Large Group Learning Sessions

Registration is now open for our TWO-PART webinar series Large Group Learning Sessions.

PLEASE NOTE: YOU WILL NEED TO COMPLETE BOTH PRE-SESSION SURVEYS IF YOU WANT TO REGISTER FOR BOTH SESSIONS.

PART 1: Beyond the Dispensary: Diverse Careers in Canadian Pharmacy

Thursday, July 3 | 2:00 – 3:30 PM ET

Join us for a dynamic and insightful panel discussion that shines a light on the many exciting and fulfilling career opportunities available to internationally trained pharmacists in Canada—far beyond the traditional community pharmacy role.

This session will feature a diverse group of international pharmacy graduates who have successfully transitioned into a variety of practice areas across the country. From corporate and ambulatory settings to roles in regulatory affairs, academia, research, public health, and infotech—these professionals will share their personal journeys, challenges, and the steps they took to carve out meaningful careers.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to pivot your path, this panel will offer real-world perspectives, practical guidance, and inspiration to help you explore the full potential of your pharmacy training in the Canadian healthcare system.

To register for the session, please complete this pre-session survey. At the end of the survey, you will be provided with the ZOOM registration link.

Complete Pre-Session Survey Now

Featured Speakers:

Featured Speakers:

We would like to remind you of the eligibility requirements for participation in this event. All participants must:

• Be a permanent or temporary resident, Canadian citizen, or person granted refugee status in Canada, who is eligible to work in Canada.
• Hold an internationally obtained undergraduate degree in pharmacy.

By participating in the event, you are attesting to meeting these eligibility requirements.

BIOS

Danielle Paes (she/her) (moderator)

Dr. Danielle Paes represented the voice of Canada’s over 45,000 pharmacists as the Chief Pharmacist Officer during her recent tenure at the Canadian Pharmacists Association. Her leadership helped drive national initiatives in professional practice and wellbeing, workforce sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion. As an influential health-care leader, Dr. Paes brings a broad and insightful perspective to health policy and advocacy, shaping the future of pharmacy in Canada and around the world.

As a trusted expert, Dr. Paes has engaged with media, policymakers and health organizations to advocate for patient-centered care. She serves on the Board of Directors of The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada and sits on national advisory committees providing strategic guidance on critical health-care issues, including health equity, access to primary care and health-system innovation.

Her diverse experience—spanning hospital, community, industry and academia— fuels her dynamic, forward-thinking approach and deep commitment to optimizing health care through a future-focused lens.

Dr. Paes holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from University of Waterloo, and a Bachelor in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of Guelph.

PANELLISTS

Mohamed Omar (he/him)

grew up in the historic city of Alexandria on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Alexandria University in 2003. In 2005, he relocated to Edmonton, Alberta to pursue graduate studies at the University of Alberta, where he completed a PhD in Pharmacology in 2011. His doctoral research focused on Cardioprotection through drug-induced changes in glucose and glycogen metabolism.

Following his PhD, Mohamed joined the University of Alberta Hospital as a clinical pharmacist, gaining extensive experience in areas such as cardiovascular intensive care, cardiology, and cardiac surgery. He later transitioned into a leadership role on the Provincial Pharmacy Practice team, serving as Clinical Practice Leader across multiple sites in the Edmonton and North zones.

Currently, Mohamed holds a provincial role as the Pharmacy Clinical Operations Readiness Lead, contributing to the rollout of Connect Care, Alberta’s new Electronic Health Record system—a major Digital Health initiative.

Outside of work, Mohamed is a dedicated father to three children (ages 11, 14, and 17) who keep him on his toes. He enjoys playing weekly volleyball, passionately supports Arsenal FC, and loves to travel and spend quality time with family and friends.

Omar Tounekti (he/him)

Omar Tounekti is the manager of the Cell, Gene Therapies, and Radiopharmaceuticals Division at the Centre for Oncology, Radiopharmaceuticals, and Research within the Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate (BRDD) at Health Canada. The BRDD serves as Canada's regulatory authority for biological and radiopharmaceutical drugs intended for human use. With 20 years of experience at Health Canada, Omar has extensive expertise in the review and management of chemistry and manufacturing information related to monoclonal antibodies, cell and gene therapies, and radiopharmaceuticals.

Rita Vicente (she/her)

Rita is an international pharmacist graduate from Portugal, completing her studies at the University of Lisbon in 2014. She became licensed in Ontario in 2019 after completing the University of Toronto IPG bridging program. Rita’s work history includes roles as a community pharmacist in independent pharmacy practice and as a pharmacy manager for a pharmacy chain in Toronto. Rita provides care in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.

She is currently part of The PrEP Clinic, which is an inter-collaborative HIV specialty-pharmacy clinic. In her role she provides inclusive specialized care in a sex-positive space, collaborating with Nurse Practitioners, Nurses, and Pharmacy Technicians both online across the province and at their Toronto clinic location.

Smita Patil (she/her)

Smita is a highly motivated healthcare professional with over 20 years of experience spanning professional advocacy, executive leadership, and operational roles within Canada’s healthcare landscape. Currently serving as the Vice President of Professional Affairs at McKesson Canada, Smita brings a wealth of expertise in stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, and healthcare innovation.

With a solid foundation in pharmacy practice, Smita has championed the advancement of the profession through sustainable reimbursement models, expanded scopes of practice, and meaningful collaborations with regulatory bodies and government agencies. Her leadership has been instrumental in driving national initiatives that elevate the role of pharmacy in the broader healthcare system.

Smita is a licensed pharmacist in Ontario and actively contributes to the profession through various advisory and governance roles. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada (NPAC) and is a member of NPAC’s Regional Caucus for West, Central, and Eastern Canada.

Her engagement extends provincially and academically as well—Smita is a member of the Ontario Pharmacists Association’s Owners Advisory Council and Economics Committee. She also serves on the University of Toronto’s Dean’s Advisory Board and mentors through the PharmaSEE program.

Nationally, Smita contributes as a Professional Practice Advisor for the University of British Columbia and sits on the Pharmacists Manitoba Economics Committee. She is also an active member of McKesson’s ERG Board, advocating for 2SLGBTQ+ employees and allies, further demonstrating her commitment to equity and inclusion in healthcare.

Vahid Hoghooghi (he/him)

Vahid holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Tehran, Iran. After relocating to Canada, he completed a PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Calgary. During his doctoral studies, he also passed the PEBC certification, becoming a licensed pharmacist in 2018.

Over the past seven years, Vahid has worked in a variety of roles within the pharmacy and healthcare sectors. He began his Canadian career in community pharmacy, gaining valuable experience in patient care and medication management. He then spent three years at McKesson Specialty Pharmacy, where he developed a deeper understanding of complex therapies and specialty drug programs. Currently, Vahid serves as a Product Review Manager at Canadian Blood Services, contributing to national-level evaluations of pharmaceutical products and formulary recommendations.

Vahid’s strong clinical background, along with the scientific training acquired during his PhD, has enabled him to approach patient care and product reviews with a comprehensive and evidence-based perspective. His work consistently reflects a balance of scientific insight and practical healthcare application, driven by a commitment to improving patient outcomes and supporting high-quality, collaborative healthcare delivery.

Yazid Al-Hamarneh (he/him)

Yazid is a pharmacist who is currently an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta, the Scientific Officer of the Alberta SPOR SUPPORT Unit and the Associate Director of the EPICORE Centre. He obtained his BSc in pharmacy from the University of Jordan and his PhD from Queen’s University Belfast.

He completed his postdoctoral training at the University of Alberta. His main research interests are chronic disease prevention and management with special interest in CVD and pharmacy practice. This research involves focusing on prevention, increasing awareness, improving control and management of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors as well as making the paradigm shift in pharmacy practice to focus on patient-centered care.