The origins of the pharmaceutical industry can be traced back as far as the late nineteenth century when dyestuffs were found to have antiseptic properties and a number of the producers of these dyestuffs developed into pharmaceutical companies that still exist to this very day. Since these early days, the industry has persevered through many changes and continued to evolve and grow. With the New Millennium came new sets of challenges and perhaps the most drastic, extensive and widespread issues this industry has ever faced as the healthcare system became more strained and pushed to the limits of survival.
However, with great change comes great opportunity and perhaps the most paramount of leaders in this changing era of healthcare will be the pharmacists as they are asked to change the scope of their practice, take on greater responsibility and make the necessary time to cater to the changing needs of the modern day era.
It was with these epic changes in mind that Nycomed Canada elected to create the Nycomed Magnum Opus Award to acknowledge pharmacists from across the country that attain professional achievement through professional learning. In this, the first year of the award, it was a privilege and an honour to recognize 10 exceptional individuals ranging from a Doctor in Pharmacy with a specialty in geriatrics & rehabilitation, to a certified diabetes educator who took weekly flights into remote First Nations communities to assess diabetes management and make therapeutic recommendations. Another of the recipients has distinguished herself as an inspirational luminary, focussed on a mission to “help one more patient quit smoking.”
Her dedication to this cause has resulted in more than 30 patients quitting smoking. She has had more than 80 referrals from physicians and has gained many new patients for the pharmacy.
It is exactly this type of commitment and outstanding effort that made these individuals deserved recipients of the Nycomed Magnum Opus Award. Nycomed Canada is delighted to support pharmacists with this exciting new award.
http://www.canadianhealthcarenetwork.ca/nycomedaward