Image: Dr. Maria Paiva, PharmD'13
Career/profession
I have worked and volunteered in a variety of settings, with the majority of my experience in adult and pediatric oncology in Canada, Ghana, and Qatar. I currently work in the Department of Clinical Operations in a children’s and women’s hospital and teach at the College of Pharmacy at Qatar University. I am also working towards completing a MBA.
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
I am most proud of the team collaborations in Ghana. We implemented initiatives ranging from workflow optimization to minimizing distractions in the dispensary, creating medication timetables for antiretroviral treatments in the local language along with pictograms, piloting a diabetes management program, to research learning styles in order to customize education. Additionally, with the help of a rural hospital and pharmacists, a host family, and my co-preceptor, we created an international rotation for pharmacy students. I am also proud of the work I have done in Qatar, where I helped to open a green-field academic tertiary hospital, which has improved access and the quality of care offered to the country and Gulf region. Successes include the ability to now offer pediatric renal transplantations, and the first separation of conjoined twins in the country was performed here.
What are some interesting initiatives you are working on currently?
I am working on including developing divisional strategies, balanced scorecards, and demand and capacity models to grow and sustain our services in Qatar. We are also working on implementing third-party reimbursement pathways for our patients. This is an initiative close to my heart as a Canadian who has benefited from public healthcare and believes quality care should be accessible to all.
How do you think your profession will evolve in the near future?
Given the impact of the pandemic I think healthcare in general will be more reliant on virtual care options. Specifically, with pharmacy, I hope the profession uses more data-driven models to make decisions. With the majority of settings using electronic medical records or dispensing software, there is a vast dataset that can be tapped to help predict and prevent adverse events, non-compliance, and readmissions. I think there are aspects of big data analytics from the commercial sector that could be extrapolated to pharmacy practice to better serve our patients.
Who or what has been the biggest influence in your career?
I was a pediatric patient for a number of years and would not have the life I do without the exemplary care I received. My mom is a retired pediatric nurse. Both of these factors led me to a career in pediatric healthcare. After my volunteer experience in Ghana, I felt that I could contribute to pharmacy practice and healthcare in a more dynamic way internationally and have worked abroad ever since.
What UBC moment are you still talking about?
Convocation. My parents and siblings travelled to Vancouver to share the day with me. I would not have made it through the program without their support.