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 2: Beyond the Dispensary: Pathways to Hospital Pharmacy Practice

Wednesday, July 9 | 7:00 – 9:00 PM ET

Join us for an inspiring and informative panel discussion that dives deep into the realities, challenges, and rewards of pursuing a career in hospital pharmacy practice in Canada. This session is designed specifically for international pharmacy graduates who are curious about moving beyond community pharmacy and into dynamic hospital roles.

You'll hear directly from internationally educated pharmacists who have successfully made the transition—sharing their personal journeys through clinical residencies, licensing exams, mentorship opportunities, and networking strategies. They’ll offer candid insights into the barriers they faced, how they overcame them, and what they’ve learned along the way. From building clinical competencies to navigating job markets and adapting to healthcare systems in Canada, this is your chance to learn what it really takes to thrive in hospital pharmacy practice.

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:

PLEASE NOTE: This webinar will be conducted in English;

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

Deep Patel (he/him)

Deep earned his pharmacy degree from Liverpool John Moores University in the UK and began practicing in community pharmacy after completing his licensure in Canada. He served for four years as a Non-Council Committee Member on the Ontario College of Pharmacists’ Registration Committee, contributing to changes in registration processes for internationally educated pharmacy graduates (IPGs).

His interest in oncology led him to pursue a PhD at the University of Waterloo, where he collaborated with a regional cancer center on research involving late-stage colorectal and breast cancer patients. During this time, he also worked as a teaching assistant and shadowed oncology pharmacists in clinical settings, which inspired him to pursue hospital pharmacy.

Deep completed his residency at The Ottawa Hospital in 2020 and has since practiced as an Oncology Pharmacist in both inpatient and outpatient settings. He remains involved in research areas including clinical oncology, and the integration of IPGs into hospital practice in Canada.

Faisel Firoz (he/him)

Faisal earned his bachelor’s in pharmacy from Karachi University, Pakistan. His professional journey began in pharmaceutical manufacturing with industry leaders like Aventis Pharma and GlaxoSmithKline, where he gained early experience in sterile operations and large-scale production management. After moving to Canada, Faisal transitioned to clinical practice and spent several years as a hospital pharmacist, providing frontline care and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to improve patient outcomes.

Faisal later ventured into entrepreneurship by opening and operating an independent pharmacy. In this role, he oversaw all aspects of business development, from regulatory compliance to financial management and service innovation.

With an Executive MBA from Queen’s University complementing his pharmacy credentials, Faisal brings a unique blend of clinical insight and executive strategy to his work.

Faisal currently serves as a District Director at Neighbourly Pharmacy, where he leads operational strategy, performance management, and team development across multiple pharmacy locations—ensuring both clinical excellence and business success.

His career reflects the broad and dynamic potential of a pharmacy background and how international pharmacy graduates can forge impactful, multifaceted careers that go far beyond traditional roles.

Rita Dhami (she/her)

Dr. Rita Dhami is a passionate pharmacist with pharmacy practice and leadership experience in hospital, community and academic roles. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy at University of Toronto and a Doctor of Pharmacy at University of Florida. She has spent most of her career in hospital pharmacy and specialized as the Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infectious Diseases Pharmacist. She also gained other crucial national-level drug supply and procurement experience at Mohawk Medbuy, a not-for-profit group purchasing organization.

She is the current Chief Pharmacy Officer for the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists where she oversees the advocacy and professional practice initiatives. She is also the staff liaison for the Canadian Pharmacy Residency Board. Dr. Dhami will draw from her clinical and administrative leadership experience at the national level to advance professional practice, advocate for improved healthcare systems and a higher profile for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians working in hospitals and other collaborative models of practice.

Throughout her career, Dr. Dhami has been a preceptor and mentor to students, interns and residents. She holds longstanding teaching appointments with the University of Waterloo, School of Pharmacy and Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University.

Tolu Okubote (she/her)

Tolu is an international pharmacist and Clinical Pharmacist with Alberta Health Services, specializing in the healthcare needs of the geriatric population. In addition to her clinical practice, she serves as the Director of Operations for Alberta on the Board of the Black Pharmacy Professionals of Canada (BPPC). In this leadership role, she drives initiatives promoting equity for Black pharmacy professionals and enhancing healthcare access through advocacy, community outreach, and mentorship programs.

She is also a Co-Lead for the BPPC Skin Care Series, which addresses skin conditions prevalent in Black and Brown communities and actively participates in the BPPC mentorship program working group.

Tolu is passionate about advancing pharmacy within the Black community and advocating for safe medication use, especially among elderly populations. She is equally committed to mental health initiatives that thoughtfully incorporate faith and cultural context, aiming to empower individuals and foster meaningful change in healthcare.

She earned her pharmacy degree from Kingston University School of Pharmacy in London, UK, and completed postgraduate studies at UCL School of Pharmacy.