I'm Pharmacy Podcast

Artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare and research—but how much of it is real progress, and how much is hype? In this episode of The I’m Pharmacy Podcast, host Mina Tadrous explores the practical impact of AI across clinical care, population health, and drug discovery. Featuring insights from Dr. Devin Singh (SickKids), Professpr Laura Rosella (University of Toronto), and Assistant Professor Rachel Harding (Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy), this episode examines how AI is already improving workflows and research, where limitations and risks remain, and why transparency, validation, and open science are critical to building trust.

A few years ago, a bus full of Americans crossed the border into Canada with Senator Bernie Sanders. They weren't coming for sightseeing. They came to buy insulin. Unlike the bus of patients heading north for insulin, most Americans can't simply cross a border to escape the system. They live with it every day. How the U.S. end up with the most expensive drug pricing in the world? In this episode, we discuss the current state of drug pricing in the United States with pharmaceutical policy pioneer Dr. Jerry Avorn, Professor at Harvard Medical School and author of Rethinking Medication: Truth, Power and the Drugs you Take. Learn more: http://www.rethinkmeds.info/

We're baaaaaack! Season Five launches September 17. As a sneak peek of what's to come, we sat down with Dr. Mike Fralick on the Rounds Table to chat about the upcoming season, musings on the future of AI and drug discovery, and whether Mike can hold his own in a 90's-style rap battle. Check out episode one of our new season, launching September 17.

Like a train moving at a fast pace, innovation can feel unstoppable. In many ways, the only path is forward. But like all good things, we must take a pause to ensure we aren't blinded with the excitement of potential and hope. To end the season, we wanted to use the next two episodes to do just that—pause and explore what we must and should consider as we create this new future with innovations. We'll delve into the ethics of access, probing into who truly owns innovation and whether there are alternative ways to incentivize groundbreaking advancements. So join us as we ask ourselves—and you—to consider this. Featured Guests: Dr. Alison Thompson Associate Professor, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy & Dalla Lana School of Public Health Dr. Quinn Grundy Assistant Professor Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing Director, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Governance, Accountability and Transparency in the Pharmaceutical Sector

So you have a good idea... no, a great idea. The science is solid. The tech is exciting. People are interested. Your innovation and its success seems certain. And yet, you fail to make the jump from an exciting idea to scaling up and being successful. As we explore the art of prototyping, and early launches, we'll explore how these foundational ideas are assessed for market fit. Join us as we explore the intricate dance of innovation and practicality for each prototype. Together, we'll uncover how these early models are pivotal and paving the way for innovation to really take flight. Featuring: Dr. Keith Pardee Associate Professor, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy Canada Research Chair in Synthetic Biology and Human Health Mike Sullivan CEO and Co-founder, Cubic Health

Historically, academia has been breeding ground for groundbreaking discoveries. But often these findings remained confined within Academic Journals lacking the pathway to real world applications. However, as technology transfer offices popped up around universities around the world, entrepreneurial programs, catalysts, collaborative initiatives, universities are more and more recognizing the value of translating their research into products and therapies that can benefit society. As communities around the world grapple with complex health challenges, there's a growing pressure to deliver innovative solutions in a timely manner. This has driven academia to actively engage in commercialization and look at it as a means to fund science students and really just keep the lights on in many labs. So, that's what we'll explore this episode. Why does commercialization take place? Why should academics even bother? And is it a driving force for innovation? We'll learn from some real efforts that have been occurring here at the University of Toronto, and those that have been involved in them. Featured Guests Dr. Paul Santerre Professor & Baxter Chair in Health Technology & Commercialization at University of Toronto's Institute of Biomedical Engineering and University Health Networks Director, Health Innovation Hub Dr. Christine Allen Professor, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto Co-founder and CEO, Intrepid Labs

In the final episode of season three, we're turning our spotlight to the ones who will be the forefront of tomorrow's pharmacy landscape, our pharmacy students. Featuring: Theodora Udounwa, fourth year PharmD student, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy Al-Amin Ahamed, fourth year PharmD student, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy Madelynn Hannah, pharmacist and MScPhm trainee, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

Tune in to the first episode of our I'm Pharmacy Podcast Miniseries 'Pharmacy in Focus'. Throughout the next three episodes, we'll be exploring the current state of pharmacy practice, education and research, and uncovering what the future holds for the profession of pharmacy. In the first episode, we take a trip to Southhampton, Ontario to speak to Pharmacist and Pharmacy Owner Kristen Watt about how her pharmacy model could pave the way for a new era of pharmacy, as well as Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy Associate Dean Academic Jamie Kellar on pharmacist identity.

We produce lots of science. There's an estimated 125,000, medical or clinical studies published per month, in 2021. That means that there's over a million different papers with lots of different evidence in different spaces being produced a year. And yet, with all of this knowledge, we seem to see a plateau in people's health and health outcomes. How can it be that despite the availability of high quality evidence, amazing science, and proven effective interventions, there's a delay or a failure to get this knowledge into practice? In this episode of the I'm Pharmacy Podcast, we dig into moving evidence into action, speaking with family physician and scientist Dr. Noah Ivers and implementation scientist Dr. Tina Fahim.

Where were you when you first heard the news about the pandemic? On this episode of the I'm Pharmacy Podcast, we dig into the pandemic, what the last three years have looked like, and if we are ready for the next one. To discuss, we chat with Emily Musing, inaugural leader in residence at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. And former VP clinical and the chief Patient Safety Officer at the University Health Network, as well as Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy Assistant Professor and mRNA expert, Bowen Li.

Introducing Season Three of the I'm Pharmacy Podcast: Big Problems, Bigger Solutions dropping January 24. Big thanks to everyone who showed their support for the show and helped us bring home a silver and listener's choice signal award in the category of science and education!

Recent estimates suggest that close to 40% of adults over the age of 65 are prescribed at least five drugs. But is more better? On this episode on the I'm Pharmacy Podcast we tackle the topic of optimized use, discussing the process of deprescribing, prescribing cascades, and polypharmacy with Clinician Scientist Lisa McCarthy and Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy Professor and Dean Lisa Dolovich.