A big city pharmacy with small-town style service — for nearly 20 years, that’s been pharmacist Bernice Lam’s approach to operating her north Burnaby store. It is here, along the busy Hastings Street, where Lam’s presence has been a gift to her patient population, and where her mentorship to countless early pharmacists has made a mark for a future generation of pharmacy leaders.

Even years later, those who had their first work experience at Lam’s pharmacy say they owe their success to her practical style of teaching. Her mentorship extends beyond acting as preceptor to pharmacy students or leading her own team. She educates seniors in the community. Other health practitioners sing her praises for how she is a source of expertise they rely on. And she even participates in her the city school district’s work experience program, where students from two high schools are regularly invited to job shadow in her pharmacy.

Lam believes it’s important to give students a taste of a profession they are interested in — the experience could confirm for them that their interest is worthy to pursue, or perhaps help them realize their true calling, as was the case for Lam, before she decided to become a pharmacist. 

I make sure that during their internships, my students know that they don’t need to be perfect. If they make a mistake, it’s OK, it’s part of the learning experience. 

— Bernice Lam

“I was doing accounting for work experience for a week. I did accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, the whole office experience, and I just couldn’t see myself doing that,” she said. “At the time, I was also doing some volunteer work at Vancouver General Hospital. I saw how all the different people worked, the nurses, the doctors and the pharmacists, and that’s when I thought I would give pharmacy a go.”

For Lam, being a good mentor means being a person who is a teacher, a guide, a soundboard, someone who is available, and someone who would share their thoughts with honesty. She puts her heart into it, and it can be bittersweet when a mentee decides it’s time to explore new opportunities.

“I treat all of my staff, my students, like family. It’s like the kids leaving the roost. I’m always proud to see everybody excel and spread their wings and reach out to do what their hearts desire,” she said. 

Each year, as many as eight students from local high schools will visit her pharmacy for their work experience program. Her relationship with one of the schools spans 10 years, and about five years ago, she partnered with another school when their career counsellor visited her pharmacy while on a hunt for a health career guest speaker. 

Apart from her work, she also finds time to participate in medical missions to Vietnam, as often as once per year. As part of those trips, Lam coordinates with manufacturers and other donors of supplies, and together with her pharmacist husband, visits the country to work alongside nurses and doctors to deliver care. 

“In rural areas of Vietnam, generally, there are no health care professionals. So we try to go in, identify patients who are in need of help, and also conduct fundraising to help them come to the cities to get medical treatment, whether it’s a heart surgery, or cataracts, or mobility aids,” Lam said. “The whole experience has opened my eyes to how fortunate we are to have health care here, and how fortunate I am to be able to provide health care to people who aren’t able to get it readily.”

Several of her mentees have gone on to work alongside her at the pharmacy, sometimes for years. Those who know her say she leads by example, with a spirit that always puts the patient first. 

“I usually take the first-year pharmacy students, and hope that I’ve given them insight into what pharmacy is all about. I make sure that during their internships, my students know that they don’t need to be perfect. If they make a mistake, it’s OK, it’s part of the learning experience. I hope that after their internship or volunteer experience, my mentees have received enough of a stepping stool that they can move forward and make the most of their future internships or to potentially choose pharmacy as their future career.”