Pharmacy Check-in: Kaitlin Bynkoski
Kaitlin Bynkoski, RPh., PharmD., BSc. (she/her)
Director of Admissions & Undergraduate Affairs
University of Waterloo, School of Pharmacy
Waterloo, ON
Kaitlin Bynkoski graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy in 2013, and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2017. Kaitlin is the Director of Admissions & Undergraduate Affairs at the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy.
Kaitlin is a registered pharmacist whose professional background includes community and hospital pharmacy practice, as well as experience in medication safety, delivery of continuing education programs for pharmacists and continuous quality improvement. Her current position is focused on recruiting and admitting students to Waterloo’s Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree program. Kaitlin introduced the first equitable admissions policy at the University of Waterloo and her team’s goal is to recruit a diverse cohort of future pharmacy leaders. Kaitlin also leads the work of the undergraduate affairs team, whose mission is to support students throughout their pharmacy studies. Kaitlin also enjoys interacting with students in the classroom through teaching a novel student leadership development seminar course.
Q&A with Kaitlin
We caught up with Kaitlin during Pharmacy Appreciation Month to talk about her career journey, her current role at the University of Waterloo and what makes her proud to be a pharmacist.
This year’s Pharmacy Appreciation Month (PAM) theme is “The power of pharmacy.” What does that mean to you?
In my role I get to see the “power of pharmacy” through daily interactions with my students, who are the future of the profession. Pharmacy’s future is bright as we continue to train and graduate competent and confident future leaders who are primed to make an impact in health care.
One of the most exciting things about a career in pharmacy is the variety of roles pharmacists take on and the impact they can have in so many different ways. Tell us about your role and what makes it unique?
When I am out recruiting future students to the profession of pharmacy, I always share that pharmacists wear “white coats and many hats” and that there is a lot more to being a pharmacist then they may realize. That statement is true of so many pharmacists, including me!
In my role at the University of Waterloo, I am one of few people that intersects with students at every point of their journey as a pharmacy student. Every day, I guide prospective pharmacy students who are seeking advice and asking themselves the question, is pharmacy right for me? For those who make the decision to pursue pharmacy as a future career choice, I support them along the admissions pathway. And if they choose to attend Waterloo’s PharmD program, my team is there offering support, guidance and resources all the way through to graduation.
My passion is building programs and admissions pathways to ensure that we continue to attract a diverse cohort of students to the profession of pharmacy. I am proud of being a pharmacist and it is my hope that every student I interact with knows about all the wonderful and exciting things that are going on in pharmacy.
What inspired you to take on this role? What makes it rewarding?
Before taking on this role, I reflected on my career and the various hats I wore at the time: community pharmacist, hospital pharmacist, medication safety pharmacist, continuing education coordinator, preceptor and clinical adjunct professor. I realized that the work that gave me the most sense of purpose and fulfillment was working with students and supporting the next generation of pharmacists. During that time of career reflection, lo and behold, I was reading Waterloo Pharmacy’s website and there was a new job posting listed, Director of Admissions & Undergraduate Affairs. I had read many job postings throughout the early years of my career, but this one resonated with me on a higher level. I decided to take a leap of faith and put my name forward for a job that I was extremely passionate about doing.
What makes my job rewarding is providing support to students. I support students wherever they are at in their journey and help them work towards their professional goals. Being involved in undergraduate affairs is a wonderful and rare opportunity to support students from application through to graduation and hopefully provide mentorship well beyond their time here at the school. I find daily inspiration in my work and being part of a team that cares so much about its students and shaping the future of pharmacy.
What makes you proud to be a pharmacist?
I am so proud to be a pharmacist that a major part of my current role is encouraging and inspiring other people to become one! I am proud to be a part of a profession that shows unwavering commitment and dedication to patient care. It is a unique and rewarding career choice where you can lean into your own personal values and interests to find a practice setting and career path that best suits you.
