Meet Christine
After more than 20 years of teaching and researching with the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta alumna, Dr. Christine Hughes (BScPharm ‘94, PharmD, FCSHP), stepped into the role of its Interim Dean on July 1, 2021. We sat down with Christine to learn more about her and her plans for the future.
Tell us about your research area.
There have been a lot of incredible advances in treatment of HIV since I started working in this area more than 20 years ago. While there is no cure currently available for HIV, newer antiretroviral medications work extremely well, are well tolerated and typically involve taking a single tablet once daily. We also know that if people living with HIV take medication to treat the virus and have a suppressed viral load, they do not transmit the virus to sexual partners. Increased access to testing, engagement in care and treatment as well as using available tools for prevention are important to end HIV as a public health threat. Just like we saw with the most recent pandemic, COVID-19, the accessibility of pharmacists and their scope of practice provides opportunities to expand access to testing for HIV, hepatitis C, syphilis and even other sexually-transmitted infections in the community. I think pharmacists can also play an important role in linkage to care and treatment of many sexually-transmitted infections as rates continue to rise in Alberta as well as across Canada.
What is your favourite course to teach?
My favourite course to teach is Infectious Diseases. In our entry-to-practice PharmD program, it is Pharm 446: Infectious Disease and Transplant. This course includes vaccine content, HIV, hepatitis C, and other viral infections and sexually-transmitted infections. The students are very engaged with the content, and this past term it was such a unique and rewarding experience to be learning about the COVID-19 vaccines at the same time as the students.
What is your favourite thing about the University of Alberta?
The connection of the University of Alberta to the community. It is such an important part of the University’s vision and mission, and I also feel that strong connection in my own teaching, research and professional activities.
What’s something your co-workers or students don’t know about you?
I really enjoy gardening and find growing plants, flowers and herbs very relaxing and rewarding. I can’t say I have exceptional talent in this area, but I do really enjoy spending time outside in the summer months.
What advice would you give to an aspiring pharmacist or pharmaceutical scientist?
Follow your interests and passions, as it is unlikely to lead you astray. Also take chances even when you are pushed outside of your comfort zone. I have definitely been pushed outside of my comfort zone many times in my career, but that is usually when I experience the most growth.
What are you most looking forward to in your role as Dean?
While it is a very challenging time to step into the Interim Dean role, I also see it as an exciting opportunity. I am looking forward to working with the other Deans both within the College of Health Sciences and beyond. I am also looking forward to working with our students, academic staff and administrative staff and engaging with external stakeholders as part of my new role. With the College of Health Sciences, there are real opportunities to advance combined degrees, build and support inter-faculty research collaborations, and promote interprofessional education.
What is the biggest strength and opportunity that you see for the Faculty?
Our biggest strength is our people: academic staff, administrative staff, undergraduate students, graduate students, alumni and donors.
While this past year has been very challenging as a result of the pandemic, it has highlighted the importance of research to society, as well as the critical role of pharmacists as members of the healthcare team. It has also challenged us to think about new ways that we can work, study and learn. As we move into the new College model, this provides new opportunities to re-think how we collaborate in research and teaching. For a smaller Faculty like ours, there are also opportunities to benefit from delivery of services as part of the operational model. All of these challenges present opportunities to truly transform what we are doing and align with the University of Alberta for tomorrow.
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