Professional Development Week

So last week I attended PDW in Edmonton, which is a conference for pharmacy students that allows us to hear from a lot of great speakers regarding pharmacy issues. This year the theme was empowering the patient through empowering pharmacists and focused on the changes that we as a profession need to make in the future so that we're seen and appreciated for doing more than pouring pills from a big bottle into a little bottle (the "lick stick and pour" method). Interesting topics included drug-induced nutritional deficiencies, melding comtemporary Chinese medicine with Western medicine and the pharmacists' role in diabetes.

But it wasn't all conferences and learning. We also had a few social nights. Two galas with dinner, a night out at a cowboy bar where the high balls cost only a quarter (!!), and a night at the waterpark in West Edmonton Mall. There was also a hypnotist who was there the first night and I was one of the volunteers he was able to hypnotise!! I'm still trying to track down his name so that I can get a copy of the video. If anyone knows, let me know!

Here are a few pics :)

Sarah


The hypnotist told us we were the most relaxed we'd ever been and that the person next to us was our teddy bear. Seriously, I was hypnotized!!

How could I forget!!?? Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod were our keynotes speakers. For those of you who've always wondered, yes, they are married.