Meet our Experts - Alicia Martin

What does a Clinical Director, Pharmacy Member Support do at HealthPRO?
As a Clinical Director for Pharmacy Member Support, I ensure my members' concerns are answered promptly and keep current on patient safety initiatives, drug shortages and planetary health.

What is your favourite quote or motto?
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” - Gandhi

What do you like most about working for HealthPRO? 
I love the people, the organization, and their raison d’etre. HealthPRO’s focus on sustainability is critical for all Canadians and for planetary health. 

What inspired you to join the CSHP sustainability task force, and what do you hope to achieve through your involvement?
The world is at a critical point and immediate action is necessary. CSHP is national so their messages are far reaching. I hope we can inspire all hospital pharmacists to take a stance and initiate change to reduce our carbon footprint.

How do you stay current with developments in sustainable pharmacy practice, and what steps have you taken to implement sustainable practices in your own work?
Aside from the CSHP sustainability task force, I am also the co-lead for procurement on the Canadian Association in Pharmacy for the Environment. Through CASCADES, I completed the fundamentals of sustainability course as well as listened to many sessions on the topic. Within my own work, I prioritize minimizing my carbon footprint by avoiding printing, driving to work, and using single-use plastics. Instead, I use refillable containers and avoid buying bottled water.

Can you share an example of a sustainability initiative in pharmacy that you find particularly inspiring or innovative, and what lessons can be learned from that initiative?
I learned about the large carbon footprint of a metered dose inhaler (MDI) and decided as a HealthPRO employee I could do something. So, I partnered with Alam, HealthPRO’s Clinical Director, Pharmacy to develop a sustainability toolkit for members to move to dry powder inhalers that produce less carbon which is launching this month. Pharmacists are keen, they just need the tools to make the change.

In your opinion, what are some of the most pressing sustainability issues facing pharmacy today, and what steps can be taken to address them?
Based on UK data, pharmaceuticals represent 25% of the healthcare carbon emissions. MDI’s represent 3.1% of the pie so if we can reduce this, the impact is substantial. Desflurane has the highest carbon footprint of the anesthetic gases so reducing or eliminating this drug would be ideal. Deprescribing is another area where all pharmacists can reduce unnecessary medications and reduce emissions.