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  • Black Pharmacy Professionals of Canada

    Prescribing Change

    At BPPC, we are dedicated to empowering Black pharmacy professionals by providing mentorship, advocacy, and opportunities for community health and growth. Join our thriving network and gain access to exclusive benefits, including BPPC mentorship program, educational events, job postings and professional resources. 

    To kick things off we are having a 
    BPPC Skin Care in Black and Brown Skin - Virtual Event on March 29th, 2025.

    Learn More below!

    Learn More

Mentorship


Advocacy


Community Health


Empowerment, Opportunities, and Mentorship

Become a Member

When you become a member of BPPC, you join a network of driven Black pharmacy professionals and gain access to tailored resources designed to help you succeed. Members receive discounts, exclusive educational materials, mentorship opportunities, and access to job postings and grant listings.

Coming Soon

Exclusive Events

Featured Event

BPPC Skin Care Series presents
​Skin Care in Black and Brown Skin

March 29th, 2025 - 1:00PM EST

Virtual Event

FREE TICKETS LIVE

Get Tickets

Past Events

BPPC Excellence Summit
Changemaker Forum
CSHP PPC Conference
Community Health Expo and Dermatology Clinic
Black History Month
Panel with Scarborough Health Network
BPPC Excellence Summit

BPPC Excellence Summit - Annual Educational Conference

The inaugural Black Pharmacy Professionals of Canada (BPPC) conference was experienced as amplified, not micro, affirmation – Black professionals were seen and celebrated! 

The topics were Black health centred – we greeted each other warmly and enthusiastically, acknowledging that this conference will be included in the Black Canadian history books. We advocated for equity in health for the Black Canadian population.   

The February 7th – 9th,  2025 BPPC Excellence Summit had many highlights. 

By the numbers : 

  • Attendees ~ 130 to 135   

  • Sponsors and Exhibitors - 20 

  • Posters presented - 2 posters 

  • Educational sessions delivered  - 12 sessions 

  • Educational grants - 10 recipients, 6 sponsored by Scotiabank and 4 sponsored by BPPC  

  • Volunteers (# of people or even volunteer hours) - ~30 to 35 volunteers including board members. ~2500 to 3500 volunteer hours  

 

Prescribing Change 

  • Multiple clinical topics referenced specific health needs and ideas for equitable practices centering the Black and BIPOC patient population: 

  • Keynote Guest Speakers: Ms. Amy Lamb (President, Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada) and Dr. John E. Clark (Black History Month Recognition, Director, Taneja College Of Pharmacy, University of South Florida) 

  • Spotlight on Diabetes – Dr. Cassandra McLelland (VP, Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada) 

  • More Than the Blues? Update on Management of Depression – Dr. Thea Moore 

  • Diagnosing and Managing Atopic Dermatitis Across All Skin Types – Dr. Marissa Joseph 

  • Comprehensive Overview of Anemia – Glory Oppong 

  • Relationships and Medicine -Dr. Soraya Darwood 

  • Alzheimer’s and the Pharmacists Role -Dr. Angela M. Hill 

  • Finance: Top 7 Ways Pharmacists Cab Save Thousands in Taxes Every Year – Ricardo Ardiles 

  • Race-Based Calculations – Dr. Ruthdol Auma Chinonso 

  • What's new in Women's Health -Dr. Duate Adegbite 

  • Empowering Tomorrow's Leaders: Insights From Black Pharmacy Leaders -Nneka Ezurike, Uchenwa Genus, Nkem Iroh, Michael Kani; Moderated by Lisa-Kaye Williams 

  • Student Leadership Panel – Olivia Nwaokocha, Emmanuel Fagbola, Tyiesha Wright; Moderated by Kenneth Etokakpan 

 

  • Students shared research posters in the supporting vendor’s hall 



Leadership & Vision 

  • Friday, Feb 7th kicked us off with a Leadership Night for BPPC Board Members, Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs.  Mr. Andrew Tyrrell, of the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton (CCAH), shared with us the vision and growth of a non-profit association to elevate the Black community. 

 


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BPPC Leadership Team with Board of Directors, Committee Chairs & Vice-Chairs 

Seated L to R: Guest Speaker Andrew Tyrell, Anne Marie Tyrell, Sponsors Julie Berdusco (Apotex) and Richard Williams (Sterimax) 

  

  • Saturday, Feb 8th featured Black pharmacy leaders across the environments of community, hospital and industry sharing insights from their leadership journeys to empower future Black leaders 

 


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Leadership Panel - Pharmacists 

L to R: Michael Kani, Uchenwa Genus, Nkem Iroh, Nneka Ezurike

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Leadership Panel – Students 

L to R: Olivia Nwaokocha, Emmanuel Fagbola, Tyiesha Wright 



Grant recipientswith Award Presenters 

L to R: Rahima Shokoya, Tyiesha Wright, Kenneth Etokakpan, Onyekachukwu Nwakoby, Ikran Mohamed, Anica Shafiq, Elizabeth Adegbite


 

Community 

  • Saturday, Feb 8th we hosted the first BPPC Annual General Meeting (AGM) was well attended.  The meeting was chaired by BPPC president, Mary (Ore) Adegboyega.  Discussion about the upcoming induction, April 1, 2025, of paid membership fees was lively.  By the AGM’s end, attendees asked for multiple BPPC events per year.  The BPPC board was responsive but shared that only increased volunteer support would allow for more events. 


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L to R: Nkem Iroh (Co-founder & VP), Mary (Ore) Adegboyega (Co-founder & President), Nneka Ezurike (Co-founder & Director of Communications), Remi Ojo (Co-founder), Tobi Obatusin (Co-founder & Director of Strategy & Sponsorship), Tyiesha Wright (Student Rep on the Board), Lisa-Kaye Williams (Director of ON Operations), Ian Stewart (Co-founder) 

  • Saturday, Feb 8th 

  • Saturday evening’s networking night at the Crowne Plaza Hotel featured dinner, dancing, dancing, awards, and meaningful conversation with colleagues and pharmacy leaders. 

  • Sunday, Feb 9th we unveiled the BPPC mentorship program.  The program is now live. BPPC Mentorship 

Transformational 

  • Sunday, Feb 10th , Dr. John E Clark recognized Black History Month (BHM) and highlighted trailblazers in Black pharmacy history.  We were reminded that the BPPC inaugural Excellence conference celebrates the growing presence of Black pharmacy professionals in Canada.  BPPC’s formation will also be added to the annals of Black pharmacy history. 

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L to R: Dr. John E. Clarke (Keynote Speaker) with Dr. Remi Ojo (BPPC Co-founder) 

 

  •  Sunday also saw the long goodbye as joyful networking and collegial bonding continued at the conference’s end. 

 

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Acknowledgements  

Thank you to the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy for hosting our inaugural BPPC AGM and Excellence Summit. 


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Dr. Kelly Grindrod(Associate Director (Clinical Education), Associate Professor (University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy) providing closing remarks on Sunday, February 9, 2025). 

Special thanks to Olivia Nwaokocha (Event Committee Chair) and Marrissa Parkinson (University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy - Alumni Advancement and Engagement Coordinator) for coordinating event management logistics. 


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L to R: Olivia (BPPC Event Committee Chair) & Marrissa Parkinson (University of Waterloo – School of Pharmacy Alumni Advancement and Engagement Coordinator) 

 

Thank you to all our volunteers, attendees, guest speakers and exhibitors. This event would not have been possible without you. 


[Opening day registration & setup]  

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A group of women smiling at camera AI-generated content may be incorrect.A person standing at a table AI-generated content may be incorrect.
A group of people standing in a room AI-generated content may be incorrect.

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A group of women posing for a photo AI-generated content may be incorrect.

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Thank you to our sponsors 

BPPC is a non-profit organization. We thank the following sponsors for partnering with us for the 2025 BPPC Excellence Summit.  The conference was a great signal of an inclusive future for Canadian pharmacy. 





Changemaker Forum

Advancing Black Talent in Pharma (ABTiP) Changemaker Forum

In June of 2024 BPPC had the pleasure of attending ABTiP’s changemaker forum that brought together Black professionals and allies in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry to discuss the tools and resources needed to advance their careers and develop professionally. This event provided  an opportunity to participate in a workshop to discuss challenges encountered during career progression and strategies to overcome them; explored how we can all be catalysts of change for an inclusive industry;  and networking with other professionals in the industry to learn from leaders who have successfully navigated their career paths.
CSHP PPC Conference

BPPC at CSHP PPC Conference April 2024

BPPC had the opportunity to attend the Canadian Society of Healthcare-Systems Pharmacy (CSHP) Professional Practice Conference (PPC) to share our mission and vision with a broader audience, foster connections within the pharmacy community, garner support for our initiatives. 

Some highlights of the event include:

  • A presentation by our Vice-President, Nkem Iroh to introduce BPPC to attendees, give an overview of the organization’s past, present and future initiatives, and how prospective members and stakeholders can get involved. 
  • A dedicated time and space to recruit new members, network, and educate on specific challenges and achievements of Black pharmacists and pharmacy students.
Community Health Expo and Dermatology Clinic

Community Health Expo and Dermatology Clinic in Edmonton Alberta - April 2024

BPPC and the Black Pharmacy Students’ Association (BPSA) University of Alberta hosted a pop-up clinic in collaboration with L’Oréal Dermatology Beauty. This free community event featured presentations focusing on skincare, managing high blood pressure, diabetes, and other minor health conditions. 
Black History Month

Black History Month 2024

“We’re Here, There and Everywhere: Highlighting Black Excellence in Canadian Pharmacy Practice” - February 24, 2024

A virtual event held at the end of Black History Month 2024 introduced the vision, mission, and values of the newly formed Black Pharmacy Professionals of Canada (BPPC). It featured a panel of Black pharmacy professionals from across Canada, showcasing their community contributions and highlighting various career paths available to Black Canadians in the pharmacy field.
Panel with Scarborough Health Network

Black History Month virtual panel with Scarborough Health Network

Guest speakers for the February Black History Month 2024 virtual panel discussion entitled: Reconciling Modern Pharmacology and African, Caribbean, Black Canadian Healing Traditions. 80+ attendees tuned in as we discussed personal experiences as frontline healthcare professionals interacting with the Black community of Toronto and dissecting common trepidations shared within the Black community towards modern medicine and medications; the connection between historical medical racism in Canada and vaccine/medicine hesitancy in Black communities and ideas to begin the healing process for Black/African/Caribbean communities to be able to benefit from modern medicine while also recognizing the values of traditional healing practices in our communities

Essential Pharmacy Resources

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