PharmD for Pharmacists program opens new doors for clinical pharmacology scientist

After extensive education and experience in pharmacokinetics and designing analyses for clinical trials, Aaron Buaben wanted to advance his clinical and patient care skills. The PharmD for Pharmacists program at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy not only expanded his existing skill set, but also broadened his perspective on the pharmacy profession and what he can achieve within it.

“While I have achieved significant milestones, each accomplishment reveals new challenges and opportunities for growth,” says Buaben, who graduated from the program last week. “I am committed to embracing these challenges, continually expanding my knowledge, and contributing meaningfully to patient care and the broader health care community.”

Currently working in the clinical research industry, Buaben, who grew up in Ghana, was first drawn to the pharmacy profession through his curiosity in how drugs and medications work in the body. He completed his Bachelor of Pharmacy at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana and briefly worked in both community and hospital pharmacies and the pharmaceutical industry. He then pursued graduate education in biomedical science and toxicology at Radboud University in the Netherlands and a master’s degree in pharmacology from Dalhousie University.

Buaben returned to the Netherlands and worked in research before he moved back to Canada in 2020 to take on his current role as a clinical pharmacology scientist, where he leads pharmacokinetic analyses for early phase clinical trials, including first-in-human trials and trials that evaluate bioequivalence and drug-drug interactions.

While Buaben has always enjoyed the research side of the pharmacy profession, he wanted to expand his clinical knowledge and skills, which would not only reconnect him with direct patient care but would also help in his current role.

“I’ve always been focused on the science and pharmacokinetics side of clinical research, but there’s a whole other patient care and safety aspect to trials,” says Buaben. “Gaining more insight into the clinical side allows me to provide deeper insight into the protocol review, so I can have a broader clinical science perspective, rather than focusing solely on my niche of clinical pharmacology.”

Experiential courses deepened appreciation for pharmacists’ full scope

Buaben began the PharmD for Pharmacists program at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy in 2022. He says the program’s courses provided a solid foundation of pharmacy knowledge that he has been able to apply directly to his current work.

“The pharmacokinetics course validated some of the things that I knew, but it added more of a clinical perspective and helped me to see that side. And the course in educational theory and practice enhanced my ability to communicate complex information clearly and adapt content to diverse audiences,” he says. “As a whole, the program strengthened my clinical foundation, sharpened my critical appraisal skills, and enhanced my ability to make evidence-based pharmacotherapy decisions, even in clinical gray areas.”

“As a whole, the program strengthened my clinical foundation, sharpened my critical appraisal skills, and enhanced my ability to make evidence-based pharmacotherapy decisions, even in clinical gray areas.”

But the experiential courses were a clear highlight of the program. Buaben completed one non-direct patient care rotation working with a clinical trials pharmacist at London Health Science Centre, where he saw the operational side of clinical trials.

During his three direct patient care rotations, he practiced his clinical skills and worked with patients to optimize their medications and help them take medications safely and effectively. By his final rotation, he says that he put all of his learnings together to confidently provide professional care in the pharmacy.

“All of these experiences, spanning both clinical research and primary care pharmacy, deepened my appreciation for pharmacists’ evolving role across the continuum of care,” he says. “They reinforced how pharmacists, whether in research or in direct patient care, play a vital part in optimizing therapy, advancing evidence-based practice, and taking ownership of therapeutic outcomes to improve patients’ quality of life.”

Buaben says the PharmD for Pharmacists program has allowed him to broaden his scope of expertise in clinical research, so he is prepared to take on more expansive roles in the research industry. The program has also reconnected him with patient care: He is currently pursuing his Ontario pharmacist license and is considering how he can add patient care to his practice. Wherever his career takes him, he says that the PharmD for Pharmacists program has given him options.

“This renewed perspective has enriched how I approach my work in pharmacology as a clinical pharmacology scientist so I can bridge clinical insight with translational research to help optimize drug therapy across diverse patient populations,” he says. “I have developed a deeper appreciation for how evidence generated in clinical studies ultimately impacts real-world patient care, and I am motivated to continue contributing to both.”
 

Are you a pharmacist interested in advancing your career?

Join us for our PharmD for Pharmacists Virtual Open House on November 25 and learn how you can take the next step in your professional journey.

Learn more