Professional Development Week (PDW)

January 8th to 11th, 2025
Halifax - Dalhousie University

Professional Development Week (PDW) is an annual conference hosted by a different Canadian pharmacy school each year. This four-day conference brings pharmacy students together from across the country to network, apply their practical skills, and expand their knowledge on various healthcare topics. This year it was hosted in Halifax by Dalhousie University, from January 8th to 11^th, 2025.

CAPSI National uses the conference as a time to conduct in-person meetings. This year, there were four students from the University of Saskatchewan on the 2024-2025 CAPSI National Council: Hannah Bouvier (CAPSI USask Senior), Abigail Lenz (CAPSI USask Junior), Meagan Wenzel (Vice President, Professional Affairs), and Jacqueline Tian-Tran (CSHP-CAPSI Student Delegate Liaison) - great representation from our college!

Breanna Morrison presented her research poster that she completed with Dr. Halpape at the PDW Health Fair. Her research reviewed the use of atomoxetine in pediatric psychiatric patients. 

During one of the evenings, everyone cheered on Joely Welburn as she wowed people with an interpretive dance for Canada’s Next Top Pharmacist.  

The USask PharmaFacts team, consisting of Jessica Collins, Emma Russnak, Alyssa Powell, and Jakob Surjik, showed off their impressive pharmacy knowledge. 

USask had numerous award winners at the closing gala:  

Jessica Collins placed 4th nationally for the Patient Interview Competition in which she counselled a patient on a complex drug regimen.  

Emily Galey accepted the Saskatchewan CFP-CAPSI Guy Genest Passion for Pharmacy Award, which is given to a student at each pharmacy school who has a notable passion and dedication to the profession of pharmacy.  

Additionally, we want to recognize the other USask students who competed in national competitions. To take part in these competitions at PDW, a student must first win the local competition at the university they attend. Breanna Morrison represented USask in the Student Literary Competition and PharmaChoice Presentation Competition. Tapanga Brooks, Emma Russnak, Courtney Mckenzie, and Reese Mason competed as a team in the Compounding Competition. Tapanga Brooks also competed individually for USask in the OTC Competition. 

Overall, we had 26 delegates from USask who represented our school proudly. 

The USask Pharmacy student representatives for the incoming 2025-2026 CAPSI National Council include Abigail Lenz (CAPSI USask Senior), and our next CAPSI USask Junior, to be elected at the end of this academic year. Additionally, elections for CAPSI National positions are just around the corner, meaning ample opportunity for Usask representation.