Pharmacy Stars Honoured at CPhA Awards Ceremony

June 16, 2014 (Ottawa) – The best and brightest pharmacists across Canada were honoured on Sun., June 1 at the Canadian Pharmacists Association’s (CPhA) 2014 National Conference in Saskatoon, SK. The CPhA Awards celebrate pharmacists who are making a difference in the health and well-being of Canadians and the dedication those pharmacists have to their patients.

“CPhA is immensely proud of these outstanding pharmacists and the difference they are making to the lives of patients, their communities and to our profession,” said incoming CPhA Chair Jane Farnham. “I’d like to offer my heartfelt thanks and congratulations to our winners for the leadership, compassion and dedication they demonstrate each and every day.”

John Papastergiou of Toronto, ON, is this year’s Canadian Pharmacist of the Year. A devoted community pharmacist and researcher, John uses his unique background in clinical research to develop revolutionary screening clinics for his patients. His programs at two downtown Toronto pharmacies have given his team the ability to actively screen and monitor their patients for various chronic diseases and have unquestionably led to better patient care for his community. John sees the pharmacy as a natural health care hub. “The pharmacy has gone beyond being simply the location to pick up dispensed medication,” he explains.

This prestigious award is conferred annually on a pharmacist who demonstrates leadership and exemplifies the evolution of the pharmacy profession toward an expanded role in health care.

CPhA extends its sincere congratulations to John and all our other 2014 award winners:

Jeff Poston — Manotick, ON — CPhA Honorary Life Membership Award for outstanding service to pharmacy

Cecilia Reyes — Ottawa, ON — CPhA International Leadership Award sponsored by GenMed, A Division of Pfizer Canada, for a significant contribution to the profession of pharmacy within an international context

Jennifer Gibson — Winnipeg, MB — CPhA Patient Care Achievement Award for Specialty Practice for excellence in a pharmacy specialty practice

Tara Maltman-Just — Winnipeg, MB — CPhA Patient Care Achievement Award for Innovation, sponsored by Green Shield Canada Foundation in honour of Vernon Chiles, for outstanding innovation and leadership in pharmacy practice aimed at improving patient outcomes, access to health services, or expanding pharmacists’ contributions within the Canadian health system

Nafisa Merali — Vancouver, BC — CPhA Patient Care Achievement Award for Health Promotion, sponsored by TEVA Canada Limited, for excellence in the ongoing education of patients on wellness, the encouragement of a healthier lifestyle and disease prevention and management

Bryan Gray — Thunder Bay, ON — CPhA New Practitioner Award for a demonstrated a commitment to pharmacy at the undergraduate level and after graduation

Scott Wallace Campbell — Stoney Creek, ON — Dean George A. Burbidge Award for achieving the highest mark on the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada’s qualifying exams

Derek Jorgenson — Saskatoon, SK — Canadian Pharmacists Journal (CPJ) Best Paper of the Year Award for the manuscript that is most likely to impact pharmacy practice

For full award winner biographies, please visit www.pharmacists.ca/awards.

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For more information, please contact:

Christine Dalgleish, Manager, Membership Programs & Communications
Canadian Pharmacists Association
Tel.: 613-523-7877 x294
Fax: 613-523-0445
Email: cdalgleish@pharmacists.ca