MedEssist advances technology in pharmacy care

Michael Do and Joella Almeida (standing, back) with members of the MedEssist team at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto.
(Photo by Johnny Guatto) 

MedEssist, a fast-growing health tech startup that provides a digital platform to help pharmacies grow and support their patient relationships, came together when two University of Toronto alumni met through mutual friends. 

Michael Do, an accomplished computer programmer and 2010 graduate of the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy who manages a pharmacy in Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood, was working on a computer-vision-based tool to help his senior patients take their medications properly. Joella Almeida, who graduated from U of T’s Woodsworth College in 2018 with a degree in political science, equity studies and diaspora and transnational studies, brought years of e-commerce and payments experience (including Shopify stores for several small businesses). Together, the two began talking to as many pharmacists as they could to learn about their challenges and how they could help. 

They launched MedEssist in 2019 to bring digital solutions to those pain points, receiving support from U of T’s Health Innovation Hub (H2i).

Read more at U of T Entrepreneurship

In addition to his entrepreneurial work, Michael Do has been named a 2025 University of Toronto Arbor Award recipient—the university’s highest honour for volunteers. He has supported student learning through APPE rotations, mentored students in the PharmaSEE program, and shared his expertise as a Pharmacy Changemakers panelist, helping students and alumni thrive in their careers.