Community and partners

Based on the respondents in this survey, only 6.5 per cent of Manitoba pharmacists indicated a keen interest in taking a PharmD Bridging Program, a marked decline from 27 per cent in 2020. General interest in the PharmD Bridging Program was 14 per cent. The most common reason for interest in the program was to enhance the ability to provide quality patient care, with the main concerns being program cost, uncertainty about professional benefits and worries about the time required to undertake the program.

When asked about a shorter program, the micro-certificate, 20 per cent of respondents indicated that they were very interested and 50 per cent indicated they were generally interested in the program. The most common reason for interest in this program was to enhance the ability to provide quality patient care, with the main concerns being cost, liking the existing format of CPD events, and the content not being relevant to their practice.

The survey findings were shared with the PharmD Bridging Program Advisory Committee, consisting of representatives from Pharmacists Manitoba, College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) and Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (MB branch). Following discussions and consultations with several stakeholders, the College of Pharmacy Council recommends prioritizing development of the micro-credential program over the PharmD Bridging Program.

Consequently, the College of Pharmacy will not plan to offer a PharmD Bridging Program at the University of Manitoba.

For those who are interested in pursuing a PharmD Bridging Program, we understand that there are three programs offered in Canada that can be taken by pharmacists in Manitoba. These programs are offered by the University of Toronto, the University of Alberta and by Memorial University of Newfoundland.  These programs range from 18 months to five years for completion and permit out-of-province applicants to complete experiential rotations in their home province. Please see their websites for more details.

Shaped by your input, the College of Pharmacy is pleased to announce our first micro-certificate: "Essentials in Advanced Patient Care for Pharmacists." This new program spans 36 contact hours over 12 weeks and will be offered entirely ONLINE. The program is expected to launch late Spring-mid 2024. Please visit this site regularly for updated information

The program breaks down as follows:

• Scientific Literature Evaluation (3 weeks):
  • Dedicate nine contact hours to sharpen your skills in scientific literature evaluation.
• Patient Assessment (3 weeks):
  • Spend nine contact hours over three weeks refining your patient assessment techniques.
• Advanced Clinical Topics (6 weeks):
  • Invest 18 contact hours to build on concepts learned from the previous two courses and apply it to a variety of relevant clinical topics using realistic patient scenarios.

We anticipate that the clinical topics will include Updates in Cardiology, Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease, Mental Health Topics and Substance Use Disorder, Infectious Disease/Antimicrobial Stewardship in Community and Hospital Practice, Chronic Pain and Insomnia and Medication Optimization in the Older Adult.

Weekly engagement

Three contact hours are allocated each week – two hours asynchronous (independent work) and one hour synchronous (online discussions with your group and instructor).

Learning approach

Asynchronous activities include reviewing pre-recorded lectures, readings, patient case workup and evaluation of evidence.

Synchronous sessions offer active learning through discussions, case-based learning and reflective practice guided by a course instructor.

Assessment and completion

Assessments are integrated into each of the three courses. Successful completion of courses in sequence leads to your micro-certificate.

Flexibility

Participants can take up to two years to finish the micro-certificate, providing flexibility to suit different schedules.

Cost

The micro-certificate costs $1,000 plus a $100 non-refundable application fee required by the University of Manitoba.

The Alumni of Distinction Award aims to honor graduates of the College of Pharmacy (formerly the Faculty of Pharmacy) who have achieved excellence in their profession, demonstrated leadership, or made significant contributions to their communities.

Award benefits

The recipient of the award will receive recognition within the College of Pharmacy building (Apotex Centre), a small plaque commemorating their achievement, and acknowledgment at the annual Welcome to the Profession graduation event.

Eligibility

Candidates must be graduates of the College of Pharmacy with a bachelor’s, doctor of pharmacy, master’s, or PhD degree. Both self-nominations and nominations by peers are accepted.

Selection criteria

Nominees must exhibit standards of professionalism and excel in at least one of the following areas: outstanding achievements within their profession, leadership within their profession, or service to the community at the local, provincial, national, or global level.

How to apply

Complete the nomination form provided and submit it to the College of Pharmacy. Each nomination must include a completed nomination form and the nominee’s curriculum vitae.

For more information

For further details, including the nomination form and submission guidelines, contact us at Pharmacy.Awards@umanitoba.ca.

All nominations will be kept confidential, and unsuccessful applicants will automatically be considered for the following year. Late nominations will be carried forward for consideration in subsequent years.