Advancing the Health of Canadians Through Excellence in Pharmacist Care

CPhA Welcomes New Chair; Launches New Mission, Vision & Strategic Plan

June 8, 2015 (Ottawa): Today the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) announced important steps to chart a new course for the national voice of Canadian pharmacists. With the goal of advancing the health and well-being of Canadians through excellence in pharmacist care, CPhA’s new Chair, Carlo Berardi, will be working with the Board of Directors to ensure the successful implementation of CPhA’s new mission, vision and strategic plan.

The pharmacist-owner of an independent community pharmacy in the Sudbury area for the past 26 years, Carlo is an active member of the community and strong advocate for the pharmacist profession. As a CPhA board member since 2014 and Past Chair and current board member of the Ontario Pharmacists Association, Carlo has played a key role representing the profession before governments and stakeholders, advocating for an expanded role for pharmacists in the delivery of health care in Canada.

Following the implementation of a new governance structure last year, CPhA’s Board of Directors has been focusing on the development of a revitalized mission, vision and strategic plan to ensure a stronger and more united national voice for the pharmacist profession in Canada. In doing so, a clear course for CPhA’s future has now been set, focused on the health of Canadians and the provision of world-class pharmacy leadership.

"This is an exciting time of growth and unprecedented collaboration amongst pharmacy associations across Canada, which I am thrilled to be a part of," said Berardi. "Today, pharmacists are looked upon as thought leaders—as influencers who have transformed the way health care is being delivered in Canada. As Chair, I am committed to ensuring CPhA provides pharmacists with the tools and supports they need to provide better health and better care to all Canadians, and better value to the health care system."

The new 3-year strategic plan approved by CPhA’s Board of Directors has three priority areas; Lead, Educate and Innovate.

Lead: As the national voice of the profession, CPhA will provide important leadership on key national issues affecting the profession and the health of Canadians.

Educate: As the trusted source of pharmacist practice resources in Canada, CPhA will ensure pharmacists have the educational tools, information and support required to provide optimal drug therapy and patient care.

Innovate: To enhance the health of Canadians, CPhA will provide innovative models and solutions for pharmacy practice advancement.

"CPhA’s new mission, vision and strategic plan sets the Association on an exciting new course,” said Chief Executive Officer, Perry Eisenschmid. “I look forward to working with Carlo and the Board of Directors as we embark upon this important journey to advance the pharmacist profession and the health of Canadians."

Quick Facts on CPhA:

Founded in 1907, CPhA is a national, non-profit organization that has charted the course through many developments in pharmacy.
Our Mission: Advancing the health and well-being of Canadians through excellence in pharmacist care. Our Vision: Pharmacists providing world-class pharmacy leadership (CPhA Stronger Together Video ).
CPhA has 11 Organizational Members (provincial and national pharmacist associations) and 19 Organizational Affiliates representing 17,500 Canadian pharmacists and 3,500 pharmacy students.
Canadians place a high-level of trust and confidence in pharmacists. According to a 2015 national survey conducted by Abacus data: 96% of Canadians have a positive impression of pharmacists, 82% believe pharmacists play an important role in the delivery of health care, and 85% believe that pharmacists have the education and professional training to do more for patients than fill prescriptions.

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For more information, please contact:
Jeff Morrison, Director of Government Relations and Public Affairs
613-523-7877, x386
jmorrison@pharmacists.ca