Diverse Careers - Women in Leadership

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“Women make up 67% of the global health and social care workforce but only 25% of senior roles… In pharmacy, women currently constitute 65% of the workforce globally… yet continue to face barriers to leadership”
Source: International Pharmaceutical Federation. Advancing Gender Equity and Women’s Leadership in Pharmacy (2025).

Join us for a special edition of Pharmacy Changemakers: Diverse Careers – Women in Leadership examining why a lack of women in leadership isn’t a “feminist problem” — it’s a leadership and healthcare crisis.  This conversation brings together a women-led panel of leaders from the pharmacy and pharmaceutical industry to explore the realities of the glass ceiling, why representation of women and historically underrepresented groups at senior levels truly matters, and the systemic barriers that continue to limit advancement in business and healthcare leadership. RSVP Now

Our Panel:

Zebrina Kassam, 9T8 BSc Phm, Chief Operating Officer, Simpill Health Group; Leader-in-Residence, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy (Moderator)
Lisa Cesario, 9T0 BSc Phm, Chapter Lead/Director of Medical Strategy  - Oncology, Hoffman-La Roche Ltd.
Rose Dipchand, BSc. Chem; BSc. Pharm (Dalhousie), Senior Director of Pharmacy & Professional Affairs, Pharmasave East
Anna Patrizio, IPG 2003, BSc Phm (Centro Escolar University, Philippines), Founder and CEO, Bighani Canada; Co-founder, Schomberg Village Pharmacy
Arima Ventin, 9T4 BSc Phm, Head, Market Access and Government Affairs, AbbVie, Canada

Opening Remarks by:

Samantha Cesario, 2T2 PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist, St. Michael's Hospital; Class President for Life 2T2; Member, Young Alumni Committee, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

This discussion is open to all alumni. We aim to foster open, honest, and respectful dialogue while exploring meaningful opportunities for change.

Thursday, March 26, 2026
6:00 - 9:00 pm
Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy
144 College Street, Toronto
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Sponsored by:

Opening Remarks

Samantha Cesario

 

Samantha Cesario, 2T2 PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist, St. Michael's Hospital;
Class President for Life 2T2; Member, Young Alumni Committee, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

Samantha is a clinical pharmacist at St. Michael’s Hospital (Unity Health Toronto), currently practising in General Internal Medicine, with prior experience in Cardiovascular and Vascular Surgery. She completed her hospital pharmacy residency at Unity Health Toronto following her PharmD at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto. During her time at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Samantha kept involved in the community through various roles on student council and other student groups. Now, she maintains her ties to the Faculty as a seasonal Clinical Instructor, PharmD Admissions MMI Assessor, and EPE/APPE preceptor. She is also an active member of the Faculty’s Young Alumni Committee, proudly serving as Class President for Life (Class of 2T2), and is a mentor in the PharmaSEE Mentorship Program, proudly giving back to the pharmacy community.

Moderator:

Zebrina Kassam

Zebrina Kassam, 9T8 BSc Phm
Chief Operating Officer, Simpill Health Group
Leader-in-Residence, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

As the new Leader-in-Residence at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, Zebrina Kassam brings a distinguished career shaped by leadership, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to people, patients, and the pharmacy profession. In this role, she is eager to help pharmacy students build their leadership capabilities and prepare for the wide-ranging pharmacy careers that await them.

This summer, Kassam became Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Simpill Health Group, an organization that develops innovative digital pharmacy solutions for enterprises, insurers and health brands. In her role as COO, she oversees both the day-to-day operations and the long-term strategy of the company to ensure it executes its vision and mission.

A University of Toronto alumna, Kassam earned her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy in 1998 and began her career in community pharmacy at Shoppers Drug Mart. Over the years, she built a reputation as a trusted and respected leader, progressing through senior operational and human resources roles while remaining closely connected to frontline practice. Her career spans direct patient care, pharmacy ownership, and executive leadership, experience that has allowed her to influence pharmacy practice at both the individual and system levels.

Kassam’s leadership journey includes supporting hundreds of Pharmacist Owners across Ontario, representing their interests at the highest levels, and later returning to corporate leadership to guide franchise relations, human resources, and national operations. She went on to oversee more than 1,300 stores nationwide, before taking on a senior role focused on pharmacy planning and healthcare businesses, driving initiatives to enhance patient experience and advance the evolving role of pharmacy within Canada’s healthcare system. 

Panelists 

Lisa Cesario

 

Lisa Cesario, 9T0 BSc Phm
Chapter Lead/Director of Medical Strategy  - Oncology, Hoffman-La Roche Ltd.

Lisa Cesario graduated with a degree in Pharmacy from the University of Toronto. She began her professional career at a downtown Toronto teaching hospital as an oncology pharmacist. Later, Lisa joined Roche and has held various positions within Medical Affairs. Her passion for science and making a difference for patients has allowed her to lead and contribute to transformation changes in building teams and capabilities both globally and locally, continuously with the  aim of designing a business operating model with the future of healthcare in mind.
 
Outside of Roche, Lisa mentors university students and recent graduates  that have an interest and curiosity for building their career in the industry. For a number of years, she has led and contributed to a number of industry wide initiatives with a focus on MSLs, and also the academic stakeholder committee at Innovative Medicines of Canada. In recent years, she is actively volunteering with the Health Care Business Women’s Association and is leading the Mentoring Program Committee in Canada. 
 
Lisa remains committed to high quality patient care. She is an active  volunteer as a Patient and Family Advisor with Trillium Health Partners (THP). This volunteer role is allowing Lisa to communicate and share the perspective of patients and family members while also bringing in her health care and business experience so that THP can continue to improve on the care they provide to this community.
 
Lisa is a passionate, highly engaged people focused leader that is able to leverage a broad range of industry experience that empowers teams to perform at their highest potential. She is committed to driving strategic results that help shape and improve the outcomes of patients.  Lisa is particularly energized when working collaboratively with a range of teams and stakeholders to achieve a common vision. 

Rose Dipchand

Rose Dipchand, BSc. Chem; BSc. Pharm (Dalhousie)
Senior Director of Pharmacy & Professional Affairs, Pharmasave East

Rose Dipchand is a pharmacist first when it comes to her career. Upon graduating from Dalhousie University, College of Pharmacy in 1997, Rose stayed on as the skills lab instructor for four years while also starting her career with Pharmasave. Rose is now the Senior Director of Pharmacy & Professional Affairs (26 years) for Pharmasave East where she oversees all aspects of pharmacy practice and operations for over 560 Pharmasave pharmacies throughout the Atlantic Provinces and Ontario. 

In addition to her passion at Pharmasave, Rose participates on numerous boards and committees with several pharmacy associations (PANS, NBPA, PEIPhA, PANL and OPA).  She believes in doing her part to support the sustainable evolution of the practice and business of pharmacy, thereby ensuring pharmacy professionals can practice to full scope as an integral part of the healthcare system. Rose also has a passion for supporting future pharmacists and is a long-time preceptor for the Dalhousie University, College of Pharmacy PEP program. Rose also engages with pharmacy students through regular speaking engagements at universities, notably on the topic of professionalism and professional identity.

Rose has been recognized for her commitment to the profession. Two examples include: Rose was selected by Pharmacy Business Magazine as one of the top 10 Leaders in Pharmacy, featured in the article “The Pharmacy Leaders of Today” (January 2014) and she was the recipient of the PANS Bowl of Hygeia in 2023.

Rose has a wide range of pharmacy practice and business experience. Her role encompasses community pharmacy development and direct patient care services, as well as academic involvement, government relations, and relationships with health insurance companies.  Rose is particularly skilled in the key areas of developing pharmacy programs and services, teaching, human resource management, the regulatory environment, the private payer market, and government relations.

Anna Patrizio

 

Anna Patrizio, IPG 2003, BSc Phm (Centro Escolar University, Philippines)
Founder and CEO, Bighani Canada
Co-founder, Schomberg Village Pharmacy

Anna Patrizio is a multi-award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, and global leader recognized as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100. As co-owner of Schomberg Village Pharmacy, she spearheaded critical frontline vaccination initiatives during the pandemic. She expands her business portfolio, founding an import company – Bighani /big-HAH-nih/ Canada, the exclusive distributor of the conscious Swiss skincare brand, DE MOI by Demee Koch.

Honored as one of 2022 "Most Influential Filipina Woman in the World," Patrizio is a dedicated mentor and advocate. She actively supports the Canadian Pharmacists Association’s IPG mentorship program and champions career development for young women in Philippine agriculture. A bridge between healthcare and global trade, Patrizio inspires the next generation to lead with resilience, transformation, and social impact.

Arima Ventin

 

Arima Ventin, 9T4 BSc Phm
Head, Market Access and Government Affairs, AbbVie, Canada

Arima has served as the Head of Market Access and Government Affairs at AbbVie since February 2021. In addition to overseeing Market Access and Government Affairs, she also leads Real World Evidence/Health Economics and Outcomes Research (RWE/HEOR), Pipeline Strategy, and Pharmacy operations for AbbVie Canada.

Prior to joining AbbVie, Arima was the Executive Director, Market Access, Pricing & Government Relations for Allergan Inc.; the Director of Marketing and Market Access at Forest Laboratories; and Vice President of Marketing and Market Access at Basilea Pharmaceuticals Corp. Over the past 15 years she has held positions in sales management, marketing, market research, analytics, and strategic planning at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and at Eli Lilly Canada.  Arima is a member of the board of the MEDTECH association, the current lead for Abbvie at Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC) and a past board member of the Eczema Society of Canada and the IESE Alumni Association.

Arima holds a B.Sc. in Pharmacy from the University of Toronto. Later, she earned her Master of Business Administration from the IESE School of Business at the University of Navarra in Barcelona, Spain. She is also a graduate of the IVEY Leadership Program at the Richard Ivey School of Business

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