Alumni connect and explore career paths at first Pharmacy Changemakers event

(L-R) Moderator, Emily Musing, and panelists Bita Janzadeh, Faizan Baig, Rebecca Yu, Ajay Chahal, and Anushya Vijayaraghevan.

Alumni from the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy gathered for the first session of a new networking and engagement event series, Pharmacy Changemakers.

Focused on diverse career paths and career transitions in pharmacy, the first session, hosted on February 20, showcased a panel of trailblazing alumni who are working across many industries, from clinical software engineering to biopharma operations in the pharmaceutical industry.

Panelists discussed their range of experiences, sources of inspiration, and how their education and training as pharmacists have laid the foundation to explore different industries and areas of focus.

“Pharmacists have to translate complex information across various levels of sophistication, and this is a sought-after skill that applies across industries.”

“Pharmacy background skills are useful across all careers,” said panelist Bita Janzadeh (PharmD 2T1), now a clinical software engineer for MedEssist and a technical consultant for the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) Canada. “Pharmacists have to translate complex information across various levels of sophistication, and this is a sought-after skill that applies across industries.”

With more than 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Rebecca Yu (BScPhm) talked about mentorship, resilience, and the commitment to be a lifetime learner. “Set a bar for what you think you can do and go after it,” she said. “Even if you fail, you’ve learned, and you have grown from that.”

Anushya Vijayaraghevan (PharmD 1T8) and Ajay Chahal (PharmD 1T8), both pharmacy owners with Wholehealth Pharmacy, have also co-founded Apothecare, a pharmacist-led cannabis consulting company focused on supporting evidence-based, personalized cannabis recommendations. Chahal, who is also a pharmacist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), saw a gap in patient and health provider support and education when using or recommending cannabis alongside other traditional medications. Vijayaraghevan and Chahal were first inspired to pursue entrepreneurship as students participating in the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy’s annual business plan case competition.

“It’s important to be prepared for the prospect of opportunity so that when it arises, you can take a leap of faith while also knowing how to minimize your risk,” said Chahal.

Attendees enjoyed networking and refreshments following the panel discussion. The next Pharmacy Changemakers event, The Advocate in Me, is set for April 17 and will explore advocacy in pharmacy and how pharmacists are addressing critical issues at both the personal and professional levels.

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