The Pharmacists Are In

Over-the-counter (OTC) counselling is one of the most common clinical services pharmacists provide, yet it has traditionally gone unrecognized and uncompensated. In this first episode of a three-part series introducing the Pharmacists Deserve It Platform (https://PharmacistsDeserveIt.com), Dr. John Papastergiou and Ajit Johal are joined by community pharmacist and founder Hanson Lalani to discuss...

Recorded live at PharmacyU Toronto 2026, this episode features two pharmacy leaders helping shape the future of the profession: Molly Yang, Senior Director of Pharmacy Innovation & Professional Affairs at Wholehealth Pharmacy Partners, and Shelita Dattani, Chair and Advocacy Lead at Vaccine Alliance. Hosts Dr. John Papastergiou and Ajit Johal explore the growing role of pharmacists in preventive c...

In this episode of The Pharmacists Are In, hosts Dr. John Papastergiou and Ajit Johal welcome two of the most respected voices in vaccine education and public health: Dr. Paul Offit, Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Charlotte Moser, Co-Director, Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Together, they examine...

In this episode, Ajit Johal and Dr. John Papastergiou shift the conversation back to one of the most pressing challenges in pharmacy practice - diabetes management. With more patients presenting in community pharmacies and limited access to primary care, pharmacists are increasingly on the front lines of supporting those living with diabetes. The discussion explores the growing role of continuous...

In this episode of The Pharmacists Are In, Ajit Johal and Dr. John Papastergiou sit down with Smita Patil, Vice President, Retail Member Relations & Professional Affairs at McKesson Canada and candidate for the Ontario Pharmacists Association (OPA) Board of Directors. Smita shares her 20+ year journey across frontline practice, operations, and government affairs, and how those experiences shape he...

In this episode of The Pharmacists Are In, John and Ajit sit down with Deepak Narang, a community pharmacist, pharmacy owner, and candidate for Alberta College of Pharmacy Council. The conversation begins with a milestone moment - Deepak administering Canada's first adult RSV vaccine - and expands into a deeper discussion on pharmacy practice, regulation, and leadership. They explore the realities...

In this episode, Ajit Johal and Dr. John Papastergiou connect with Danielle Paes, Former Chief Pharmacist Officer at the Canadian Pharmacists Association and Head of Operations Canada at The Mental Wealth Academy, live from Pharmacy U, where she delivered the keynote address, to explore how the pharmacy profession has evolved over the past 15 years - and where it is headed next. From expanded scop...

In this episode, hosts Ajit Johal and Dr. John Papastergiou are joined live at Pharmacy U Toronto by Farzaneh Mahmoudyar, Brand Manager at Seaford Pharmaceuticals, for a unique conversation bridging pharmacy practice and industry. Fari shares her unconventional career journey from PharmD to strategic roles in pharma, driven by a passion for translating science into meaningful engagement with both...

In this episode of The Pharmacists Are In, Ajit Johal is joined by Lisa Schaffer, Executive Director at Obesity Canada, and Ian Patton, Director of Advocacy and Public Engagement at Obesity Canada, for a powerful conversation about obesity as a chronic disease, the impact of weight bias and stigma, and the role pharmacists can play in improving care. Recorded during Pharmacy U, the discussion expl...

Recorded live at PharmacyU Toronto's 15-year anniversary, this episode of The Pharmacists Are In features Ajit Johal in conversation with Donald Swainson, President at STEM and Yvon Picard, President at Alliance Local Rx on two critical pillars of modern pharmacy practice: profitability and growth. Yvon breaks down why understanding your EBITDA is no longer optional, highlighting a major gap in ph...

In this episode of The Pharmacists Are In, recorded at Pharmacy U Toronto 2026, hosts Dr. John Papastergiou and Ajit Johal are joined by Aly Háji and Connie Beck from RxLaw to unpack one of the most overlooked risks in pharmacy practice: regulatory complaints and legal exposure. They explore the realities of college complaints, why most issues pharmacists face are regulatory rather than lawsuits,...

Recorded live at Pharmacy U Toronto 2026, this episode of The Pharmacists Are In features a conversation with Martin Rissin, Senior Director of Strategy & Partnerships at Pharmacy U (EnsembleIQ Healthcare), and a key figure in shaping pharmacy education and events in Canada. Martin shares the origin story of Pharmacy U - inspired by a single pharmacist interaction that redefined what pharmacy care...

In this live episode of The Pharmacists Are In, recorded at Pharmacy U Toronto, hosts Dr. John Papastergiou and Ajit Johal sit down with Hitesh Pandya, Chair of the Ontario Pharmacists Association, and Justin Bates, CEO of Ontario Pharmacists Association, for an inside look at the forces shaping pharmacy practice in Ontario. From Queen’s Park advocacy to real-world pharmacy operations, the convers...

In this follow-up episode, John Papastergiou and Ajit Johal continue their conversation on respiratory protection, turning their focus to pneumococcal disease and the importance of expanding vaccination access in pharmacy practice. They unpack recent NASI guideline updates, differences between PCV20 and PCV21, and share practical advice for pharmacists on workflow integration, patient communicatio...

In this episode of The Pharmacists Are In, Dr. John Papastergiou and Ajit Johal explore the evolving role of pharmacists in addressing Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) through vaccination and education. Drawing on Ajit’s presentation at the FIP Congress and John’s community-based practice insights, they discuss global and Canadian trends, new vaccination options, and how pharmacists can lead in a...

In part two of our conversation with Shamier Anderson and Matthew Mazzuca, John and Ajit dive deeper into the future of personalized medicine. They discuss the growth of compounding, the rise of preventative care, and the importance of bridging science and storytelling to connect with patients. From pharmacogenomic testing to lifestyle medicine, Shamir and Matthew share how innovation and creativi...

In part one of this two-part episode of The Pharmacists Are In, Dr. John Papastergiou and Ajit Johal welcome two special guests: Canadian actor and community builder Shamier Anderson, and health tech innovator Matthew Mazzuca. Together, they discuss their journeys from Hollywood and from engineering to healthcare entrepreneurship. The conversation explores resilience in the face of rejection, the...

In this episode of The Pharmacists Are In, John Papastergiou and Ajit Johal reconnect after a busy stretch to dive into the rapidly growing world of pharmacist-led travel health services. Ajit shares insights from his presentation at the ISTM Congress in New Orleans, highlighting Canada's leadership in travel medicine, international perceptions of pharmacist scope, and the high clinical and busine...

In this episode of The Pharmacists Are In, Ajit Johal and Dr. John Papastergiou are joined by clinical educator Mike Boivin to explore the latest updates in type 2 diabetes management. The trio dives into the recent Diabetes Canada guideline changes and discusses how pharmacists can interpret and apply them to better support patients. From the foundational role of metformin to the evolving utility...

In part two of this special series, John and Ajit welcome back Mike Boivin for a grounded, practical conversation about how pharmacists can meaningfully impact diabetes outcomes—even in the busiest pharmacy settings. They discuss how to optimize brief clinical encounters, use tools like the ABCDSS framework, identify gaps in statin and kidney protection therapy, and turn medication reviews into st...

In this mini-episode, two ChatGPT channels engage in a dynamic conversation over two different phones, delving into the state of the Canadian pharmacy landscape. They explore the evolving role of Canadian pharmacists and how their expertise is helping to alleviate pressure on the healthcare system. With Pharmacy Appreciation Month celebrated annually throughout March in Canada, this discussion hig...

In this episode of The Pharmacists Are In, John Papastergiou and Ajit Johal take a deep dive into the advancements in diabetes management. They discuss the significant benefits of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems for patients with diabetes, their potential to enhance patient engagement, and how they fit into the expanding scope of pharmacist care. They also highlight the importance of p...

In this episode of The Pharmacists Are In, John Papastergiou sits down with Ajit Johal to tackle the busy flu season, sharing insights and strategies for pharmacists managing high patient volumes. They discuss the importance of not turning patients away, even when specific vaccines are in short supply, and how to educate patients on alternative immunization options like adjuvanted and high-dose fl...

In this episode of The Pharmacists Are In, John Papastergiou and Ajit Johal are joined by pharmacist and certified diabetes educator, Susie Jin. The discussion centers on the critical role pharmacists play in improving health outcomes for diabetes patients through vaccinations. Together, they explore how pharmacists can leverage their position to ensure high-risk groups, especially those with diab...

In this engaging episode, John and Ajit discuss the expanding scope of pharmacists in managing chronic diseases through point-of-care testing and personalized medicine. They explore the integration of pharmacogenomics in pharmacy practice and its potential to revolutionize patient care. The conversation also touches on the challenges and opportunities of implementing these advanced practices withi...