About the Leader-in-Residence (LiR) program
Few professions or industries have experienced such significant, rapid, and transformational changes as pharmacy. Now, more than ever, there is a need for leaders who are confident, competent, and capable of influencing the future direction of practice and science.
The Leader-in-Residence (LiR) program at the University of Toronto’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy connects future leaders with established leaders and generates important outcomes to support the continuing evolution of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.
Hosted and organized by the Centre for Practice Excellence (CPE), the LiR program provides significant opportunities for community building and engagement at the University of Toronto and across Canadian partner institutions. The LiR program also complements existing curricular and para-curricular options for students to develop and grow as leaders of the future, such as the Management, Leadership and Entrepreneurship (MLE) Certificate.
How is a Leader-in-Residence selected?
A nomination-selection process is used in which senior professional, scientific, and faculty leaders are encouraged to identify and nominate individuals who can make impactful contributions to Faculty life. A review panel consisting of the Executive Committee of the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy makes final decisions regarding LiR appointments and these appointments will be held by the selected individual for 12 months. Particular emphasis is placed on ensuring Leaders in Residence represent the diverse nature of Canadian society and present a diverse array of experiences and skills that can be shared with students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
For more information, contact Zubin Austin.
Learn more about our past LiRs
Emily Musing
2022-23 Leader-in- Residence
Emily is an unparalleled leader in the pharmacy community with long and deep roots at the University of Toronto and prior to joining as Leader in Residence, had made significant contributions to our curriculum and the quality of the student experience in this role.
Emily recently retired from the role of Vice President – Clinical and Chief Patient Safety Officer at the University Health Network in 2022, and was responsible for the opening and operations of one of Canada’s first and largest COVID-19 vaccination clinics. Prior to this, she was Executive Director of Pharmacy Services for UHN for close to a decade, overseeing one of the largest pharmacy departments in North America. She has held academic appointments at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and the Institute for Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation and has lectured in diverse courses in both schools. She has completed advanced health leadership programs through Rotman School of Management and is a member of the American College of Health Service Executives, and the Canadian College of Health Leaders. She is also a Fellow of the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists, and the American College of Health Service Executives. She has been President of the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists, and has precepted and mentored over 50 students over her career.
In the role of Leader in Residence, Emily led development and delivery of PHM 327H, a 1-week summer intensive course focused on introducing students to management, leadership and entrepreneurship opportunities in the profession. She also lectured in many other courses and delivered invited presentations to student groups.
Mike Sullivan
2023-24 Leader-in-Residence
Mike is a pharmacist and Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Cubic Health Inc, one of the leading analytics and clinical solutions company in the health benefits industry in Canada. His work in management of health benefits plans influences over 4 million Canadians through direct work with large, self-insured plan sponsors. Through Cubic’s unique analytical processes, over $100 million of cost savings to benefits plan sponsors has resulted over the past 5 years, without significant impact on individual plan members.
In 2022, Mike co-founded the first Plan Sponsor Pharmacy in Ontario that vertically integrates benefit plan funding with plan design, administration, clinical assessment, medication distribution and provision of clinical services. He has been an adjunct professor at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and the School of Pharmacy – University of Waterloo, and has lectured extensively in the area of pharmacy management, leadership, and entrepreneurship.
As our 2023-2024 Leader in Residence, Mike developed an online extracurricular program focused on unleashing the entrepreneurial potential of students. His approach was to help students reflect on themselves, and understand the real world challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship. Through this online series of webinars, Mike helped students walk through the process of understanding themselves as potential entrepreneurs and addressing roadblocks and challenges to achieving an entrepreneurial vision.