Program and grad year: GDPL’25
Career: Pharmacist, PlusValue Pharma
Meet Daoud Darazi, UBC Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Diploma in Pharmaceutical Leadership alumnus (GDPL’25). Daoud is a pharmacist on a mission to prevent diabetes-related amputations through innovation, education, and leadership. His work has already begun to take shape in practice, leading to the development of a nationally accredited continuing education conference, Back to the Future of Diabetic Foot Care, which equips pharmacists with practical tools for early risk detection and intervention. At its core, his work is driven by a clear goal: reducing preventable amputations through earlier identification of high-risk patients.
You've been passionate about improving outcomes for patients at risk of diabetes-related amputations. When you entered the GDPL program, what specific project or challenge in this area were you hoping to advance, and how did it start?
My motivation started with a simple but troubling observation: many amputations related to diabetic complications are preventable, yet they still happen because risks are detected too late. When I entered the GDPL program, my goal was to explore how pharmacists could play a stronger role in identifying those risks earlier. What started as an idea evolved throughout the GDPL program’s five courses into a structured prevention model, along with my conference and broader initiatives.
One unique feature of the GDPL program is that assignments are built around real workplace projects instead of exams. How did that structure allow you to advance your initiative while you were studying?
This structure was one of the most valuable aspects of the program. Instead of studying for a test that assessed concepts in isolation, each assignment became an opportunity to apply what I was learning directly to a real workplace opportunity stemming from a healthcare challenge. The work I completed during the program directly contributed to the development of my nationally accredited continuing education conference, Back to the Future of Diabetic Foot Care, which aims to equip pharmacists with practical tools for early risk detection and intervention. By the end, I didn’t just gain knowledge, I had something concrete and impactful ready to deliver.
Can you share how different courses in the program helped you develop specific aspects of your project?
Each course helped shape a different dimension of my project. I learned how to align my personal mission with my work to be more impactful. The approach shifted from transferring knowledge to inspiring others to join a shared mission. I learned that consideration of applicable sources of data to inform decision-making makes your work credible. I also began thinking at a systems level, identifying gaps in healthcare rather than focusing only on individual patients. Another key shift was moving from sharing information to providing practical tools that pharmacists can use in their practice. And finally, I learned how to communicate complex ideas in a simple and clear way, which is essential for engagement and implementation.
For pharmacists considering the GDPL program, how valuable was it to work on something meaningful to your own practice instead of completing traditional exams?
For me, this was the most powerful aspect of the program. Working on a project connected to my own professional reality made the learning experience much more meaningful. I was building something that continues to grow today. By the end of the program, I had not only gained knowledge but also developed a concrete initiative and a clear leadership vision.
What’s next for you?
My next step is to expand this work further across Canada and internationally. I want to reach more pharmacists and healthcare professionals and involve them in prevention efforts. I’m also building a multidisciplinary team, including pharmacists, nurses, and other specialists, to screen high-risk patients earlier and intervene before complications occur. The goal is to create a lasting impact on patient outcomes.