Welcome new and returning students!

Dear new and returning students,

I am delighted to welcome all new and returning students to the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy this fall, and would like to offer a special welcome to our over 270 incoming students joining us as part of our PharmD and PharmSci programs.

There’s no better time than the present to be studying pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. Our faculty is home to world-leading researchers that are developing solutions for the COVID-19 pandemic, including innovative diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. We are also leading research efforts that push the boundaries of what the pharmacy and health system of the future will look like so that we can contribute to improving everyday patient care.

Together with our fantastic student community, we are truly moving science and health and look forward to your important contributions.

I know this isn’t how you envisioned starting your fall 2020 journey with the Faculty – and I will truly miss meeting students in our building. Our main priority this fall is to protect the health and wellness of our pharmacy community, including our students, faculty, and staff. We are deeply committed to creating an innovative, and engaging online learning experience for all of our students. For now we must communicate remotely, but there are a variety of supports in place to help students maximize their remote learning experience.  I encourage you to visit the “Current Students” section of our website which curates information related to our Undergraduate and graduate programs. It also has links to health and wellness resources and financial supports.

We are also committed to co-creating social and mentorship experiences with our student body throughout the year. I encourage everyone to pay close attention during our virtual orientation sessions, and we are committed to regular communication with students to provide updates, resources and tips related to remote learning. I also encourage you to participate in the fantastic orientation week activities planned by our student associations, the Undergraduate Pharmacy Society and Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Student Association.

Our top priority this fall is to offer a rich remote leaning experience to all students. In the coming weeks we will be rolling out our annual Dean’s Report, which will offer a window into our Faculty’s shared impact. We are also engaged in a Faculty-wide strategic planning exercise which will chart the course for the next five years. There will be plenty of opportunities for student input and feedback throughout the process.

A top priority for our Faculty is to focus our efforts in equity, diversity and inclusion and integrate them into every pillar within our strategic plan. We have some new awards and supports for Black and Indigenous students that will soon be announced, as well as roundtable discussion opportunities for students and all community members so that everyone will have a voice in shaping our Faculty’s equity, diversity and inclusion action plan.

Congratulations again on being a member of one of the top faculties of pharmacy in the world!

Sincerely,

Lisa Dolovich
Dean
Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy
University of Toronto