Attending Discover Pharmacy Day at the University of British Columbia was the catalyst for Esther Lu’s aspiration to become a pharmacist. Now a third-year Entry-to-Practice PharmD student, she recalls that she immediately decided to volunteer at a pharmacy after the event, and soon, secured a position as a pharmacy assistant — working at the same pharmacy for the next six years.

While still in high school, Lu noticed that pharmacists are uniquely positioned to build long-term relationships with patients, and that they could play a key role in managing and monitoring patients’ health over time. She also recognized that pharmacies serve as a stable and accessible point of care for many individuals. 

At that time, she assumed that all pharmacists worked in community settings. It wasn’t until she entered the PharmD program that she discovered opportunities in hospital practice, too. 

Pharmacy is evolving, and the scope of practice continues to expand. Just 10 years ago, not many people chose to get their vaccines in pharmacies, but now everyone does.

— Esther Lu

“During my second year, I completed rotations in both a community pharmacy and a hospital setting. At the hospital, I really enjoyed the interprofessional environment, being able to work collaboratively with physicians and nurses, and caring for patients with more acute and complex conditions,” Lu said. 

“I also really enjoyed the process of working up patient cases in a systematic manner.”
So far in school, she has held several leadership roles, serving as the Vice President, External, for the UBC Pharmacy Undergraduate Society (PhUS), Vice President, Events, for the Phi Lambda Sigma (PLS) leadership society, and Advocacy Chair for the Canadian Society of Pharmacy Students and Interns (CAPSI). 

In her role with CAPSI, Lu has coordinated multiple clinics at community centres across Vancouver, including hypertension and mental health clinics, as well as outreach initiatives for high school students. She was also previously involved in organizing advocacy events as the Co-Chair for Pharmacy Appreciation Month at UBC. 

Additionally, as an undergraduate research assistant, Lu is contributing to the development of curriculum on artificial intelligence (AI) in pharmacy practice.

“Pharmacy is evolving, and the scope of practice continues to expand. Just 10 years ago, not many people chose to get their vaccines in pharmacies, but now everyone does. With the introduction of minor-ailments prescribing and academic programs such as the PharmD, students today are better equipped to provide these services than ever before,” she said. “It’s an exciting time to be in pharmacy, as the profession continues to evolve in meaningful ways.”