CPhA Centennial Leadership Award

The 2024 CPhA Centennial Leadership Award recipients are:

 

Harman Waring, University of British Columbia

Harman Waring was born and raised in BC and completed a BSc in biology and psychology before enrolling in the PharmD program at the University of British Columbia. She was inspired to pursue pharmacy after working at a pharmacy and learning about the important role pharmacists play in improving patient outcomes. Throughout her degree she has been involved in various committees advocating for the well-being of her peers and the pharmacy profession. As a co-chair of the Mental Health Task Force at UBC, Harman worked with students and faculty to create resources and implement initiatives that support wellness. She also coordinated student-led outreach initiatives to promote health within the community and advocated for the expanding pharmacist role in her positions as co-student representative of CSHP Advocacy and chair of UBC’s CAPSI Advocacy Committee. As the health-care landscape continues to evolve, Harman is excited to see pharmacists take on a more prominent role in collaborative teams to optimize patient care and bridge health-care gaps.

Jonathan Chan, University of Alberta

Jonathan Chan grew up in Edmonton, AB, and is currently completing his PharmD at the University of Alberta. Jonathan is passionate about direct patient care as well as research and innovation to contribute to patient care on a wider scale. He enjoys caring for and learning from his patients. Jonathan is involved in clinical research that has demonstrated the importance of pharmacist care. During his time as the Webmaster for the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Students and Interns (CAPSI), Jonathan created a website for pharmacy students to easily access tools, information and resources. He contributes to a technology startup company that provides clinical decision-making tools and documentation support for pharmacists. Jonathan is excited to begin his career to serve his community and support future generations.

Emily Galey, University of Saskatchewan

Emily Galey was born and raised on a farm in the southwest corner of Saskatchewan. Growing up in a rural area drew Emily to the profession of pharmacy, as she saw how important pharmacists were in facilitating care in isolated communities. Before entering the PharmD program at the University of Saskatchewan, Emily completed a BSc, majoring in Physiology and Pharmacology. She has always been involved in student government and recently served as the 2023/24 University of Saskatchewan School of Pharmacy and Nutrition Student’s Society co-president. Emily possesses a great passion for harm reduction and leverages that passion as a support worker at Prairie Harm Reduction, the only safe consumption site in Saskatchewan. As Saskatchewan moves toward greater prescribing authority for pharmacists, Emily is excited to see the role pharmacists will play in primary care. “Looking back at my rural roots, I know that expanded scope for pharmacists will help deliver effective and efficient care in communities that are struggling,” she says. “I am excited to see what this will mean for rural and isolated communities and more importantly, I am excited for the chance to give back.”

Marc Herrera, University of Manitoba

Marc Herrera was born in the Philippines and raised in Winnipeg, MB. Intrigued by the impact pharmacists have on patients' lives, Marc committed to pursuing a PharmD at the University of Manitoba. As past president of the University of Manitoba Pharmacy Students’ Association, Marc deepened his understanding of advocacy and the profession, which inspired him to effect broader change. Joining CAPSI National's Executive Council as Webmaster, Marc aims to advocate for pharmacy advancements through creative mediums. He is grateful for all the connections he’s made so far, and for those who continually believe in his potential. Marc believes that ongoing learning, leadership, empathy and adaptability are all essential elements to his success, as we expand pharmacist scope and increase awareness and extend our reach to even the most hidden corners of our communities. He aspires to contribute to innovating pharmacy practice and is dedicated to advancing pharmacy practice standards, improving patient outcomes and shaping the future of health care.

Paige Klingbeil, University of Waterloo

Paige Klingbeil was born and raised in Sarnia, ON. In high school she discovered a love for chemistry and biology, and later found her passion for pharmacy when learning about how diseases are treated. Following summer employment at an independent community pharmacy and an undergraduate degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from Trent University, Paige was accepted into the PharmD program at the University of Waterloo. During her experiences working in community pharmacy, Paige could see how quickly the profession has evolved. She has always believed that pharmacists are over-educated for their scope of practice, and she is excited to see that they are slowly being able to use their knowledge and skills to better meet the needs of patients and the health-care system. “Pharmacists now need to have strong leadership, organizational and critical thinking skills to best utilize their new scope,” she says. “We also need to be advocates for our expanding practice and help the community rely on us as trustworthy health-care professionals.”

Ayman Lakhani, University of Toronto

Ayman Lakhani grew up in Maple, ON. Her first exposure to pharmacy was as a co-op student in high school. Recognizing the unique position pharmacists held as accessible and community-oriented health-care professionals, she was inspired to follow in the footsteps of her mentors and make a meaningful impact on patient care. Ayman has since worked in community practice for 8 years. She is beginning her 3rd year on the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Students and Interns (CAPSI) national council, assuming the role of VP Education. Her experiences with CAPSI have contextualized the pivotal role students play as advocates for themselves and the profession. She is continually inspired by student-driven change and optimistic about how the scope of pharmacy will evolve under such strong leaders. Now in her final year of her PharmD degree at the University of Toronto, Ayman is excited to enter the workforce and give back to her community as a pharmacist.

Félix-Olivier Dumas, Université Laval

Félix-Olivier Dumas is from Trois-Rivières, QC and is a third-year undergraduate student in the Doctor of Pharmacy programme at Université Laval. Prior to starting pharmacy school, Félix-Olivier spent two years in the Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences program, also at Université Laval, where he discovered an interest in scientific research. The crucial factors that led him to pursue a career as a pharmacy are the role pharmacists play as front-line health-care professionals, and the indispensable role they play within the broader health-care system. In the coming years, Félix-Olivier foresees major change ahead for the profession, as pharmacists are granted greater responsibilities as prescribers and clinicians. He believes that pharmacists bring incredible determination, benevolence and empathy to their roles, and that they are a critical element in the successful evolution of the health-care system.

Inès Belamri, Université de Montréal

Inès Belamri was born and raised in Montreal, QC. She was studying biomedical sciences at the Université de Montréal prior to enrolling in the PharmD program. Drawn to pharmacy by the close relationships that pharmacists have with their patients and the impact they can have on their every day lives, Inès wanted to be a pharmacist for as long as she can remember. Student involvement has always been an important part of Inès’ academic curriculum. As president of the student association, Inès took the opportunity to talk to a number of key players in pharmacy in Quebec and to represent students' point of view on various issues. She was also involved in committees to promote mental health during her studies and has a passion for the inclusion of visible minorities. With pharmacists playing an increasingly important role in Quebec's health-care system, Inès believes that it is clear that pharmacists are a valuable member of the health-care team.

Madison Bell, Dalhousie University

Madison Bell grew up in Saint John, NB, and completed two years of a BSc in neuroscience before commencing the PharmD program at Dalhousie University in 2021. Knowing her passion was in the health-care field, Madison was inspired to pursue pharmacy by the opportunity pharmacists have to fill critical gaps in care and make a meaningful impact on patient outcomes. Throughout her degree, Madison has held numerous leadership positions at the Dalhousie College of Pharmacy, including Second Year CAPSI Representative (2022-2023), Senior CAPSI Representative (2023-2024), Class of 2025 Yearbook Representative (2021-2025) and Professional Development Week (PDW) 2025 Communications & Marketing Officer (2023-2025). She has also had the opportunity to explore her research interests in infectious diseases and antimicrobial stewardship through a diverse array of projects. Madison is excited about the expansion of pharmacists' scope of practice, appreciating the foundational role pharmacists play in enhancing patient care.

Melanie King, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Melanie King is from Newfoundland and Labrador. She chose to become a pharmacist due to the rewarding combination of a knowledge of medications and patient-centered care. Melanie became interested in oncology pharmacy after completing a pharmacy internship at the Saint John Regional Hospital. She founded the NCODA chapter at MUN to increase exposure of students to oncology pharmacy. Melanie is currently the President of the NCODA Professional Student Organization’s International Executive Board. She has also held many other leadership roles including Junior and Senior CAPSI representative at MUN, CAPSI National VP of Education and MUN CSHP Junior and Senior student representative. She is completing a concurrent MSc(Pharm) focusing on cancer-related thrombosis. Melanie intends to pursue a career in oncology pharmacy and academia. She hopes to see pharmacists enabled and empowered to practice to their full scope across Canada to improve patient care.