Healthy relationships are the foundation to education of both students and patients, says new assistant clinical professor

Damion Barnes

When new assistant clinical professor Damion Barnes arrived in Edmonton from Jamaica in 2017, he had already been a practising pharmacist for six years. Having chosen the University of Alberta as his ultimate destination for further studies, he had many hurdles to overcome before he could begin the PharmD program and become licensed to practise here in his new home. Damion had to adapt to an unfamiliar climate and learn how different the pharmacy scope of practice is here than in Jamaica, all while earning just 50 cents per hours more than minimum wage at his first job in Canada, as a pharmacy assistant. He’s now looking forward to mining his experiences to make the classroom a safe and encouraging place for his new students.

Here, we learn more about Damion’s love of teaching, the road that brought him here, and how his previous contributions as a preceptor will guide his work in the classroom.

What was it like to come from being a practising pharmacist in Jamaica to starting over in Alberta?

In one word – stressful. Anyone who’s migrated to live in another country will tell you that it takes a lot of getting used to, and it was the same for me. There were lots of differences between living in Jamaica and living here. I had to give up full-time employment as a pharmacist and work as a pharmacy assistant until I could get licensed in Canada, and had to adapt to the different scope of practice here. I had very little support structure while getting accustomed to a new culture, even learning how to drive on the other side of the road — yikes! 

I remember when I got here. Even though I had already been a pharmacist for six years, my first job was as a pharmacy assistant earning 50 cents above the minimum wage. And thanks to a stronger Canadian dollar than the money back home, things were very expensive. But I made it work; by scaling back on a few things to make ends meet, I toughed it out. It also helped that I connected with a few newcomer programs that helped make it easier to integrate. 

To prepare to work as a pharmacist in Canada, I had to pass several exams. The process of enrolling and completing the exams, doing the internship, and then finally being licensed to practise in Alberta took me three years.

Will this be your first time teaching in a classroom? What are you most looking forward to about that? 

It is not my first time teaching in a classroom, but it is my first time teaching in a classroom with so many students. I look forward to meeting the new students, getting them involved in the coursework and giving them opportunities to engage and learn.

What do you most fondly recall about your own teachers over the years? 

Some of their most impactful traits were being kind hearted, principled, empathetic, flexible and relatable. I also have good memories of those who used a variety of teaching methods in the classroom and who were able to provide guidance.

How will your recent experience as a preceptor inform your classroom teaching?

My time as a preceptor gave me a lens on the competency of students at the end of the first year and nearing the completion of the PharmD program, as I’ve precepted both first- and final-year students. Discussions with these students over the rotation periods have given me insight into the students’ strengths and areas for improvements. I feel I’ll be coming into the classroom with a good understanding of what students struggle with on rotation and I feel that armed with this information, I can in my way tackle some of these challenges before future students go out on rotation and into real-life practice.

What draws you to teaching? 

I feel everyone aspires to be something that interested them when they were growing up – and for me, that was teaching. From a young age I have always had an interest in teaching  and that has followed me right up to now, as a pharmacist. 

What does it mean to you as an alumnus to teach in the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences?

I have a good history with the faculty, so despite the “wonderful” winters here in Alberta, after completing my PharmD I decided to stick around. I have partnered with the institution to take on roles such as facilitating skills labs, precepting and mentoring pharmacy students. It means a lot to me to give back, as I always want to see those around me succeed. For me, it is gratifying to see my friends, mentees and students excel, even to the point of surpassing me. 

What courses will you be teaching?

I am co-ordinating Patient Care Skills 1 and 6, parts of Pharmacotherapy 1 for the PharmD program, and Patient Care Skills 3 for the Certificate to Canadian Pharmacy Practice program.

Is there a particular area of interest you are most looking forward to sharing with your students?

I feel that every year there are several students who end up working in community pharmacy, and I think my experiences working as a community pharmacist over the years might be helpful to them. I look forward to sharing advice and pearls of wisdom, as well as acting as a resource as another community pharmacist working at the faculty. 

What are some of the strengths you bring as an instructor that will help your students find success and enjoyment in the classroom?

Over the years, I have come to realize that I am more of a relationship builder with a strong personality as a developer, as I work with students to help improve their proficiency. I am genuinely interested in knowing more about individuals, their background and their interests so I can relate more to them. In addition to this, I am flexible about the needs of students and willing to adapt my teaching methods to make the learning experience engaging and enriching. I’m also very reflective and enjoy thinking about how to fine-tune my processes to make things better.

What do you think makes a good pharmacist?

A good pharmacist can meet patients at their own level, helping them to set achievable goals while having the knowledge and resources to help them attain those goals. In addition to this, a good pharmacist is one who actively listens, because patients realize that you’re interested and then become more open, and trust develops. No two individuals are alike, but listening to the needs of patients while providing them with health information so they can make informed decisions — while respecting and honouring their choices — goes a long way.