Photo credit: John Wilms.
Pharmacy educators, researchers, staff and students from across Canada gathered in Edmonton from June 16 to 19 for the 2026 Canadian Pharmacy Education and Research Conference (CPERC). This annual event provides an opportunity for participants to engage with emerging topics, showcase innovation, and strengthen the ties that define a national community of practice. This year's conference, co-hosted by the University of British Columbia and the University of Alberta, highlighted the Faculty’s initiatives as well as the importance of collaboration across institutions. The conference officially opened with welcoming remarks from Dr. Lalitha Raman-Wilms, Dean, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
A strong Pharm Sci presence
In addition to serving as co-host of CPERC 2026 alongside the University of Alberta, the Faculty had an exceptional presence throughout the conference. Dr. Teri Charrois (Professor of Teaching and Associate Dean, Practice Innovation) served as Co-Chair of the CPERC Program Committee, helping to shape the conference program in collaboration with colleagues from across Canada and the Association of Faculties of Pharmacy of Canada (AFPC). Her leadership was instrumental in developing a diverse and engaging program that reflected the breadth of pharmacy education and research taking place nationally. The Faculty extends its sincere thanks to Dr. Charrois for her outstanding leadership and dedication in this important national role.
The conference was also supported by Faculty leadership, including Dr. Marion Pearson, Associate Dean, Students, and Dr. Aaron Beedle, Associate Dean, Academic, who attended conference sessions and demonstrated the Faculty's commitment to advancing excellence in pharmacy education.
"UBC was well represented with a large contingent of faculty, staff and students (both undergraduate and graduate)," notes Dr. Charrois. Faculty members showcased their exceptional work through keynote presentations, oral presentations, workshops, special interest group (SIG) discussions and posters, highlighting the innovation and impact of the Faculty's teaching, research and practice initiatives.
Dr. Janice Yeung, Lecturer and Director, Office of Experiential Education (left); Dr. Neelam Dhaliwal, Assistant Professor of Teaching (right). Photo credit: Dr. Kathy Seto.
The conference also brought national recognition to the Faculty through three AFPC awards. Dr. Jamie Yuen and the GenRx team received the Educational Scholarship Award for their poster presentation; Amin Adibi received the Graduate Student Research Award, and fourth-year PharmD student Renee Lim received the Award for Best Student Poster Presentation in Pharmacy Practice Research. The Faculty congratulates the recipients on these prestigious honours.
The Faculty's contributions culminated with Brie Weir (Manager, Educational Technology), Dr. Jillian Reardon (Pharmacist and Lecturer), Dr. Gilly Lau (Lecturer and Coordinator), and Rob Pammett (Associate Professor (Partner)) delivering the conference's closing keynote presentation.
“It was an especially big highlight to have representatives from UBC deliver the closing keynote,” says Dr. Kathy Seto (Associate Professor of Teaching and Director, Entry-to-Practice PharmD). “[They] did an amazing job of wrapping up the conference!”
Emerging themes
The Faculty showcased the depth of its work through dozens of posters, oral presentations, workshops, and SIG discussions. This included presentations focusing on universal design for learning (UDL), 2SLGBTQ+ health curricula, Indigenous priorities for medication safety through sharing circles, and more (see full program).
Artificial intelligence emerged as a recurring theme throughout CPERC 2026, appearing in a keynote speech as well as multiple presentations throughout the conference’s four days. While AI has been a frequent topic at recent conferences, Dr. Charrois noted a shift in tone this year. “The difference this year is in the acceptance of its role, and looking at innovative ways to use it for teaching and learning”.
The student perspective
CPERC also provided an opportunity for Entry-to-Practice PharmD students from the Faculty to showcase their work, build professional networks, and gain exposure to pharmacy research and practice from across Canada. The Faculty supported attendance for faculty members and students, recognizing the value of sharing knowledge, presenting scholarly work, and building national collaborations that strengthen pharmacy education and research.
“One of the most valuable aspects of CPERC was the opportunity to develop my research communication and public speaking skills—experiences that are often difficult to gain in a traditional classroom setting,” says Renee Lim (PY4). Across two posters, Renee’s work explored efforts to develop resources for people living with Parkinson’s disease and how students and pharmacists can help address gaps in care. Seeing such strong interest in the research reinforced the impact of the project and the value of collaborating across the health care spectrum.
Attending CPERC also gave students a broader perspective on the evolving role of pharmacists across Canada. Grace Du (PY4) was struck by the diversity of research and innovation taking place between provinces. Learning about pharmacists' role as independent prescribers inspired excitement about the future of pharmacy practice in British Columbia.
Beyond presenting research, the event offered valuable networking opportunities with students, faculty, and researchers from UBC and institutions across the country. For Ella Gray (PY4), exploring projects from other universities emphasized the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the profession. “Overall, I'm extremely grateful that I was able to attend CPERC as a UBC PharmD student,” says Ella.
The importance of social connection
Beyond the formal sessions, CPERC 2026 reinforced the value of collaboration within Canada's pharmacy education and research community. For participants from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the conference proved an opportunity not only to share innovations and expertise, but also to build relationships that will help shape the future of the profession.
“[I] always think the social events help to bring together a group of Faculty members,” notes Dr. Charrois. “Everyone is always so happy to be representing their school; but in addition to that, it is always so great to connect with colleagues from across the country and know we are all facing similar challenges.”
Dr. Seto echoes this sentiment, emphasizing how the conference provides an excellent opportunity to learn more about the work going on at other institutions. “It’s also a highlight to reconnect with colleagues from across Canada and establish new connections and collaborations.”
The Faculty's strong representation at CPERC 2026 reflects its ongoing commitment to supporting faculty, staff and students in sharing their scholarship, building collaborations, and contributing to the advancement of pharmacy education and research across Canada. Below is a list of all the posters and presentations contributed by the Faculty, demonstrating our commitment to advancing pharmacy education and research.