Winn named pharmacist of the year
A pharmacist from Peterborough has earned a prestigious award in her field.
Rita Winn received the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ontario Pharmacists Association (OPA).
She was honoured at the OPA’s annual conference Friday in Huntsville.
The award recognizes an OPA member who has an ongoing commitment to the practice of pharmacy and to the advancement of the association.
Winn leads the direction of Lovell Drugs’ operations along with the short and long-term planning of the organization as the pharmacy chain’s chief operating officer and general manager.. She has more than 30 years of experience in community pharmacy and retail.
As co-chair of the Pharmacy Coalition in Ontario, Winn has educated pharmacists about new funding opportunities and engaged them in a campaign to raise awareness about the impacts of funding cuts to pharmacy. She also helped with the weekly coalition teleforum, spoke at several pharmacist event and took part in numerous media events.
In her early years, Winn sought new ways to help patients and was eager to push the envelope with her pharmacy practice.
Today, the Peterborough resident continues to pilot new technologies, products and programs to help advance the role of community pharmacists, often finding unique ways to share the outcomes with others in the industry.
She’s always felt that patients need an advocate for their health and pharmacists are in a great position to be that advocate, Winn stated in a media release.
Pharmacists can answer patients’ questions about medication, health and wellness, which gives them a sense of comfort knowing they have access to a health care team member when they need it.
“The pharmacy team can be that primary care provider and quarterback for the patient providing a multitude of services,” Winn stated.
OPA aims to evolve the pharmacy profession while also advocating for excellence in practice and care. It has more than 10,000 members.