Pharmacy alum passionate about helping community pharmacists practice to full scope

As a pharmacy leader at Rexall, Heidi Wittke uses frontline experience to lead initiatives that improve patient care

Holding a leadership position at Rexall’s head office, Heidi Wittke (0T2) draws on her career in frontline pharmacy and corporate experience to lead innovative programs and advocate for pharmacists to practice their full scope.

“We know health care access is an issue for patients, so at Rexall we’re working to ensure that pharmacists are part of that solution. We've seen great strides in expanding our scope of practice, but there’s still more we can do,” says Wittke, senior director, professional affairs and pharmacy partnerships at Rexall. “I want to continue advocating for the profession so pharmacists are recognized as part of that primary care hub, working within the broader health care system.”

In her current role, Wittke leads a cross-functional team of virtual pharmacists focused on delivering innovative clinical programs to patients, alongside the pharmacy partnership team that develop practical and collaborative solutions for providers and payers alike. She also supports Rexall pharmacists in meeting federal, provincial and college regulatory standards while maintaining professional standards of care and clinical practice guidelines for pharmacists. Most recently, she has been collaborating with national and provincial pharmacy associations to advocate for pharmacists to work at their full scope.

She is particularly passionate about initiatives that support pharmacists in practicing to their full potential and delivering quality care to patients who may not have access to other health care providers. Wittke shared this passion with the newest class of pharmacy grads as this year’s alumni speaker at the annual Graduation Reception and Awards Ceremony.  For example, Wittke helped roll out an innovative program to optimize therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and prevent exacerbation through virtual pharmacist outreach, as well as a program to improve diabetes management and prevent long-term complications. She has also supported the implementation of the Last Mile delivery project, designed to provide quick and convenient delivery of prescriptions to patients across Rexall’s retail locations

Another Rexall initiative is the launch of pharmacist-led clinics that provide a range of pharmacy services, from chronic disease management to vaccinations and minor ailment prescribing. These clinics can also connect patients with virtual physicians for concerns beyond a pharmacist's scope of practice.

“At Rexall, we're always looking for ways to improve access to care and meeting patients where they are, whether that’s through pharmacy services, point-of-care testing or collaborative partnerships with physicians,” she says. “Our focus is really on what patients need the moment they walk through the door.”

Early frontline experience provided firsthand knowledge of challenges pharmacists face

Wittke was drawn to the pharmacy profession from an early age, watching her father provide care as a community pharmacist. She was heavily influenced by seeing the care that he provided to his patients, along with the opportunities he had to be entrepreneurial.

“My father instilled in me the impact pharmacists can have, the trusting relationships they build with patients, and the opportunities to shape health care services and drive change from the ground up,” she says.

In 2002, she graduated from U of T’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy. She began her career at Rexall as a district support pharmacist, which allowed her to visit community pharmacies in rural and urban communities, working in a relief capacity. The position allowed her to see the complexities of providing care in different environments and experience different types of leadership, operations and workflows.

She then worked as a consultant pharmacist in long-term care for several years, gaining hands-on experience in clinical care, regulatory best practices and quality improvement initiatives. Wittke collaborated with physicians, nurses and caregivers to support older adults with complex health needs to manage ongoing conditions and ensure they received safe, personalized care. She then went on to have various leadership roles within long-term care pharmacy, which provided exposure to clinical and patient safety program development, client relationship building and leadership skills.

About six years ago, Wittke returned to Rexall and has since held progressively senior roles, strengthening her skills in communication, stakeholder engagement, problem solving, adaptability and leadership.

She maintains a close connection with frontline pharmacists through regular store visits and staying updated on changes to practice and clinical guidelines. She says that this connection, and her early experience in community pharmacy, ensures she understands the pain points that frontline teams experience so she can deliver programs and initiatives that enable them to spend more time providing direct patient care.

“Those years working in retail and long-term care gave me a deep understanding of the realities pharmacists and their teams face daily,” she says. “That first-hand experience has been invaluable. It’s helped shape everything from  policies to training and professional support for our pharmacists, ensuring that what we offer is both practical and impactful.”

Wittke’s career has changed significantly since her early days in retail pharmacy, but each experience has helped shape the leader she is today. She encourages pharmacy students and new graduates to embrace opportunities, knowing that each one can offer valuable insight and perspective.

“Learn as much as you can and take time to understand the different roles within the organization, hospital or company you work for,” she says. “Stay open, stay curious and connect with people to understand both the business and patient care side of pharmacy. The more you explore, the more doors you’ll open and you never know where you could land.”