Dr. Susan Biali Haas MD
Keynote Speaker
July 21, 2023
Unstoppable Tracy Schmitt BRLS, B.Ed, MBA
Keynote Speaker
September 8, 2023
Zubin Austin
Jen Belcher
Lilliette Davidson
Kelly Grindrod
Jamie Kellar
Bhavika Lad
Andrew Shonbe
Dr. Jaris Swidrovich
Anna Patrizio
Jeff Yurek
Zubin Austin
Applying Lessons from the Pandemic For A More Resilient Future
Zubin Austin is a professor and distinguished Koffler Research Chair at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto. In 2017, Austin was bestowed with the highest honor for health researchers in Canada, being appointed as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. This coveted recognition was a testament to his unparalleled contributions to the field of pharmacy, which have significantly influenced the advancement of the profession. Austin’s outstanding achievements are further evidenced by his exceptional teaching and research prowess, as he is the only University of Toronto professor to have ever received both the President’s Teaching Award for excellence as an educator and the President’s Research Impact Award for global significance. His exceptional achievements in both teaching and research are a true testament to his commitment to advancing the pharmacy profession and to inspiring the next generation of leaders in the field.
Jen Belcher
Unlock Your Potential: Exploring Career Growth and Personal Journeys in Pharmacy
Jen Belcher is a highly accomplished pharmacist with a diverse range of experience, having worked in community and hospital settings since graduating from the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy in 2013. Her leadership skills were recognized early on when she was appointed as the Eastern Ontario Representative on the Board of Directors for the Ontario Pharmacists Association (OPA), and she later took on the role of Chair during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jen’s impressive track record has now led her to the position of Vice President of Strategic Initiatives & Member Relations at OPA, where she leverages her expertise in clinical practice, pharmacy operations, and advocacy to lead the association’s important work.
Lilliette Davidson
Empowering Inclusion: An Inspiring Panel Discussion
Lilliette Davidson is a dedicated leader with over 15 years of experience in a variety of industries from pharmaceutical, healthcare and life sciences, to fitness, retail and manufacturing. Currently, she is the Senior Director, Sales Operations & Customer Service with Staples Professional, a wholly owned division of Staples Canada. She previously held the roles of Vice President, Business Management & Development, at the Ontario Pharmacists Association (OPA) and Senior Director of National Customer Service & Inside Sales, at McKesson Canada. With her continuous improvement mindset, Lilliette, oversaw a major SalesForce implementation, made improvements to the onboarding programme and supported the integration of 20 Rexall stores’ technology conversion. Outside of work, Lilliette is a wife and mother to three kids and a fitness and wellness enthusiast. Lilliette holds an MBA from Lansbridge University, and a BA from University of Toronto. Additionally, she is a Prosci Certified Change Management Professional and ICI Canada Six Sigma Green Belt.
Dr. Susan Biali Haas MD
The Resilient Life: Reducing Stress and Burnout in Today’s Wild World
Dr. Susan Biali Haas is an award-winning medical doctor, internationally recognized for her expertise in mental health, stress management, burnout prevention, and resilience.
She has worked and provided education to a wide range of organizations including the United States Navy, Google, McKinsey & Company, Deloitte, The Coca-Cola Company, and MIT.
With 20 years of primary care experience, Dr. Susan also coaches a broad range of clients — from senior executives to physicians and other health professionals — to take control of their mental and physical well-being. Dr. Susan’s popular Psychology Today blog has over 10 million views, and she has been featured in media such as the Today Show, Forbes, BBC World Service, Oprah.com, and many more. She’s also the author of the bestselling book The Resilient Life: Manage Stress, Prevent Burnout, and Strengthen Your Mental and Physical Health, which was released in October 2022.
Kelly Grindrod
Enhancing Negotiation Skills for Pharmacy Professionals Part 1 & Part 2
Dr. Kelly Grindrod is an Associate Professor at the University of Waterloo’s School of Pharmacy and has been working at the university since 2011. A dedicated educator, Dr. Grindrod has made significant contributions to the field of pharmacy, particularly through her work in developing various online resources, including videos and infographics, to support the use of Paxlovid. Her Pharmacy5in5.ca platform has been instrumental in educating pharmacy professionals about Paxlovid and providing them with the necessary tools and resources to enhance their practice. Dr. Grindrod completed her BScPharm at the University of Alberta and a hospital residency at the London Health Sciences Centre. She also holds a PharmD, MSc, and a post-doctoral fellowship from the University of British Columbia, demonstrating her commitment to advancing her knowledge and skills in the field.
Jamie Kellar
The New Elephant in the Room: Navigating Patient Mistreatment of Pharmacy Teams
Jamie Kellar is an accomplished Associate Professor – Teaching and Associate Dean, Academic at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto. Dr. Kellar’s impressive academic background includes an Honors Bachelor of Science degree in Human Kinetics (BScHK) from the University of Guelph, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (BScPhm) and a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree, both from the University of Toronto. She furthered her education by obtaining a PhD from the School of Health Professions Education, Maastricht University, Netherlands. As a licensed pharmacist in Ontario, Dr. Kellar has practical experience in the field and has dedicated her research to exploring professional identity in pharmacy education and practice, with a focus on mental health. Dr. Kellar is an award-winning educator, having won the University of Toronto Early Career Teaching Award, the President’s Teaching Award and the Association of Faculties of Pharmacy of Canada (AFPC) National Award for Excellence in Education.
Bhavika Lad
Unlock Your Potential: Exploring Career Growth and Personal Journeys in Pharmacy
Bhavika Lad is a pharmacy professional with over 10 years of experience. After earning her pharmacy degree from the University of Toronto, she spent the first few years of her career as a staff pharmacist at Shoppers Drug Mart before becoming a successful multi-store associate owner for 13 years. In 2018 Bhavika transitioned to the corporate side as Director of Operations for Loblaw Pharmacy, where she managed operations for 23 Pharmacies. She later moved back to Shoppers Drug Mart to lead the vaccine portfolio which included overall development and execution of the national flu and covid vaccine programs. Bhavika is now the Senior Director of Pharmacy Services, and her teams lead critical services such as medication reviews and prescribing. Beyond her professional achievements, Bhavika enjoys spending her free time with her family, working on DIY projects, and refurbishing furniture to keep it out of landfills.
Anna Patrizio
Empowering Inclusion: An Inspiring Panel Discussion
Anna Patrizio is a proud and highly accomplished Filipino-Canadian community pharmacist with 18 years of experience. She is the co-owner of Schomberg Village Pharmacy in York Region. Anna is a renowned leader and active contributor to her community, having received several accolades for her efforts, including being named one of global 2022’s “Most Influential Filipina Women in the World”. Anna has recently been engaged in speaking events where she shares her journey from being a Filipina immigrant to Canada to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Her personal initiative, the South of the Philippines, is a grassroots movement that fosters young women in agriculture to ultimately address food security.
Unstoppable Tracy Schmitt BRLS, B.Ed, MBA
Closing Keynote
Unstoppable Tracey is a #1 Bestselling Author, TEDx presenter, TV and Podcast host, as well as a Canada Hall of Fame inductee who has over 100 million viral video views. A champion of dispelling limiting beliefs, Tracey was the first four-way amputee to climb the Himalayas Mountains, sail, and scuba dive. Furthermore, she is a Bronze medalist alpine skier. She has shared the stage with renowned stars such as Dr. Phil, Jane Fonda, Mark Wahlberg, Michael Douglas, and many more. Additionally, she has been featured in magazines such as Chatelaine and on the covers of Thrive and in Business Booster Today. Tracey’s passion and work have been recognized with many accolades and awards including, the Transformational Leader Global Female winner by leadership guru John Maxwell and the 2021 Top Inspirational Leader award from the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP). With her unique blend of humor and motivation, Tracey inspires global audiences to crush obstacles and soar to the top.
Andrew Shonbe
Empowering Inclusion: An Inspiring Panel Discussion
Andrew Schonbe (he/him) is a certified HIV pharmacist and owner of The PrEP Clinic/Ontario Prevention Clinic and Pharmacy. With a wealth of experience in community pharmacy, national health marketing, education, and sexual health, Andrew has made it his mission to provide high-quality healthcare services to communities across Ontario. As a leader in the field of HIV prevention, Andrew has established a collaborative care practice that seeks to break down access to barriers and improve the overall health outcomes of his patients. His innovative approach to care has helped countless individuals gain access to vital HIV prevention services.
Dr. Jaris Swidrovich
Empowering Inclusion: An Inspiring Panel Discussion
Dr. Jaris Swidrovich (he/him/they/them) is an Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, in the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto. He is from Yellow Quill First Nation and embodies intersectional identities of being disabled, queer, Two Spirit, and Saulteaux First Nations. As the first and only known Indigenous faculty member in pharmacy in North America, Dr. Swidrovich is an exemplary leader and trailblazer who founded and Chairs the Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada. He received a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Saskatchewan, a post-baccalaureate Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Toronto, and he will graduate with his PhD in Education shortly.
Jeff Yurek
Unlock Your Potential: Exploring Career Growth and Personal Journeys in Pharmacy
Jeff Yurek is a highly accomplished professional with a diverse background in both pharmacy and politics. He is the co-owner of Yurek Pharmacy Ltd, with two retail pharmacies, a mobility shop, and a specialty pharmacy for IV and medical supplies. After pursuing a career in pharmacy, Jeff became a Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) in Ontario, serving in various roles including the official health critic and Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, Minister of Transportation, and Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Throughout his career, Jeff has been committed to authentic leadership and doing the right thing. During his tenure, he introduced and passed Ryan’s Law which protected asthmatic students while at school. Jeff is a graduate from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto.
