest brick structure was the first home of Manitoba’s College of Pharmacy.

The opening of the $30 million Apotex Centre in 2008 brought pharmacy back to the heart of Manitoba’s health science research and training community and effectively doubled the college’s capacity. The award-winning facility offers 100,000 square-feet of skillfully designed spaces that not only allow students to stay at the leading edge of technological advances, but to gain the kind of inter-professional experiences alongside their peers in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences that will be vitally important to their careers.

In 2018, the College took another important step when it secured formal approval for the PharmD, an advanced program with significantly more clinical training through enhanced pharmacotherapeutic courses and experiential learning, as well as new courses such as pharmacogenomics and pharmacoeconomics.

This fall, the College welcomed the Class of 2023, which will be the first cohort to graduate with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in Manitoba.

“You are an extra-special class for us,” Raman-Wilms said to the Class of 2023 at the Oct. 1 White Coat Ceremony. “You have been admitted into the first year of a rigourous curriculum and we are confident that it will prepare you well to embrace the vital role that each of you will play as pharmacists.”

“We’ve got a lot to celebrate,” added Raman-Wilms. “We have a proud history and we’ve got an even brighter future.”

“You are an extra-special class for us,” Dr. Lalitha Raman-Wilms, dean of the College of Pharmacy, said to the Class of 2023 at the Oct. 1 White Coat Ceremony. “You have been admitted into the first year of a rigourous curriculum and we are confident that it will prepare you well to embrace the vital role that each of you will play as future pharmacists.”

This year, the incoming class of 55 students will complete one year of the B.Sc. (Pharmacy) program before transitioning to the PharmD for a further four years of study. The new program offers an advanced curriculum with significantly more experiential learning, which will create an even stronger foundation for new graduates as they embark on their careers as pharmacists.

As the daughter of a pharmacist, first-year student Christine Vaccaro has had a front-row view on the growth of the profession. Her mother’s work inspired her to want to follow in her footsteps, “As a kid, my favourite thing to find in our mailbox was my mom’s Canadian pharmacist’s letter,” said Vaccaro, referring to the professional publication that offers news and insights for pharmacists.

What really sealed the deal was when Manitoba implemented extended practices for pharmacists. Scope of practice has since expanded to include injection certification and prescribing for minor ailments. For some patients, they may even order lab tests. “It highlights that pharmacy is an evolving profession,” explained Vaccaro. “I am looking forward to evolving alongside pharmacy, taking on the profession as it expands into a more clinical role.”

With advances in the profession, career options for pharmacists offer a greater range of opportunities and settings than ever before, including research, hospital, primary care clinics, community pharmacy and government consultation. But no matter what path they choose, they will always have one thing in common: putting patients first.

“What unites pharmacists is a strong understanding of medication mechanisms and a dedication to ensuring that patients have the tools they need to reach their health goals,” said Marianna Pozdirca. “Being able to use that strong understanding to enhance our patients’ health and quality of life makes for an effective pharmacist.”

Sabina Ozog points to other characteristics that are vital in this ever-changing profession. “It’s imperative that they are a person who is constantly learning, confidently exercising their expertise, able to prioritize and works collaboratively with other health-care professionals in order to give the best care.”

While some might find a shifting landscape challenging, class president Christine Vaccaro recommends to fellow pharmacy students that the best way forward is to simply embrace it. “In pharmacy there is always change; change in patient goals, markets and standards of practice,” she said. “As a result, being able to adapt to change and collaborate within health care teams is essential to patient care.”