Preparing pharmacy students to lead: Zebrina Kassam named 2026 Leader-in-Residence

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.

“I’m really looking forward to spending time with pharmacy students in their formative time at the Faculty,” says Kassam, Chief Operating Officer at Simpill Health Group. “While they are learning how to be pharmacists, I also want to lay the groundwork for thinking about being leaders and help them acquire the skills to be effective leaders.”

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. This breadth of experience, combined with her ability to bridge practice and strategy, underscores why she was selected for the Faculty’s prestigious Leader-in-Residence appointment.

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.

“I have always enjoyed patient care, and I was interested in looking at how I could take my learnings and my passion for patient care and have a broader impact. How could I relay all the things that worked well for me in my practice and help others excel in their practices?”

“I have always enjoyed patient care, and I was interested in looking at how I could take my learnings and my passion for patient care and have a broader impact. How could I relay all the things that worked well for me in my practice and help others excel in their practices?” says Kassam. “This passion came from a desire to want to influence a broader group to be better and be able to accomplish and maximize their own businesses and maximize our business as a whole.”

Though Kassam’s career has spanned community practice, ownership, and senior executive roles, she notes that the core principles of leadership remain consistent across settings.

“Communication is key, and you have to have the ability to see through challenges and help your staff, employees, and organization see what’s possible and help them find the pathway to get there,” she says. “Leaders are really about empowering their teams, removing obstacles, giving them guidelines, and then getting out of the way to let them achieve what they can achieve.”

Kassam looks forward to meeting future pharmacy leaders

Beyond her professional roles, Kassam has demonstrated a strong commitment to service and governance. She currently serves on the board of directors at Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation and has contributed to pharmacy education through her role on the Dean’s Advisory Council at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy.

As she takes on her new role as Leader-in-Residence this month, Kassam is particularly focused on advancing women in leadership. Throughout her career, she has often been one of the few women at the executive table, a reality that has shaped her commitment to mentorship, advocacy, and systemic change.

“How do we empower, inspire, and support women to be the best that they can be and accomplish everything that they want to accomplish in their careers?” says Kassam. “There are still gender gaps, and my objective is to think about how we can help close the gap for women in the pharmacy profession.”

During her term, Kassam plans to develop mentorship initiatives and convene panel discussions featuring women leaders and male allies, creating opportunities for students to engage with leadership early and intentionally.

“I'm very excited about the opportunity to meet and mentor students as Leader-in-Residence. I look forward to having a lot of conversations around women in leadership and leadership in general and being part of shaping our future pharmacy professionals.”