Greg Eberhart, Keynote Speaker
The faculty's annual event included an enlightening message from the event's key note speaker in addition to poster presentations that highlighted our students and researcher's diverse projects.
Greg Eberhart, Registrar for the Alberta College of Pharmacists noted how the recent pharmacy scope of practice has brought changes in the profession and shared what research, he believes, needs to be put in place to support Alberta's changing environment.
"There is an increased incidence of chronic disease and drug shortages along with a focus on team and community-based care for a growing and aging population."
To resolve contrasting needs during the transition to community-based care Eberhart stressed the importance of researchers being bold thinkers and to create innovative models that relate to the people and will be relevant to the Alberta Health Care System.
"We need research that revolves around desperate needs. People tend to cluster around the flavour of the day. There are many research areas that aren't attracting a lot of people. Mental Health is the new kid on the block. It's a new opportunity and the need is massive."
He went on to say that pharmacy researchers must move into other domains of the health sector like the social sciences sector as well as the business world and private sector to contribute to the health of patients.
Alberta's pharmacists are already making a difference. Pharmacists performed over 33 per cent of all immunizations in the province during the 2013-2014 provincial immunization campaign. They initiate prescription medications, order and access lab data and administer drugs by injection:
• Influenza, herpes zoster, HPV, Pneumococcus
• Travel immunizations
• B12, hormones
Looking forward to the future, Eberhart foresees the profession moving from the current state where most pharmacists accurately compound and dispense prescribed drugs to the future where pharmacists are recognized as medication management experts.
Our 2014 Research Day poster presentation winners