Above: Chris Carter, Practice Educator and Co-owner at Common Good Pharmacy (left); Carl Ewert, fourth-year Entry-to-Practice PharmD student (right)
As UBC approaches Fall Convocation, the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences reflects on the rich, experiential learning opportunities that have defined many students' educational journeys. From community pharmacy placements in the Okanagan to cross-cultural communication workshops and creative podcast projects, these experiences extend far beyond textbooks and lectures, preparing graduates to serve diverse communities with both clinical expertise and cultural competency.
Finding Purpose in Community Practice
For Carl Ewert, a fourth-year Entry-to-Practice Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) student, his placement at Common Good Pharmacy in West Kelowna has been transformative. Born and raised in Prince George, Ewert's path to pharmacy wasn't initially clear. "I grew up playing hockey with dreams of making the NHL without any thoughts of practicing pharmacy," he recalls. It was only after working alongside his father, a pharmacist with over 30 years of experience, that Ewert discovered his calling.
Through the PHRM 473 Selected Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience course, Ewert has experienced firsthand how community-centred pharmacies can provide care that goes beyond traditional dispensing. The placement has revealed distinct advantages of independent practice settings, where staff can spend meaningful time with each patient.
"What I've found surprising is that all the staff are able to spend more time with each patient that comes through the doors," Ewert observes. He's also gained practical insights into the unique operational considerations of community pharmacy, from adapting to medication delivery delays due to distance from urban centres to navigating weather-related disruptions.
The experience has significantly influenced Ewert's career trajectory. "I believe I will find myself working in a smaller community setting after graduation," he states confidently. "This experience has shown me that working in community pharmacy is very rewarding and this experience has solidified my idea to practice in these settings."
Perhaps most importantly, his time in West Kelowna has reinforced a fundamental truth: "What I've truly appreciated through my community experiences is that you can be a great pharmacist anywhere."
Left to right: Carl Ewert, fourth-year Entry-to-Practice PharmD student; Carl Ewert with Chris Carter, Practice Educator and Co-owner at Common Good Pharmacy
Building Bridges Through Cross-cultural Communication
Since 2015, first-year Entry-to-Practice PharmD students have participated in mandatory cross-cultural communication sessions as part of their Program Enrichment Activity Days. For Goodnews Mayom Deng, who arrived in British Columbia just four days before classes began after growing up in refugee camps in Kenya and Uganda, the session provided more than academic knowledge—it offered validation and confidence.
"Initiating a conversation was difficult for me," he reflects. "I would ask myself many questions before I spoke: What will others think? However, when Jas explained the barriers faced by internationally trained pharmacists during a lecture, I could feel my weaknesses and fears begin to vanish."
The impact of these skills extends directly into practice. First-year student Alyssa shares, "During my PY1 practicum, I have seen the effect of cross-cultural communication skills in action as I counselled patients and their families on safe medication use. Cross-cultural communication not only builds trust and rapport but also enhances the quality of care we provide as pharmacists, making our patients feel seen and valued."
For Jessica, another PY1 student, the session revealed universal principles: "Kindness and respect form the foundation of a universal language we can all speak. Interpersonal connections help forge the deeper concept of patient-centred care."
Creating Connections Through Innovative Projects
When Entry-to-Practice PharmD student Kimia joined the Faculty's Continuing Pharmacy Professional Development (CPPD) unit for a work study project, she brought her passion for medical podcasts and vision for pharmacy-focused content. Her role in developing CPPD's pilot podcast episode on sports supplements exemplified how students can contribute to professional education while gaining unique skills.
"What really inspired me to join the podcast project was my own habit of listening to medical-related podcasts," Kimia explains. "I found them engaging and informative, but I always noticed that they were mostly from the perspective of physicians or other healthcare professionals. I thought it would be exciting to help create something similar, but with a pharmacy lens."
The project taught skills that traditional coursework couldn't provide. "I got to work on communicating information in a clear, engaging way, something that's so important when you're trying to make a complex topic like sports supplements understandable for a wide audience," she reflects. "I also learned how to plan and shape the flow of a conversation, almost like telling a story."
Most significantly, the experience broadened her perspective on the profession itself. "I started to see pharmacists not just as clinicians, but also as educators and storytellers who can help shape public conversations around health," she says. "It made me appreciate the value of creative strategies for knowledge translation."
Kimia reflects on the broader significance of such opportunities: "It's easy to get caught up in exams and practicums, but projects like this remind you that pharmacy is also about communication, creativity, and lifelong learning. Being part of something that blended education with storytelling made me feel connected to the profession in a way that was fun, challenging, and meaningful all at once."
Left to right: Brie Weir, Manager, Educational Technology with Kimia, Entry-to-Practice PharmD student; Kimia with Jamie Yuen, Pharmacists Clinic Assistant Director and Clinical Pharmacist and Lecturer
Developing Leaders Through Research Symposium Organization
Graduate students Chloe White and Vignesh Krishnamoorthy took on leadership roles as co-chairs of the Faculty's annual Graduate and Postdoctoral Research Symposium (GPRS), developing crucial professional skills while serving their academic community.
For White, a third-year PhD student researching targeted therapeutics for triple negative breast cancer, the experience proved deeply formative. "The skills that I have developed through organizing a big event like GPRS are translatable to my everyday work as a researcher," she notes. "The communication and teamwork skills have allowed me to become a better lab mate and conduct more effective cooperative work."
Krishnamoorthy, a fourth-year PhD candidate developing immune therapies for blood cancers, found the leadership role pushed him beyond his comfort zone in valuable ways. Originally from India, he shares: "Working in the GPRS organizing committee as co-chair placed me in a high-responsibility leadership role where I had to make quick decisions, manage a large team, and navigate unexpected challenges. I learnt that I'm more adaptable and confident under pressure than I had realized."
From community pharmacy placements to cross-cultural communication training, creative media projects, and symposium leadership, these student experiences reveal how learning extends beyond the classroom to shape not just competent pharmacists, but compassionate healthcare leaders ready to serve communities across British Columbia and beyond.
Vignesh Krishnamoorthy, fourth-year PhD candidate