Pharmacy Check-in: Meet Helen Ali
Helen Ali, RPh (she/her)
Pharmacist
Cross Lake, MB
Helen Ali graduated from the University of Jos, Nigeria, with a B.Pharm degree in 2000 and later obtained a Master of Science in Pharmacology degree from Ahmadu Bello University in 2009. That same year, she immigrated to Canada with her family.
Determined to continue her pharmacy career, Helen completed the International Pharmacy Graduate (IPG) program at the University of Toronto while adjusting to life in a new country and raising three young children. She became licensed to practise pharmacy in Canada in 2013. After licensure, Helen began her career with Shoppers Drug Mart in Woodbridge, ON, where she advanced to the role of Pharmacy Manager, a position she held for 8 years. She then moved to Yellowknife, NT, to work with Walmart, where she practised for 3 years.
In December 2024, Helen relocated to Thompson, MB, to serve as Pharmacy Manager with Clarke’s Pharmacy within the Neighbourly Pharmacy organization. She is currently the Pharmacy Manager at Northmart Pharmacy in Cross Lake, MB, within The North West Company organization, a role she assumed in January 2026.
Q&A with Helen
We caught up with Helen during Black History Month to chat about the importance of inclusive pharmacy care.
What is the # 1 thing pharmacists can do to create a safe and inclusive space for members of the Black community?
I believe that representation within the profession is a critical first step in creating a safe and inclusive space for members of the Black community. As a pharmacist who shares similar cultural and lived experiences—particularly with patients who are new immigrants from predominantly Black countries—I am better able to understand their perspectives and to engage meaningfully with their questions, concerns, and needs for clarification.
As a Black pharmacist, I can offer patients the invaluable experience of being heard, understood with empathy and respected by someone they can relate to. This involves listening without assumptions, judgment, or defensiveness- and then adjusting care based on what I hear from the patient. This connection helps build trust, encourages open communication, and ultimately supports better health outcomes for Black patients within the community.
Why is inclusive health care important especially in a pharmacy setting?
Inclusive health care is especially important in the pharmacy setting because pharmacies are often the most accessible point of care. Many patients rely on pharmacists as their first and sometimes only point of contact in the health-care system, which directly enhances patient comfort and trust. When care is culturally competent and inclusive, patients are more likely to feel respected and understood, which can lead to improved health outcomes and position the pharmacy as a reliable and trusted health-care resource.
When patients feel represented—whether through shared experiences such as gender, cultural background, or membership in the Black community—they are often more engaged during counselling and more receptive to professional advice. This heightened engagement reduces the risk of miscommunication and helps prevent medication errors and adverse health outcomes that can arise from misunderstanding. Inclusive pharmacy care improves adherence, builds trust and ensures that everyone receives safe, effective and respectful treatment regardless of race, culture, ability or background.
How can pharmacists play a greater role as advocates for inclusive health care, especially for the Black community?
A key first step is increasing the presence, visibility, and leadership of Black pharmacists across all areas of the profession—whether in industry, hospital practice, community pharmacy or regulatory roles. Diversity and inclusion should be clearly reflected in the composition of pharmacy teams across all sectors, reinforcing a culture in which all patients feel seen and represented.
It is also essential to acknowledge that systemic factors such as economic inequality, language barriers and racial discrimination continue to affect the quality of care received by patients of colour. As one of the most accessible and frequently encountered health-care professionals, pharmacists are uniquely positioned to address these disparities by embedding equity and inclusive care into their organizational values and daily practice.
Many patients of colour may hesitate to fully share their health concerns due to past negative experiences or stories of mistreatment within the health-care system, which can erode trust. This underscores the importance of having diverse pharmacy teams, as patients may feel more comfortable and confident engaging with professionals who share similar backgrounds, experiences, or language.
Regardless of background, all pharmacists have a responsibility to provide care that is respectful, non-judgmental, and culturally sensitive. Adapting communication styles, remaining open-minded, and demonstrating cultural awareness are critical to building trust and ensuring high-quality care for every patient.
Advocacy does not always require big policy changes. Small, consistent actions at the pharmacy counter can meaningfully improve equity, trust, and health outcomes for the Black community.
What is the biggest mistake health-care providers make in caring for Black patients and how can they do better?
A significant and harmful mistake that health-care providers often make when caring for Black patients is underestimating or dismissing the pain and symptoms they experience. Research consistently shows that Black patients’ pain is more likely to be underestimated compared with patients of other races, which directly undermines the quality of care they receive. Addressing this requires intentional training to recognize and counteract internal or stereotypical biases, ensuring that care decisions are always fair, equitable, and free from assumptions.
It is also important for health-care providers to remember that Black individuals are often underrepresented in clinical trials. Treatments proven effective for white patients may not always have the same outcomes for Black patients, making clear and ongoing communication about medication regimens essential.
Medication adherence is another area where disparities exist. Studies indicate that adherence rates are often lower in Black communities compared to predominantly white populations. Face-to-face counselling and education can help patients better understand their treatments, which can improve adherence and, ultimately, health outcomes.
Improving adherence and communication can have a meaningful impact, especially given that Black patients are statistically more likely to experience higher rates of serious health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, asthma, influenza, pneumonia, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS. Pharmacists who are aware of these disparities and provide culturally competent care—through education, health screenings, or close collaboration with prescribers—can make a tangible difference in the health and well-being of Black patients.
Doing better does not require perfection. It requires humility, accountability, and consistency. When Black patients feel heard, respected, and taken seriously, outcomes improve—and trust begins to be rebuilt.
What is the most rewarding part of your pharmacy practice?
The most rewarding aspect of my practice has always been seeing my patients regain their health and witnessing the genuine gratitude on their faces when their needs are met. I am passionate about helping people to the best of my ability as a pharmacist, and I am committed to continually improving the quality of care I provide.
In community pharmacy, especially, pharmacists become accessible, familiar and reliable. Patients return not only for prescriptions but also for reassurance, guidance and advocacy. That trust—earned over time—is deeply meaningful.
Even on the hardest days, knowing that my knowledge, judgment and compassion protected someone’s health makes the work worth it.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your practice or about anything else that is important to you?
Black pharmacists are making meaningful contributions to Canada’s health-care system across the country. My journey over the past 4 to 5 years—from Yellowknife, NT, to Thompson, MB, and now to Cross Lake, MB, where Northmart Pharmacy is the only community pharmacy—has given me the opportunity to serve Indigenous communities. This has been an incredibly rewarding experience, as my perspective as an immigrant Black pharmacist allows me to understand some of the challenges these communities face and to make a tangible difference through the care my team and I provide.
In our daily practice, we focus on:
- Giving patients the time to speak without being rushed or interrupted
- Avoiding stereotypes in communication or clinical decisions
- Explaining medications clearly, respectfully, and without condescension
- Supporting patients in managing chronic conditions so they can live healthier, fuller lives (Extending refills when appropriate)
True safety and inclusion are built less through policies and more through consistent, respectful interactions. When Indigenous patients—like Black patients—feel heard, believed, and treated as partners in their care, trust develops. And it is this trust that forms the foundation of a genuinely safe, inclusive and patient-centred pharmacy environment.