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.

Featured Event
Past Events

BPPC Excellence Summit - Annual Educational Conference
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.
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

Leadership Panel - Pharmacists
L to R: Michael Kani, Uchenwa Genus, Nkem Iroh, Nneka Ezurike
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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.











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.

Advancing Black Talent in Pharma (ABTiP) Changemaker Forum
Advancing Black Talent in Pharma (ABTiP) Changemaker Forum
BPPC at CSHP PPC Conference April 2024
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.