TORONTO – Little Current resident and pharmacist Diane Meehan has received the Ontario Pharmacists Association (OPA)’s Patient Impact of the Year Award. Ms. Meehan will receive her award at Pharmacy Experience Pharmacie (PxP) 2019 – a joint conference hosted by OPA and the Canadian Pharmacists Association in Toronto from June 3-5.
This award is unique in that it is presented to a pharmacist nominated by a patient or non-pharmacist colleague. The nomination is based on an outstanding commitment to delivering quality patient care and customer service, and for having a lasting impact on patient outcomes or community health and wellness.
“Diane has exemplified what it looks like to care for your profession and your community in tangible ways,” said Bill Wilson, interim CEO of OPA. “Her work in Northern Ontario has helped make quality pharmacy and healthcare council more accessible, which has earned her this recognition and award.”
After completing her education in southern Ontario and BC, Ms. Meehan returned to Northern Ontario and worked in community pharmacy before buying the Island IDA Pharmacy in Little Current in 1994. She then worked with Wiikwemkoong to open the Mnis IDA Pharmacy. During that time, she was a consultant for the Manitoulin Health Centre, Manitoulin Centennial Manor and the Wikwemikong Nursing Home. In 2004, she sold her stores and worked as a locum pharmacist before working part-time for the Northeastern Manitoulin Family Health Team and the Edgewater Pharmacy in Little Current.
In her role with the Northeastern Manitoulin Family Health Team, she works with medical learners from the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and mentors PharmD candidate students on a six-month placement each year. She has also dedicated her career to continuing education and has obtained various certificates offered by OPA and certification in geriatric pharmacy, asthma education, respiratory education, smoking cessation and, most recently, the International Society of Travel Medicine Certificate in Travel Health.
Ms. Meehan has also volunteered in the community, including being on the executive of the nursery school, parents’ council of the local school and implementing a greening program for the school to plant trees sponsored by local businesses.
OPA’s annual awards ceremony recognizes the significant contributions being made by individuals in the pharmacy profession throughout Ontario.
