Alumni Profile: Fred Wiley BSc(Pharm)'53

November 26, 2021

 

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Fred Wiley is a retired employee pharmacist from the Class of 1953. Fred was active in the licensing body for pharmacists (BC Pharmaceutical Association) which later became the College of Pharmacists. He was also a charter member of the BC Pharmacy Association which at the time was called BC Professional Pharmacists Society.

What accomplishments are you most proud of? 

Some of the things that come to mind include being one of the first four pharmacists to be chosen to be a preceptor around 1967. I had a student who was at the top of his class and it was rewarding to be a preceptor to this student. 

In addition to this, doing patient profiles was not a common practice around this time and one of my colleagues in Kimberley, BC was doing this. I saw the value in this and so I started doing patient profiles as well. We then started seeing this trend in eastern Canada and around the world.

When I started in this profession, I immediately saw that pharmacists were in a unique position to understand drug interactions well. To achieve this goal at a large scale, I was amongst the first to help develop the competency exam for pharmacists in order to advance the profession and practice knowledge. Another highlight was when I was asked to serve on the Senate of the then BC Professional Pharmacists Society, now known as the BC Pharmacists Association (BCPhA), as the employee pharmacist representative.

What made you choose pharmacy as a profession? 

When I was 15 and in grade nine I told the school counselor that I wanted to go to university and explore a health care profession. I interviewed a few pharmacists and decided that it was my calling. My counselor didn’t think that I would make a good pharmacist. I decided then and there that he was wrong and that it would be a fulfilling career choice, and pharmacy ended up being a lifelong passion.

How do you think the profession of pharmacy will continue to evolve?

From the time I entered the profession, pharmacists have been advancing their education, exploring drug development, studying drug interactions and other substances in patients. Pharmacists have direct patient contact and see side effects in patients firsthand. We also have a close relationship with doctors and share this knowledge with them. I think the profession is ever-evolving and pharmacists are often consulted by other health care providers because of their ability to understand drug interactions, which is paramount in delivering patient-centered care.

What UBC moment are you still talking about? 

When a former Dean asked me to serve on the curriculum committee. I was thrilled! Another moment was when my Class of 1953 received a 60-year pin from the Faculty. It made me realize the longevity and impact of my professional career.

How and why do you give to UBC? 

I give to UBC because I want to build this profession. I am particularly interested in supporting students who are in remote and rural places because it is a barrier to accessing education. I am proud of being a pharmacist and want to also leave a legacy through my giving.

If you would like to learn more about supporting students in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, please visit https://give.ubc.ca/pharmaceutical-sciences.

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