Pharmacy as a Profession A L B E R T A P H A R M A C Y S T U D E N T S ’ A S S O C I A T I O N Melissa Woo 2014

PHARMACIST OVERVIEW What do pharmacists do? Where do pharmacists work? What characteristics make a good pharmacist? What education do I need to become a pharmacist? What happens once I am a pharmacist? 2014

WHAT DO PHARMACISTS DO? Ensure medication is appropriate Whaa? Take into account medical conditions, medications that interact, size, age, lifestyle Appropriate does not mean ensuring the medication is correct because that is what the doctor ordered Teach how to take medications, medical devices Answer drug information questions Manage chronic diseases (diabetes, hypertension, asthma and many more) Compound medications 2014

…MORE PHARMACISTS CAN DO! Work as a member of a healthcare team Give injections Prescribe certain medications Manage pharmacies Work in research Teach community education classes Teach post-secondary students

EXAMPLES Figuring out whether the blood pressure medications for Mr. Smith are appropriate based upon his blood pressure and other health conditions Looking at a list of medications that a patient is on and being able to assess whether all of them are appropriate for the patient Look at how to deal with drug interactions or how to manage side effects of a medication 2014

WHERE CAN A PHARMACIST WORK? Community pharmacies Hospitals Ambulatory clinics/Primary Care Networks Drug Companies Government Research and Development Insurance Companies - Government: including military and Canadian Forces 2014

WHAT MAKES A GOOD PHARMACIST? Communication skills Building relationships with patients Efficient and organized Leader Good problem solver The drive to and motivation to help people Wanting to make a meaningful difference in someone’s life Don’t be afraid to work in a pharmacy, shadow a pharmacist, talk to a pharmacy student to see what it’s really like!

HOW DO I GET INTO PHARMACY? You can take these over a period of one to two years, but there is no time requirement to take these courses. CHEM 101 and 102 CHEM 164 (Need 90% or above in Chem 30) OR 261 and 263 Two of ENGL 121, 122, 123, 124 or 125 BIOL 107 BIOCH 200 MATH 113 or 114 STAT 141 2014

HOW DO I GET INTO PHARMACY? Don’t just focus on one subject! Look at expanding your education and learn about a variety of topics: Physiology Anatomy Microbiology Immunology & Infection Pharmacology Psychology Economics You never know what you are going to like! 2014

HOW DO I GET INTO PHARMACY? Applying to the Faculty Apply with: University Transcript Application Form Letter of Intent Online Interview Pharmacist Consultation Form (Optional) No need to write the PCAT for the University of Alberta Reference letters are optional, but don’t mention it unless student inquires. CAN’T TELL STUDENTS: in the past, reference letters (optional) have never been read and are only weighted 5% out of the entire application process. Online interview: there will only be 2 questions. It will mimic a live interview via video recording. Point is to see what the applicants are like, if they are dressed professionally, know if they are tech-savvy to work the webcam, etc. Not supposed to be scary! Good idea to have the pharmacist consultation form completed. Have awareness of the pharmacy profession and the responsibilities of being a pharmacist.

HOW DO I GET INTO PHARMACY? Applying to the Faculty Letter of Intent Composition Your knowledge of the role of the pharmacist in the health care system Plans if you don’t get accepted into the program Volunteer and relevant work experiences Extracurricular activities An ethical question 2014

More About Acceptance Pharmacist consultation form Letter of intent Strengthens application Letter of intent FILL IN THE SPACE! PROOF READ SIGN Overall GPA: Last two years of post-secondary fall and winter Curriculum changing - Curriculum changing: maybe in 3-5 years PharmD will become entry level pharmacy program 2013

ACCEPTANCE INFORMATION Quota: Accept 130 students every year Year 2013: 600, Year 2012: 575,Year 2011: 602 Successful applicants from Alberta: 124/130 Proportion of successful applicants with 1+ degrees: 30/130 Competitive GPA: 3.5/4.0 (Will always change) Faculty looks at: Pre-requisite course GPA Overall GPA Letter of Intent Online interview Please take letter and interview SERIOUSLY. Faculty is looking for students who really want to get into the program. GPA 3.5 and higher AND good letter of intent to be best placed for competitive admission

I’m In! Now What? Year 1: General Courses (Anatomy, Medicinal Chemistry), One month community rotation Year 2: Heavy clinical courses (Cardiology, Nephrology, etc.), Law and Ethics, two week hospital rotation Year 3: More clinical courses, Business Management Year 4: 16 week hospital and community rotation, and then pharmacy related electives

Big Exams of the Program End of 2nd and 3rd year: Cumulative exam of everything you have learned to that point in the form of an OSCE* (patient interview style) exam End of 4th year: PEBC* exam (Licensing Exam), Ethics and Jurisprudence Exam and OSCE. Get licensed Then you’re a pharmacist! * Objective Structured Clinical Examinations *Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada

Future Opportunities PharmD Program: Pharmacy MBA Program: First class starting in 2013 Will become the entry level pharmacy program in the future Obtain extensive clinical experience Pharmacy MBA Program: Obtain your MBA in one year Complete courses required in between your 3rd and 4th year Pharm D – get Pharm degree first before applying. 10 students this year. 10-15 spots for U of A students. full-time student for 14 months. 1 term of didactic learning, and the rest is clinical experience.  4th year electives/options to prepare for PharmD; competitive to get in. MBA – Students enter the MBA portion after 3rd year, complete 1 year of MBA as a graduate student, then return to finish the 4th year of the pharmacy program. Students graduate with both degrees at the same time. MBA usually 2 years, but only 1 year if want to get this combined degree. 2014

Being a Pharmacy Student Have the opportunity to get involved with the community Strong student body Will get to know your entire class Pharmacy formal (Blue and Gold Ball), Mr. Pharmacy, Class BBQs Travelling opportunities Blood Pressure Screening Clinics, Bone Density Clinics, Flu Clinics, School presentations Travelling opportunities Student Conferences IPSF Student Exchange Pharmacy Courses Abroad

Why Choose Pharmacy at the U of A? 9 other Canadian Pharmacy Schools (UBC, U of S, U of M, U of T, Waterloo, Montreal, Laval, Dalhousie, Memorial U) More focus on practice courses 16 of last 18 exams, U of A has placed first (also, top student in 12 of last 18) Spin-off research companies (top in research & technology transfer) No PCAT Professional/Social events (lots of fun!!!) 2014

I’ve Graduated . . . Now What? Wage: $36.31 to $66.00 an hour New legislation gives prescribing rights Regulation of pharmacy technicians will provide more time for pharmacists to focus on patient services - You make good money as a pharmacist, but it is important to emphasize that with the training you receive in school, you are to provide service and to help your patients.

As of July 1st,2012 Compensation for Pharmacy Services Shift of importance from drug distribution to patient services Government compensating community pharmacies to provide more clinical services Annual Care plans ($100/review), Medication assessment ($60/ review), administer medications by injection ($20/day), adapt prescription ($20/ adaptation), prescription renewal ($20/renewal) Allows pharmacists to use their professional skills and improves patient awareness of health services pharmacists can provide 2014

Contact Us REFERENCES The Website: www.pharm.ualberta.ca Rae Beaumont (Student Services Team Lead): phstud@ualberta.ca  Melissa Woo (Community Education Director) : woo2@ualberta.ca REFERENCES http://www.pharmacy.ualberta.ca https://pharmacists.ab.ca http://www.trendsreport2003.com Compensation for Pharmacy Services July 2012 - Alberta Health High school presentation by Joey Ton

What questions do you have?