Donor support enriches student experience, says Class of 1T5 alum

What have you’ve been up to since graduating from the Faculty?

Upon graduating from the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy in 2015, I had the opportunity to practice as a community pharmacist in New Hamburg, Ontario with Loblaw Pharmacy before transitioning into a community pharmacist role with Walmart Pharmacy in London, Ontario for the last 3 years. I recently joined the Princess Margaret Outpatient Pharmacy team in Toronto, specializing in oncology-based pharmaceutical care and obtained my Certified Diabetes Educator certificate.

Have you stayed involved and connected to the Faculty?

I have been fortunate enough to remain involved with the Faculty through my yearly donations to the Young Alumni Fund as well as my participation on the Young Alumni Committee, which aims to both engage and connect recently graduated pharmacists through activities like networking events and educational seminars while also helping to fundraise for various student events and initiatives.

What motivates you to stay involved? 

My motivation for being involved really stems from my interest in being able to connect with fellow alumni. Upon graduation, it’s often difficult to keep in touch so it’s nice to have events throughout the year that enable alumni to not only catch-up with one another, but they also provide us with opportunities to network and share knowledge, ideas and experiences gained from our individual practice environments.

How did donor support help you as a student?

I was fortunate enough to be the recipient of a few awards and bursaries during my time at the Faculty and I can’t stress enough how crucial donations were in providing me with the financial assistance that I needed so that I could focus on my studies and participate in school activities (i.e. student council, athletics, pharmacy clubs) instead of worrying about how I was going to make ends meet.

Can you speak the value and impact of the Young Alumni Fund?

Upon reflection of our time as students, I think we all have fond memories and can appreciate the countless activities that greatly enriched our student experiences. From Professional Development Week to the OPA Conference to the countless other professional and social events and initiatives available to students, I truly believe that these experiences are integral parts of the student experience that ultimately help shape the practitioners that we become so whether it’s through a one-time donation or a monthly donation, our Young Alumni Fund helps to supply current pharmacy students with the same fantastic opportunities that we were once the beneficiaries of. It’s a great way to pay it forward!