Session recording

Getting Hired in a Pharmacy as an Unlicensed IPG (March 12, 2026)

Gain insight into how pharmacy employers approach hiring when a candidate is not yet licensed. This employer-led session examines what influences hiring decisions, why some candidates are passed over, and what helps someone stand out—even without Canadian pharmacy experience. You’ll learn about the types of roles available to unlicensed IPGs, better understand how employers make hiring decisions, identify the factors that influence whether someone is invited to interview or hired, and develop realistic expectations for your job search.

Featured Panelists:

Speaker bios

Brittany Zelmer

Brittany Zelmer began her pharmacy career as a student with Safeway in Edmonton, Alberta, and continued with the organization after obtaining her pharmacist licensure. She practiced across multiple locations in the Edmonton and surrounding areas, proactively expanding her scope through injection certification, Additional Prescribing Authority (APA), and a Certificate in Travel Health to better meet diverse patient needs.

She progressed into leadership roles, serving as Pharmacy Manager, District Pharmacy Manager, and ultimately Lead for Alberta Pharmacy Operations with Sobeys.

Beyond operations, Brittany has been deeply engaged in professional advocacy. She participated in the leadership cohort with the Alberta Pharmacists’ Association (RxA), later joining its Board of Directors. She most recently completed her term as Board President and now serves in the Past President role.

Today, Brittany holds a national position as Manager of Pharmacy Professional Affairs, focusing on advocacy and advancing professional development for pharmacy teams across Canada. She is also actively contributing to workforce integration by mentoring through the IPG Mentorship and Integration Project’s Mentored Work Placement initiative.

Chinelo Udoh

Chinelo Uddoh is a Registered Pharmacist in Ontario with a strong interdisciplinary academic foundation, holding a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Microbiology as well as a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree. She is currently pursuing a Master of Health Informatics and has completed multiple micro-certifications in Information Technology, further strengthening her expertise at the intersection of healthcare and digital systems.

Chinelo brings extensive experience spanning community pharmacy practice and the health technology sector, where she has worked as a product manager. In that role, she collaborated across clinical and technical teams to design and implement digital health solutions, giving her a systems-level perspective on workflow optimization, patient safety, and data-driven decision-making.

She is the owner of Opal Wellness Pharmacy, a compounding-focused community pharmacy in Ottawa dedicated to integrative health services. Her practice emphasizes personalized, holistic care—combining evidence-based therapeutics, customized compounding solutions, and patient-centered consultation to address complex and individualized health needs.

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 13 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 has served as a hearing tribunal member for the Alberta College of Pharmacy.

Rola Barakat

Rola Barakat is a Zone Director at Rexall, leading operations for approximately 100 pharmacy locations across Toronto and Ottawa. She immigrated to Canada from Lebanon in 2013 as an IPG and began her journey with Rexall as a pharmacy student while completing her licensure process. That early exposure to Canadian community pharmacy practice laid the groundwork for her long-term career growth.

After becoming a licensed pharmacist, Rola moved into progressively senior roles, including a project-based leadership position that expanded her operational scope and visibility within the organization. This experience positioned her for promotion to Pharmacy District Manager and ultimately to Zone Director, where she now oversees performance, compliance, and team development across a large regional portfolio.

Rola credits her growth to both her determination and the strong mentorship she received along the way. Her career progression demonstrates the significant leadership opportunities available to internationally trained pharmacists in Canada and reflects the impactful professional path she has built within Rexall.