BCPhA Pharmacy Excellence Awards

awards

Need help to nominate a pharmacist?

Just ask! Email us at awards@bcpharmacy.ca with the name of the pharmacist you would like to nominate and your contact information.

Nominations for the 2023 Pharmacy Excellence Awards are open!

Nomination period is open from March 10 to May 31, 2023.

Nominate a Pharmacist Online
Download and Print Nomination Form

Frequently asked questions

  • When will next year's nomination process open?
    The nomination period for the 2023 Pharmacy Excellence Awards is from March 10 to May 31, 2023. 
     
  • How do I complete/submit the nomination?
    Download the PDF nomination package, fill out the information and email to awards@bcpharmacy.ca with the nominee's name in the subject line. Alternatively, fill out an online form here.
     
  • Can I nominate myself?
    Yes.
     
  • Can I nominate more than one person?
    Yes. You can nominate as many individuals as you would like. You must submit a nomination package for each individual nominee.
     
  • Can I nominate my partner/friend/family member?
    Yes. You can nominate someone as long as they are a pharmacist and a member of the BC Pharmacy Association, except in the case of the Friend of Pharmacy Award, in which the individual does not have to be a member of the Association and must not be a practicing pharmacist. 
     
  • Can I nominate someone I have nominated before?
    Yes, absolutely. Often selecting a winner can be difficult as there are so many good nomination packages. Someone who may not have won in a previous year could win the next year. Please do resubmit your nomination packages from the previous year. 
     
  • What do the judges look for in a winning nomination package? 
    Judges are looking for evidence that shows how a nominee has gone above and beyond their role as a pharmacist - from involvement in the community to excellence in patient care to advocating for the profession or mentoring young pharmacists. The winning nomination packages have multiple supporting letters, often from patients and other health-care team members (including pharmacy colleagues) community organizations, leaders, educators or researchers. For the Friend of Pharmacy Award, judges look for examples from more than one nominator, and typically these are from pharmacists. This could mean multiple pharmacists, pharmacy technicians or assistants, nurses, patients or other organizations.
     
  • When will the awards be presented?
    The awards will be presented during the BCPhA’s Award Gala Event to take place in fall 2023. 
     
  • Are all awards given each year?
    No. It depends on the number of nominations and the quality of the submissions. 
     
  • Who do I contact if I have questions?
    If you have questions regarding the awards or nomination process, please email awards@bcpharmacy.ca or contact Devyani Basoodetsing at (604) 269-2884.

Award categories

Winners are selected in the following categories:

  • Excellence in Patient Care Award: This award is presented to a pharmacist who has demonstrated ongoing excellence in patient care in their professional practice.
  • Ben Gant Innovative Practice Award: This award is presented to a pharmacist who has demonstrated significant innovation in their respective practice and/or the profession.
  • Murray Dykeman Mentorship Award: This award recognizes a pharmacist who has demonstrated outstanding mentorship to those early in their pharmacy career.
  • Pharmacy Leadership Award: This award recognizes a pharmacist who has demonstrated commitment to leading the profession and its people forward and has made significant contributions to the profession of pharmacy. 
  • Collaborative Care Award: This award recognizes a pharmacist who has worked to create strong collaboration with other health-care providers. In doing so, they have promoted the value of pharmacists and have successfully advocated for the role of pharmacists in the primary health-care team.
  • New Practitioner Award: This award recognizes a pharmacist within their first five years of practice. The nominee has demonstrated impact and commitment to the pharmacy profession by advancing their practice.
  • Bowl of Hygeia Award: A pharmacist with an outstanding record of public and community service.
  • Friend of Pharmacy Award: A non-pharmacist who has worked with and promoted the value and role of pharmacists within the health-care team.

Congratulations to our 2022 Winners!

On Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022, the 2022 winners of the BC Pharmacy Association Pharmacy Excellence Awards were announced. This year's winners are:

Riz Gumpac – New Practitioner Award

“Health care is a team process. I can only do so well because of the people that I work with.” Riz Gumpac, pharmacy manager at Ucluelet Co-op Pharmacy, is this year’s New Practitioner Award winner.

Jason Buerfeind – Excellence in Patient Care Award

“Why not just live there and every day can be a weekend?” After discovering the North Okanagan, Alberta-raised Jason Buerfeind, winner of the Excellence in Patient Care Award, has dedicated himself to serving the area’s residents.

Clay Palmer – Pharmacy Leadership Award

“A leader is just someone who gives an example that should be followed and encourages people to do the same.” Recently promoted to pharmacy manager at Cove Pharmacy on Quadra Island, Clay Palmer is the winner of this year’s Pharmacy Leadership Award.

Justin & Sahil – Collaborative Care Award

This year, the Association has selected two pharmacists, Justin Dovale and Sahil Ahuja of Two Nice Guys Pharmacy, as recipients of the Collaborative Care Award for the great relationships they have built with public health in Kelowna. 

Mario Linaksita – Murray Dykeman Mentorship Award

“It feels right to be here.” With his pharmacy just a short walk from UBC’s pharmacy school, it’s no surprise Murray Dykeman Mentorship Award winner Mario Linaksita is a reliable source of advice for students.

Sylvie Fraser – Ben Gant Innovative Practice Award

“Animals are a member of the family.” Having grown up surrounded by animals, Ben Gant Innovative Practice Award winner Sylvie Fraser decided to focus her compounding pharmsacy to serve the needs of both animal and human patients in Nanaimo.

Candy-Lea Chickite – Friend of Pharmacy

“My hands are raised to all pharmacy team members who provide and promote culturally safe care within their pharmacy.” This year’s Friend of Pharmacy Award winner is Candy-Lea Chickite, a First Nations Health Authority employee who has been working closely with pharmacies.

Cathie Hamm – Bowl of Hygeia Award

“I started working in the pharmacy when I was 15.” Forty years later, Cathie Hamm, winner of the Bowl of Hygeia Awards, has touched the lives of virtually everyone in the community of Williams Lake. 

 

Examples from Past Submissions

* Names have been changed for privacy reasons.

I met Jody in October 2018 prior to embarking on a trip to Papau New Guinea. As you are aware, travellers should take health precautions before travelling to this country, but I wasn't too worried about it at the time. Until I met Jody! This was my first experience meeting a pharmacist who specializes in travel medicine. Jody was so prepared it blew me away. She explained the types of threats I could run into and provided multiple options for preventative care, in addition to clear instructions for what I should be aware of prior, during and after my trip. She even checked up with me a few weeks after I got back! I have absolute faith I am in good hands. - Ronald, a patient

I am one who seeks as much information as possible when it comes to pharmaceutical products. Blake is well-informed and up-to-date on all the newest pharmaceuticals. Additionally, he also demonstrates compassion. Eleven years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to take a multitude of medications and had to endure years of side effects from chemotherapy. Blake always made himself available to support me in my personal choices. I would, and have, recommended Blake to family, friends and colleagues because of his expertise, knowledge, compassion and commitment to personal patient care. - Jaden, a physician and patient

Many of Mary's patients are living with chronic and complex conditions, including HIV/AIDS, substance use and mental health disorders, in addition to social challenges and marginalization, and require a truly interdisciplinary approach to optimize their health and wellness. Mary exemplifies the principles of culturally-safe, equity-informed, patient-centred care, and does not hesitate to act as an advocate for her patients when they experience challenges or barriers to accessing services, while maintaining positive relationships with all partners in their care. - Eric, a physician and colleague

Past award winners