IPPC Indigenous Pharmacy Scholarship
2026-2027 PharmD Scholarship Recipient

Isabella Van Somer Landry
University of British Columbia

Isabella Van Somer Landry is a proud member of Kwadacha First Nation and will begin the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program at the University of British Columbia this fall. After completing a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Microbiology, she discovered that pharmacy was the right fit. “Pharmacy combined everything I was looking for in a career: science, problem-solving and the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with patients,” she says.

Working as a pharmacy assistant confirmed that she had found the right path. Through supporting patients and learning the day-to-day responsibilities of community pharmacy, Isabella saw firsthand how much of a difference pharmacists can make during some of the most vulnerable moments in a person's life. Those experiences, along with her own connection to Indigenous communities, have shaped her goal of improving access to compassionate, culturally safe health care.

Outside of pharmacy, Isabella has always enjoyed helping others. Whether tutoring students in her First Nation community, working with older adults as a certified personal trainer, or co-owning a family construction business with her husband, she has developed a deep appreciation for hard work, teamwork and the importance of giving back. “I believe that listening, building trust and treating every person with dignity are just as important as clinical knowledge,” she says.

Looking ahead, Isabella hopes to practise in a way that helps bridge the gap between Indigenous communities and the health-care system. She is particularly interested in compounding pharmacy and hopes to one day improve access to personalized medications for rural and remote communities while promoting culturally safe, patient-centred care. She also hopes to encourage more Indigenous students to pursue careers in health care by showing that those goals are achievable with determination, support and perseverance.

Isabella is incredibly honoured to receive the 2026–2027 IPPC Indigenous Pharmacy Scholarship, sponsored by McKesson Canada. She is grateful for the support this scholarship provides as she begins the next chapter of her education and looks forward to using what she learns to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

This scholarship is an important step in helping her continue this journey.

This scholarship has been generously supported by McKesson Canada.