PHARMACY

Graduated in 1996
Executive Director, Provincial Programs - Pharmacy Services
Saskatchewan Health Authority

Q: Why did you choose Wayne State University?

A: Wayne State had an excellent reputation as one of the top programs in the country. The faculty were leaders in their respective fields with a deep commitment to teaching and mentoring. The University and program were very welcoming to Canadian students.

Q: What inspired you to pursue this career?

A: I continue to be interested in health care and working in a collaborative team to help clients and patients meet their health care needs. Personally, I place high value on continued learning. Pharmacy uses evidence informed health care principles as its foundation. I was inspired to learn and use these principles and apply them to help increase access, efficiency, and optimization of health care.

Q: Who was your most memorable instructor?

A: There were many; however, Dr. David Edwards is one of the most memorable for me. Dr. Edwards was a capable, competent and effective professor. I went into his initial clinical pharmacokinetics class with less enthusiasm than the clinical course. However, his passionate, thorough and thoughtfully mapped curriculum was engaging. He had high expectations backed with practical, current content that captured not just me but the whole class. He is a kind and quiet man with a subtle wit that won us all over and motivated us to dive deep and learn.

Q: What was your most challenging class?

A: Infectious diseases was a very challenging class, both the classroom course and the clinical placement. The expectations were high, which is a good thing. However, I had limited background and experience with ID. The pace and depth of knowledge were a significant challenge.

Q: Where was your favorite place to study?

A: There was a graduate student portable with a few tables and some cubicles. The interior walls had paneling. This was a temporary space that was dark and suboptimal. However, our entire class would show up to study together. We worked through assignments together. Our class was close, and we were supportive of one another. Occasionally, a professor or instructor would come and check in. Great memories.

Q: Share some reflections about your time at Wayne State.

A: Studying pharmacy at Wayne State University was an immensely positive and enriching experience for me. The program's rigorous curriculum, coupled with dedicated faculty members, has equipped me with a comprehensive understanding of pharmacy practice. The collaborative and supportive learning environment at WSU fostered meaningful connections with peers, promoting an exchange of ideas, and enhancing a sense of community. The university's commitment to cutting-edge research and innovative teaching methodologies expanded my knowledge but also inspired a genuine passion for the field. Overall, my time at Wayne State University has not only been academically fulfilling but has also laid the foundation for a successful and rewarding career in pharmacy.

Q: In your opinion, what is one of the biggest changes that has occurred in your profession since graduating?

A: I believe that a couple of the biggest developments in the profession of pharmacy is informatics from integrated electronic health records and closed medication loop systems that enhance safety and efficiency. Additionally, pharmacogenetics is on the cusp of significantly impacting individualized health care.

Q: Tell us more about your career.

A: A significant highlight was working with a small team to implement an interdisciplinary heart function clinic that demonstrated significant improvements in number of patients receiving optimized combined therapy that improved morbidity (e.g. reduced hospitalization or shorter lengths-of-stay when admitted) and mortality relative to non-referred heart failure patients.

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The Doctor of Pharmacy program at Wayne State University is a four-year curriculum in the heart of Detroit. Approximately 100 students are enrolled in each year of the program. WSU Applebaum information meetings for prospective students take place at 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month. The application process or the Doctor of Pharmacy program begins each July.

An anchor in urban health care

The Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is built on more than 100 years of tradition and innovation in the heart of Detroit. We have grown deep roots in our city, harnessing its powerhouse hospital systems and community service organizations as vibrant, real-world training grounds for students, with an ongoing focus on social justice in health care. And our research at all levels – from undergraduates to veteran faculty members – translates into creative solutions for healthier communities.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering approximately 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 24,000 students.