Pharmacists Clinic
At the UBC Pharmacists Clinic (the Clinic), our pharmacist clinicians use their specialized knowledge and training to offer a range of healthcare services, including comprehensive medication management (CMM), minor ailment and contraceptive services, and administration of injections. CMM is an in-depth service where the pharmacist works closely with a patient and their care team to optimize medication use and patient health outcomes. CMM is evidence-based, collaborative and ensures the patient understands and is involved in their care decisions.
Over the years, the Clinic has collaborated with several First Nations Communities, providing CMM both virtually and in person through community visits. Most recently, in November 2023, the Clinic team was welcomed back by the Tla’amin Nation near Powell River for the third time, where they conducted one-on-one appointments with community members, offered point-of-care testing for diabetes and cholesterol, and led educational sessions on various health topics. Additionally, the Clinic team was invited to present to Musqueam Elders, sharing guidance on using inhalers and explaining the unique properties of each type. The Clinic team is actively developing further programs and events to support health education and build awareness with participating communities.
First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and the Pharmacists Clinic
The FNHA is the first and only provincial First Nations health authority in Canada. The FNHA is the health and wellness partner to over 200 diverse First Nations communities and citizens across British Columbia.
In 2013, the Government of Canada transferred its role in First Nations health programming in British Columbia to the FNHA. Since then, the FNHA has been working to address service gaps through new partnerships, closer collaboration, health systems innovation, reform and redesign of health programs and services for individuals, families, communities and Nations.
The FNHA has been partnering with the Pharmacists Clinic since 2015, starting with the Healthy Medication Use Initiative (HMUI). A strong relationship has been built through mutual respect and our shared vision of collaboration that focuses on community-centered and nation-based needs. HMUI was a 3-year initiative between the FNHA, the Clinic, community pharmacists across BC, and First Nations community members to increase access of comprehensive medication management services and tailor to community needs. The FNHA provided participating communities with funding for a local pharmacist to contribute to the care and education of patients with medication needs.
In 2023, the UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences released “Building Cultural Safety and Humility for First Nations Clients into Pharmacy Practice”, which contains two educational courses. Course content was thoughtfully developed with the FNHA and with guidance and teachings from a First Nations Advisory Group, led by an Indigenous facilitator, and a Pharmacy Advisory Group. Evelyn Alec, a First Nations artist from the Penticton Indian Band, created the designs used in the courses.
The partnership between the FNHA and the Clinic continues to enhance clinical care for community members, foster engagement with communities and FNHA programs, and build cultural safety and humility into pharmacy care practices through ongoing education.
Diversifying Health and Human Service Professions Education (D’HoPE)
D’HoPE is designed to help equity-denied high school and undergraduate students develop a sustained interest in a health profession education program of their choice. Equity-denied groups include, but are not limited to, people who identify as first-generation university students, disabled, Indigenous, people of colour, economically disadvantaged and 2SLGBTQIAP+. The Pharmacists Clinic, faculty members from the Integrated Activities team, and the Office of Student Services have teamed every year to host D’HoPE students. The students come to the Pharmaceutical Sciences Building for the day and tour and learn about careers in pharmaceutical sciences.
Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada (IPPC)
The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences is a member of the Indigenous Professional Pharmacy of Canada (IPPC). IPPC represents Indigenous pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy assistants with proof of Indigenous ancestry.
Membership benefits include priority for project partnership, collaboration on an Indigenous health-related webinar, TRC consultation and support, discounted consulting rate and management fees for pharmacy practice, policy review, program design or other projects and initiatives built around Indigenous health.
For more information or if you wish to contact IPPC, please email Nadine Duke, Indigenous Strategic Initiatives Manager at nadine.duke@ubc.ca.
IPPC Certificate of Indigenous Pharmacy Allyship (PNG, 4.0 MB)
College of Pharmacists of British Columbia
Founded in 1891, the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia is a vital link between patients, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the College have worked closely together to uphold the Indigenous Cultural Safety, Cultural Humility and Anti-Racism Practice Standard. Systemic racism and intolerance toward Indigenous worldviews and traditional approaches to health, as well as the enduring legacy of colonialism, all present as persistent barriers and poorer health outcomes for Indigenous people when accessing health services in British Columbia and Canada.
UPROOT
UPROOT is a diverse team of pharmacists, educators and students from Indigenous and settler backgrounds. They share a commitment to addressing deep-rooted issues of our past and present colonial history to move toward respect, responsibility, relevance and reciprocity with community partners.
UPROOT is interested in Indigenous health curriculum, community-based projects, Indigenous student supports, engagement with urban and rural Nations, and research. The UPROOT team uses a two-eyed seeing approach in weaving Indigenous and Western knowledge systems together in our community-based projects. Projects are co-developed with partners, student learners and faculty members based on the expressed opportunities and priority areas from each community.
Verna Kirkness Foundation
The Verna J. Kirkness Education Foundation Program mission is to increase the number of Indigenous students graduating from pure and applied science, engineering and mathematics programs in Canada.
The Foundation develops motivated role models who foster the importance of graduating from high school and obtaining a post-secondary education. It addresses this by offering scholarships to Indigenous students in grades 11 and 12 to spend a week at a Canadian university, interacting with scientists in their research laboratories. During the week of instruction on campus, students have the opportunity to meet role models, learn about the support systems available on campus and experience the excitement of doing research.
In 2023, the Faculty hosted two Verna Kirkness students, and doubled its participation the following year to four in 2024. These students explored diverse aspects of pharmaceutical research, including gene therapy in Dr. Colin Ross’ lab, protein production in Dr. Adam Frankel’s lab, and drug discovery in Dr. Brent Page’s lab. Dr. Annalijn Conklin also guided them on a visit to the xʷc̓ic̓əsəm Garden at UBC Farm, where they learned about traditional medicines. The program offered a valuable glimpse into STEM fields, sparking interest in academia and research.