Large Group Learning Sessions

Registration is now open for our next Large Group Learning Session:

Pharmacy Practice Beyond the Big Cities: Life and Work in Rural and Small Urban Centres

Wednesday, April 30 | 6:00 – 7:30 PM ET

Thinking beyond the big cities? Join us for a conversation about working in rural and small urban community pharmacies.

In this engaging session, you’ll hear from a panel of IPG pharmacists who have lived and worked in smaller communities across Canada. They'll share their personal experiences and offer practical insights into what it’s really like to live and work outside of major urban centres.

Our panellist will talk about:

• Community pharmacy in smaller centres: How practice can differ from what you might expect in larger cities
• Making an impact: The rewards of building relationships and serving close-knit communities
• Work-life balance: Lifestyle considerations and what day-to-day life looks like in different regions
• Challenges and supports: Real talk about what to be aware of and what resources are available

Whether you're curious about life outside of major cities or seriously considering a move, this is a great chance to ask questions and learn from pharmacists who’ve been there.

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

Moderator:

Featured Panelists:

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, eligible to work in Canada.
• Hold an internationally obtained undergraduate degree in pharmacy.

Speaker bios

Rola Barakat

Rola Barakat, is a Zone Director at Rexall, she leads the operations for 100 stores across Toronto and Ottawa. She moved from Lebanon to Canada in 2013 as an International Pharmacy Graduate (IPG), and Rexall has provided a significant foundation for her professional development. She started as a Pharmacy student at Rexall and after becoming a licensed Pharmacist, Rola took on a project-based role that paved the way for her promotion to Pharmacy District Manager. The growth she has experienced at Rexall has been exceptional, fueled by supportive mentors who have been pivotal in her career development. Rola’s story illustrates the significant opportunities available for internationally trained pharmacists in Canada, and she is immensely grateful for the successful path she carved out with Rexall.

Fahed Shubair

Fahed Shubair is the Pharmacy Manager in St. Stephen, New Brunswick. An international pharmacy graduate, he has held various positions throughout his career, including pharmacy assistant, intern, pharmacist, pharmacy manager, and store owner of a large-format franchise. He is licensed to practice in three provinces: Nova Scotia, Ontario, and New Brunswick.

Fahed has resided in some of the world's busiest cities as well as in two rural areas, Antigonish, NS, and St. Stephen, NB. He expresses contentment with his current location and is committed to fully utilizing the scope of practice afforded to pharmacists. His job satisfaction is derived from providing high-quality patient care. Additionally, he values physical activities in all forms, believing they contribute to the healing of both body and mind.

Gagandeep Bhandal

Gagandeep Kaur is a licensed pharmacist with extensive experience practicing in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. She has worked with diverse patient populations, from university students to long-term care residents, and has collaborated with Outreach clinics to enhance access to opioid agonist therapy (OAT).

With a strong focus on patient-centered care, clinical efficiency, and system improvement, Gagan is committed to advancing pharmacy practice and optimizing healthcare outcomes.

Beyond her role in pharmacy, she is a dedicated mentor and motivational speaker, passionate about inspiring resilience, personal growth, and professional development. Her greatest joy? Her daughter— her biggest source of motivation and purpose.

Jaleesa Howco

Jaleesa Hawco is a pharmacist and community pharmacy owner based in western Newfoundland. Her pharmacy is located in Port aux Basques: a small community where the transatlantic ferry connects the province of Newfoundland to the rest of Canada. Jaleesa attended Memorial University of Newfoundland where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry in 2012 and a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy in 2016. Since graduating from pharmacy school Jaleesa has worked in various pharmacies across the province and for most companies corporate and independent that exist in NL.

After experiencing the work environments at many different pharmacies Jaleesa decided to open her own community pharmacy in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. Her pharmacy focused on collaborative care, OAMT services, nursing home services, and indigenous initiatives. Most recently, in 2024, Jaleesa decided to purchase The Medicine Cabinet in Port aux Basques where she currently is happily practicing.

Outside of work hours Jaleesa is a snowboarding enthusiast, amateur photographer, and cat lover. Jaleesa looks forward to serving the community of Port aux Basques and international students’ journey to becoming licensed professionals in the profession of pharmacy.

Mehul Patel

Mehul Patel is the Pharmacy Owner and Manager at Pharmasave in Clive, Alberta. He completed his Bachelor of Pharmacy in Gujarat, India, later moved to Canada and obtained his license to practice as a pharmacist in early 2013. He has over 11 years of experience as a full-time pharmacist and manager. Mehul has worked in both independent pharmacies and large corporate chains, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his current role as a pharmacy owner manager.

As a community pharmacist, Mehul interacts with a diverse range of patients. He is a certified Diabetes Educator and has keen interest in compounding extemporaneous mixtures to address medical needs that commercially available medicines do not meet. He also likes to exercise full scope of pharmacy practice in Alberta to look after his patients. He advocates for a team-based care approach for all his patients with their respective physician and other health care professionals.

Mehul has been nominated for the Preceptor of the Year award on multiple occasions by his first year and fourth year pharmacy students from the University of Alberta. He is a long-standing member of the Alberta Pharmacists Association (RxA)’s Leadership cohort that involves liaison work with elected MLAs to advocate for pharmacy profession and currently serves as a hearing tribunal member for the Alberta College of Pharmacy.