A look at Sunjin Han's experiential rotation in Whitehorse
A UM College of Pharmacy student recently completed a two-month rotation in Whitehorse, Yukon, gaining hands-on experience in an underserved northern community.
Sunjin Han, a fourth-year student in the doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) program in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, worked at a Shoppers Drug Mart under the guidance of a preceptor – a pharmacist who supervises learners.
All second- and fourth-year PharmD students complete rotations that provide practical experience in settings such as hospitals, pharmacies and primary care centres.
Han said partial funding from her preceptor made the rotation possible. She was also eager to contribute to a rural community and learn how pharmacy practice operates in northern regions.
“Coming from a lower socio-economic background, I couldn’t easily fund a rotation outside of Winnipeg,” she said. “This was a valuable opportunity to experience the territories with some financial support.”
Outside of her rotation, Han explored Whitehorse, hiking regularly and connecting with locals.
“I enjoyed my time away from the city and appreciated the beautiful land,” she said. “Connecting with Indigenous peoples in Yukon and getting to learn about their history and culture made the work that I was doing all the more rewarding.”
During her rotation, Han conducted medication reviews and worked to optimize therapy for patients, sending recommendations to physicians based on her assessments.
“Pharmacies in Whitehorse serve the entire population of Yukon,” Han said. “Our pharmacy was so busy trying to fill that health-care gap.”
She spent most of her time counselling patients on how to use their medications, particularly inhalers for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
“During my time there, I don’t remember talking to anybody who was using inhalers as indicated,” she said.
Han said the lack of education may be linked to limited access to primary care.
“There is a shortage of doctors – they come and go or leave their practice in the territory,” she said. “For some patients, they’re too sick to even come down to Whitehorse, so a lot of my consultations were done over the phone.”
One patient told Han her medications weren’t working. She did a thorough assessment and sent a recommendation to the patient’s doctor.
“She lived five hours outside of Whitehorse and couldn’t make an in-person appointment,” Han said. “For me to send a recommendation on her behalf and hear back that the doctor accepted my suggestion reminded me why I went into pharmacy – to be the patient’s advocate. It’s not just medication to them. It can be life-changing and drastically improve health outcomes.”
Han’s current rotation is at a Walmart pharmacy in Winnipeg, where she is gaining more experience as a front-line pharmacist. She works with a team that includes a certified diabetes educator who specializes in diabetic management and builds relationships with patients.
Han provides education on new medications for diabetes and acute illnesses, administers walk-in flu and COVID-19 vaccines, and gives advice on over-the-counter medications.
"Community pharmacy is where I feel most comfortable and in my element,” she said. “I’ve been working in a community setting for almost five years now, and you can really see how much of a direct impact your advice has on the community."
Han said her time in Whitehorse strengthened her commitment to pharmacy and interest in specialized care.
Learn more about experiential learning opportunities in the College of Pharmacy, visit:
umanitoba.ca/pharmacy/programs-of-study/experiential-education
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