Preston Eshenko, University of Alberta's 2016 Mr. Pharmacy, speaks at the 2017 Professional Development Week at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. Exactly one year from today, students from our faculty will host PDW 2018 at the Shaw Conference Centre in Alberta's Capital City.
One year from today, Edmonton will play host to the largest student pharmacy conference in Canada.
Professional Development Week 2018 is an annual four-day student pharmacy conference that provides a unique set of educational opportunities for tomorrow's pharmacists.
More than 600 pharmacy students across Canada are expected to descend on Edmonton January 10-13, 2018 to take part in plenary sessions, seminars, a health expo and other PD opportunities showcasing the potential all pharmacy and pharmaceutical professionals have in shaping the future of the pharmacy industry.
Students representing the Alberta Pharmacy Students' Association just returned from this year's 2017 PDW conference in Winnipeg excited to be hosts next January.
"PDW 2017 was an incredible four-day experience and it made us even more excited for the opportunity to host it in Edmonton," says Diva Niaz, pharmacy student and co-chair of the organizing committee. "We learned how important it is to have open communication with our delegates - they are the heart of making this a successful conference."
The theme chosen for this conference is "Fueling Our Future." Innovation in healthcare, pharmacy practice and research will be highlighted among the speakers and sessions at PDW 2018.
"We want to empower students to take initiative and become leaders of the pharmacy profession," says Niaz. "It's our hope that students will leave the conference inspired to fuel their futures."
A health fair will also showcase a range of diverse professionals and non-profit groups to discuss their latest ideas and developments.
"Our theme for the speaker sessions is innovation," says Anuvir Bhullar, pharmacy student and fellow organizing committee co-chair. "We will we choose speakers that will encourage students to think outside the box and practice pharmacy to their fullest potential."
To Bhullar's point, the conference has already confirmed one innovative speaker - Canadian television personality Ben Nemtin, the creator, executive producer and cast member of MTV series The Buried Life. With lessons learned from achieving his own goals and helping others with theirs, Nemtin is a sought-after public speaker who delivers perspective that inspires audiences to dream big, accomplish their objectives and identify creative strategies to help others.
Bhullar says the conference is a must-attend for pharmacy students to help them "create memories and relationships to last a lifetime, with students from all across the country."
The conference is supported by the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Students and Interns (CAPSI), an association of pharmacy students, pharmacy interns, and undergraduate pharmacy organizations across Canada.
Check out the promotional video: