Alumni Spotlight: Karen Sue-A-Quan and Dr. Karen Agro

It wasn't until reconnecting through a Facebook group in celebration of their class's 30 year anniversary of graduation that Karen Sue-A-Quan (BScPhm 8T9) and Dr. Karen Agro (BScPhm 8T9, PharmD 9T6) discovered their shared passion of music and mindfulness in non-traditional pharmacy careers.

As part of the Alumni Spotlight series, the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy Advancement and Alumni Relations Office spoke with Karen S. and Karen A. about how the profession of pharmacy has shaped their lives and what it means to give back to the Faculty.

What inspired you to pursue Pharmacy at U of T? 

KS: During my last few years of high school, my favourite courses were biology and art. It was a decision I had to make, to pursue the path of the arts or the sciences. After interviewing several pharmacists, I decided to pursue a career in pharmacy because it allowed me to study the human body and help others in a healing profession. I was really happy when I found out I was accepted into the Faculty of Pharmacy at the U of T program!

KA: Throughout high school, I envisioned a career in which I could help people. Although I had a keen interest in science, applying that to a health-related field was most important to me. Influenced by pharmacists in my extended family and friend group, and, after doing my own research, I just knew pharmacy was the right path. U of T was the only school of pharmacy in Ontario at that time, so I worked diligently in high school with my eye on U of T, hoping to be accepted into the program.

How has your Pharmacy education at the faculty contributed to your career?

KS: My pharmacy education gave me a broader view as well as a deeper view of pharmaceutics in health care. I recall that in my 2 week clinical block during the last year of pharmacy, I was placed in an adult ICU and I was completely absorbed with what was happening to my patient and often stayed late just because I was so fascinated! After my graduation, I accepted a job opportunity in retail practice, but several years later, I went back to the Faculty of Pharmacy as a mature student and took more courses related to hospital practice and applied to a hospital residency program.

KA: My pharmacy education at U of T has opened numerous doors for me, far beyond my imagination. In a nutshell, my U of T pharmacy education gave me depth and breadth of knowledge, as well as the confidence, to pursue a non-traditional pharmacy career path, enabling me to enjoy a career that combined teaching, practice and research.

Tell us what you've been up to since graduation?

KS: My first job after my hospital residency was at The Hospital For Sick Children where I have remained there ever since. It’s a special vibe as soon as you walk into the hospital. I’ve been a clinical pharmacist in different programs at Sick Kids but when I found myself back in a CCU (Critical Care Unit) setting, I knew it was it. I work closely at the bedside with an incredible team of doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, and allied health care. We are a team of 9 pediatric ICU pharmacists. There is something so special and spiritual in that environment because you are faced with the authentic and vulnerable stories and every person on the health care team comes with their unique skills, talents and essence to be in service of healing to those suffering. I am forever indebted to my little patients because they were my reminders as to what is important in life.

Like Karen Agro, I have another side to me (the arts) that I knew I had not pursued when I chose the path of sciences. So during my 3rd year in pharmacy, I was taking courses at the Ontario College of Art. Even while I was a pediatric CCU pharmacist, I went back to Sheridan College to take Interior Decorating Courses. I also began to create Life Books which were living legacy books. Subsequently, I was exposed to life coaching, took the courses at CTI (Coaching Training Institute) and soon after, I completed Dr. Lissa Rankin’s program in Whole Health Medicine in California where I saw the connection between medicine/pharmacy and life coaching. I continued to take other programs in mindfulness and compassion, mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR), and hypnosis. With all the tools I have learned, I now coach individuals and run community programs virtually called LIFE CHATS and SOUL SCHOOL where we explore questions such as these:

What is it that matters to you in life? What is your gift? What is your legacy? What are your mental saboteurs that prohibit you from reaching your fullest potential? How does your time on Earth here fit into the greater Cosmos of it all? What is Soul? What is Spirit? What is Consciousness? What is healing? How do you balance medications and non-medications in the field of healthcare?

KA: While I started my career in community pharmacy in 1989, I quickly moved into the pharmaceutical industry in 1990 with Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd, working in Regulatory Affairs, Medical Affairs and Clinical Research before returning to U of T for my Doctorate of Pharmacy (PharmD), graduating in 1996.

Immediately out of the PharmD program, I founded Agro Health Associates Inc while concurrently completing the Health Research Methodology MSc program at McMaster University. Through Agro Health Associates, I spoke on many stages across Canada delivering education programs for pharmacy chains and banners, provided market access services to the pharmaceutical industry and advised on drug plan design for private payers. I also taught at the Faculty of Pharmacy U of T and the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy.

Most recently, however, I’ve been on a mission to help individuals and corporate teams – who feel stressed and burned out – to change their mood, quickly, with music. The goal is still improving health, but the intervention is very different than pharmaceuticals. How did I land here? Prior to, and throughout my 30-year pharmacy career, I studied classical guitar. In Grade 13, after years of studying classical guitar and making a record, I was at a crossroads – would I go to university for music or pharmacy. I chose the latter, but vowed one day to return to music. The trick was figuring out how.

How has daily life changed for you both during the past year?

KS: SickKids has opened their arms to help out our adult ICU colleagues so we take care of the adult Covid patients as well. It’s been an incredible experience – witnessing how everyone comes together in times of need.

My programs of LIFE CHATS and SOUL SCHOOL have been virtual forums for groups to come together to explore, learn, express, and connect on that deeper level.  I am forever grateful to both parts of my life. It has been fulfilling helping others with stress, anxiety, and disconnection in different areas of their life.

KA: COVID-19 forced me to pivot. Although my pharmaceutical consulting continues, daily life includes dedicated time to creating and delivering sessions, to groups, on the health benefits of music and how to use music as a mind shift tool. As a society, we’ve faced over a year of uncertainty. Now, more than ever, we need to look at multimodal ways of improving health.

You both have a shared passion of the arts, where did that stem from?

KS: My 3 children all have a love of playing the piano – it gives them a sense of peace and fun. When music is played, we all feel it in ways that touches. As a child, I loved to draw. My favourite things in life is to be in nature, especially by the water, having music played, connecting with deep conversations with others, being with my family and having a cup of tea.

KA: In March 2018, while in San Francisco, I fell 15-feet off of a rock-climbing wall. Being rushed to the San Francisco General Hospital and having a full work-up by the critical care team, was my aha moment. Luckily, my spine was intact but my elbow required reconstructive surgery. Faced with the threat I may never play guitar again, I had my wake-up call, and became determined to make both health and music part of my life.

A few years later, when my father was in the end stages of dementia and eventually on palliative care, I realized the potency of music and its link to health. Visiting my father, generally unresponsive and nearing the end of life in hospital, and playing guitar at his bedside, I watched in amazement at his response to the music. He would perk up and even utter the name of a piece. Music tapped into a part of his brain that was still very much alive.

I observed similar effects with my music teacher, the late Professor Eli Kassner, who ran the classical guitar program at U of T. Cognitively well, but physically suffering the effects of age, he would come to life when I received weekly music guidance from him at the Apotex Centre, Jewish Home for the Aged, at Baycrest. The staff witnessed an entirely different person during those sessions.

You’re both clinical pharmacists in your day to day lives, what role does music/mindfulness play in shaping your perspectives of care?

KS: I completely believe in the power of music, mindfulness, and soul health in the deepest way to heal. When we become aware of our mental thoughts and connect to our soul essence, we feel more aligned and in flow with life. Understanding one’s life path – recognizing the patterns, the intergenerational influences, the influence of the mind, I teach others to re-connect to their heart and soul center.

KA: I believe in both traditional evidence-based medicine and the use of non-traditional modalities for health. Each have their role, and bridges can be built between both for healing.

8. What does giving back mean to you both?

KS: 1. Giving back monetarily to support causes and initiatives that require funding to help.
2. Understanding Self – to see what your own gifts, skills, talents, and energetic essence and where could those be applied or utilized as your own way to give back – the gift of you.
3. Managing our own energies – each of us knowingly or unknowingly contribute an energetic essence into a space.
4. Giving our heart – in a world that is topsy-turvy and fraught with fear, we can help lessen fear by moving towards love, kindness and compassion.
5. Giving our ear – we all need to express ourselves, especially during emotional moments. Giving someone the stillness of our minds while we are listening, gives another human being the sacred silence so they can finally hear their own words.

One of my teachers in Whole Health Medicine said this, and it has always stuck with me, "Helping, fixing, and serving represent three different ways of seeing life/person. When you help, you see life/person as weak. When you fix, you see life/person as broken. When you serve, you see life/person as whole." – Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen, MD (Clinical Professor of Family & Community Medicine, UCSF - Director of “The Healer’s Art” - Director of the Institute of the Study of Health & Illness).

KA: Giving back, to me, means providing both financial and non-financial support. While I’ve historically donated monetarily, giving back by sharing time and expertise is also important. In this case, doing so led to working with Karen Sue-A-Quan and finding unique connections to help others.

Join Karen Sue-A-Quan and Dr. Karen Agro for their second live session of Wellness Rx: a social prescription for Creativity on Wednesday, May 19. Click below to learn more.

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