Grads to Watch: Donna Rahmatian gains research experience and enhanced clinical skills

When Donna Rahmatian, a clinical pharmacist in Vancouver, enrolled in the PharmD for Pharmacists program at U of T’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, she knew she would enhance her pharmacy skills and practice. But she also had opportunities to build important research skills that she plans to use in her future clinical practice.

Rahmatian earned a Bachelor of Science in pharmacy from the University of British Columbia in 2014, then completed a one-year hospital residency. While working in a hospital in Vancouver, she began looking for additional training to build her skill set. The PharmD for Pharmacists program appealed to her because of its excellent reputation and the flexibility to continue working while studying and completing rotations close to home.

She started the program in January 2019 and enjoyed learning from the experienced clinical pharmacists who taught the program. But the experiential rotations were the highlight.

“I was able to organize several rotations in the Vancouver area with excellent preceptors,” she says. “It made for a great learning environment, and I was able to get a lot out of those placements.”

Rahmatian was interested in pursuing research as part of her clinical practice. She completed an elective research rotation with Mina Tadrous, reviewing the importance of real-world evidence and how pharmacists can use this information in their practices. The review was published as a commentary article in June 2021.

“I had participated in several other projects before this, but this rotation was a different experience,” she says. “I was able to gain different skills through Tadrous’ expertise in pharmacoepidemiology and learn more about drug policy.”

With one of her clinical preceptors, she also published a systematic review of clinical trials comparing antiplatelet therapy with or without anticoagulant therapy for peripheral artery disease.

Rahmatian plans to incorporate research into her current practice at the kidney care and peritoneal dialysis clinic at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, as well as pursue more teaching and precepting. She says that the PharmD for Pharmacists program has helped to prepare her for this challenging career.

 “The degree has provided me with further training and experience that build on the skills I already have and opened up job opportunities” she says. “Most importantly, I am a better pharmacist and able to do more for my patients.”

By: Eileen Hoftyzer