Each year, HealthPRO Canada welcomes a fourth-year pharmacy student to complete a placement with our Pharmacy - Product Quality team, offering a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of pharmacy, procurement, quality assurance, and patient safety. This focused, immersive experience provides meaningful exposure to the systems-level work that supports healthcare organizations across Canada.

Over the past five weeks, Marianne Rojas, a fourth-year pharmacy student in the PharmD program at the University of Toronto, has been completing her rotation under the mentorship of Tracy Gallina, Clinical Director, Pharmacy - Product Quality. With a strong interest in pharmacology and a background primarily in community pharmacy, Marianne approached her placement with curiosity and openness, eager to explore a side of pharmacy practice that operates behind the scenes but plays a critical role in patient care.

During her time with us, Marianne gained valuable insight into the operational and procurement processes that help ensure healthcare providers have access to safe, high-quality medications. We spoke with her about what inspired her to pursue pharmacy, what she found most meaningful during her placement, and how the experience has shaped her perspective on her future in the profession.

What motivated you to pursue a career in pharmacy?

During my fourth year at Queen’s University, where I was completing my undergraduate degree in Life sciences, I was quite uncertain by what the future was going to look like. I had an ongoing debate between going to medical school or pursuing a master’s degree in research, until I came across the UofT PharmD program. Having always enjoyed the pharmacology electives I had taken throughout the years, I decided to look further into the program and applied to the program spontaneously. I am incredibly thankful to say that this last-minute decision has been one of the most life-changing and rewarding choices of my life.

How would you summarize your experience at HealthPRO Canada?

My experience at HealthPRO Canada has been very eye-opening. It has given me a distinct perspective on the operational and procurement processes that support patient care at a systems level. This role challenged me to step out of the traditional clinical mindset and helped me develop new skills in areas I wouldn’t have otherwise explored had I not done my placement here.

What part of your placement at HealthPRO Canda did you enjoy the most?

The most enjoyable part has been seeing how the pharmacists here apply their knowledge gained from hospital experience and translate it into strategic decision-making within procurement. I also loved working closely with the Product Quality team under Tracy, the Clinical Director. Having community pharmacy as my main background, coming to HealthPRO Canada was a huge learning curve for me. Tracy’s guidance and the encouragement from all the team members I met made this entire experience so much more meaningful to me.

What type of pharmacy practice do you think you’ll pursue once you graduate?

When I think about my future after graduation, I am mainly drawn to community pharmacy because I really value the personal, face-to-face connections I build with patients. At the same time, my exposure to hospital and industry settings throughout my rotations has really expanded my perspective on how I can contribute to patient care. I’m still exploring which path feels like the best fit, but I am excited by all the possibilities ahead.

Tell us about a project you worked on.

One of the key projects I worked on was developing a comprehensive list of moisture-sensitive medications that were under contract. This list was designed as a tool to assist members in making informed repackaging decisions, ensuring the stability and safety of these products. Working on this project taught me new skills and pushed me to think critically in ways I hadn’t before, making the experience deeply impactful.

What is it about HealthPRO Canada that appealed to you?

The reason I chose HealthPRO Canada for my rotation is that I wanted to experience firsthand their vital role in the healthcare system, where they work behind the scenes but have a profound impact on patient care. It’s fascinating to see how it represents a unique intersection of pharmacy, quality assurance, and patient safety.