At the heart of my professional ethos is a deep-seated passion for the role of pharmacists in healthcare. This passion extends beyond the day-to-day responsibilities of pharmacy practice, encompassing advocacy for the profession and a commitment to enhancing care outcomes.
While being my own boss is exciting, being able to help pharmacists maximize their success is equally exciting. Seeing people step into their potential is exciting. And being able to solve the various problems that come up along the way is also exciting.
We all need purpose in our lives. My purpose is to help people and to keep paying attention. My colleagues and I remain committed to keeping independent community pharmacies in the hands of the next generation of entrepreneurs where possible.
The biggest challenge being an entrepreneur is the fact there is no playbook. You have to be willing to take a roller coaster ride that doesn't stop. There are no brakes, there's no getting off the ride, and you must commit to every up, down, loop, and turn.
What excites me about being a healthcare entrepreneur is the opportunity to help grow great Canadian organizations that make meaningful differences in the health and well-being of the communities they serve.
Helping others fulfill their potential is what excites me the most. It is why I love what I do. I challenge everyone within my team, not only at work, but also in their personal lives, to make today better than yesterday and tomorrow better than today.
I got into pharmacy school not realizing the vast array of opportunities that existed for pharmacists. The profession of pharmacy was interesting to me because it allowed me to help and connect with patients while still being able to manage and build a business.
I'm passionate about turning ideas into successful realities. Back in 1990, we recognized the crucial role pharmacists could play in patient education.
Seeing customers who are able to regain control over their health, reduce burden on their caretakers or even just express joy with the experience that a member of the Boggio family of pharmacies gave them puts a smile on my face and pushes me to keep striving for improvement.
This patient-care model, in which each team member practises to their full scope, is at the core of Howe Sound’s ability to adapt to the evolving pharmacy landscape while generating revenue for the pharmacy, says Juozaitis, who has owned the pharmacy since 1988.
I don't have to conform to the standard role of a pharmacist. I don't have to clock in and out. I don't have to suppress my creative ideas due to restrictive job roles and responsibilities.
If you focus on the trees, you will miss the forest, but if you focus on the forest, you will get all of the trees thrown in. Financial reward comes by focusing on the "forest" – serving a specific target audience with a better product or service than what is currently being offered.
The exciting part of being a pharmacy entrepreneur is the opportunity for innovation. All of my stores are patient-centric, meaning we offer a full range of clinical services for our patients. We innovate to meet the clinical needs of our patients.
There is an essential need for creativity in entrepreneurship; always question how to stand out to patients and customers beyond what other competitors can offer, prioritize the customer through teamwork. The concept of managing a business is built upon the team. “Together we are stronger!”
The entrepreneurial journey is an ever-evolving adventure that presents new challenges and opportunities. I am driven by the constant quest to push boundaries, create meaningful solutions, and drive positive change within my family, colleagues, and industry.
The key driving force to become an entrepreneur was my desire to integrate my passion for healthcare with a vision of driving industry change and transformation.
If I were to go back and do it all over again, I would have two years' worth of savings built up before quitting my job OR build up a side hustle to the point where it has replaced my income before quitting and working full-time in my business.
The BioScript Pharmacy in Saskatoon serves approximately 5,000 patients across the province and is staffed by five pharmacists, 11 pharmacy assistants and two licensed technicians.
My entrepreneurial journey has been marked by two main endeavours, the first of which motivated the second. I started out as a community pharmacy owner, and then went on to launch a company to develop decision-support software. It was a natural transition.
When Michael Holland first moved to Bridgewater, N.S., he knew he needed a good pharmacy. At 82 years old, Holland is on eight medications, has a pacemaker and suffers from osteoarthritis and chronic pain.
As a pharmacist, I have always been passionate about providing a holistic approach to healthcare and deprescribing (even from my early days as a long-term care pharmacist!). Because the purpose and values of my business resonate with me, I can get excited to go to work every day.
My key driving force to become an entrepreneur was fueled by my passion for patient care and my desire to make a meaningful impact and change in the healthcare industry.
At the end of June, one of my original partners, who also happens to be a pharmacy classmate, Robert (Bob) Wilson, retired and I am so grateful to him for the trust and loyalty that he showed me over the decades.
