Mentor Spotlight: Atai Okokon

Atai Okokon
B.Pharm (Lagos), MSc Global Health Science (Oxford) RPh, Certified Diabetic Educator (CDE), Prosci certified change practitioner
Alberta

I moved to Canada five years ago with nothing but a husband, a son, a pharmacy degree, an Oxford global health master's, and years of gathering moss.

I had been out of core pharmacy practice for almost 10 years and I was not sure where to start, so I reached out. I reached out to people who had walked the path and learned from their successes and failures. I joined a mentorship program and had a fantastic mentor who took me under her wing and showed me the ropes. She and her team helped build my confidence during what was the busiest time in community pharmacy — the COVID-19 pandemic.

The licensing journey is not always easy. Unexpected changes can happen at any stage. In my case, there was a policy change I had to navigate while pregnant. I completed that chapter with a newborn daughter and emerged on the other side with Canadian citizenship, a great community, and a career I love. Today I work with the Government of Alberta as a Senior Program Advisor, but you can still find me behind the counter on weekends, serving as a community pharmacist.

If you think you’ve been out of school too long, have not practiced pharmacy for a while, or feel overwhelmed by family responsibilities, many have done this before you and they have succeeded. I am one of them. Do not be afraid to reach out. I am happy to connect: linkedin.com/in/atai-okokon/