Trainee Spotlight

Biography

Paraag Trivedi is a BSP 2016 candidate from Regina.  At the age of 15, he received a kidney transplant from his father and cites this event as a primary reason for pursuing a career in pharmacy. As an undergraduate student, Paraag has spent extensive time volunteering on a number of initiatives including the Saskatchewan Elocution and Debate Association and acting as a Student Ambassador with the Kids Help Phone. He has been involved in youth outreach programs such as Medicines and You & Operation Wash-up, a program used to teach children about medication safety and proper hand washing. He enjoys sharing his passion for healthcare with others and has promoted the profession of pharmacy by demonstrating pharmaceutical compounding to high school students and speaking to first year university students about careers in healthcare. Paraag currently serves as finance officer on the national executive council of the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Students and Interns (CAPSI).

Research

In the summer of 2015, Paraag joined an ongoing project with the Saskatchewan Transplant Program headed by Dr. Holly Mansell. Creation of an Evidence-based Video Series for Patients on the Kidney Transplant Waitlist aims to enhance pre-transplant education about the transplant process and emphasize the benefits, risks, and challenges of maintaining optimal adherence to immunosuppressive medications following surgery (view the project trailer). Paraag conducted qualitative research, which included conducting patient interviews. His keen interest in using technology to assist with patient education and his unique perspective as a kidney transplant recipient made him an integral member of the team.  He is currently working on a directed studies research elective and is writing up the results of his work in a manuscript. Paraag encourages Pharmacy and Nutrition undergraduate students to consider applying to the Summer Student Research Program to gain new perspectives and valuable research skills in the field of pharmacy.