1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. …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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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!

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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.

20. 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

21. Contact Us REFERENCES The Website: www.pharm.ualberta.ca
Rae Beaumont (Student Services Team Lead):
Melissa Woo (Community Education Director) :
REFERENCES
Compensation for Pharmacy Services July Alberta Health
High school presentation by Joey Ton

22. What questions do you have?