Memorial University professor and pharmacist Debbie Kelly has been named the 2025 Canadian Pharmacist of the Year by the Canadian Pharmacists Association for providing HIV care, improving health equity, and advancing pharmacists’ scope of practice.

Newfoundland and Labrador-based Kelly believes that pharmacists can do more on the front line of health care. As a pharmacy student in the mid-1990s, Kelly was drawn to HIV care and loved helping patients. During her doctorate, new drugs changed how HIV was treated, and she found the work exciting and meaningful.

In addition to her research on sexually transmitted diseases, Kelly runs a pharmacist clinic at Memorial University. Her team observed 200 patients and studied how pharmacy consultations affect patients’ quality of life. They found that most patients felt better, often because they stopped taking medications they didn’t need. Kelly said these visits helped people understand their medicine and feel more in control of their health.

Kelly advocates for pharmacists to practice the full scope of work that they’re trained for. Kelly believes that fair pay and proper support will help pharmacists play a bigger role on the front lines of care.

Source: CBC