2025 Award of Innovative Practice: Zenon Wojnowskyj

This award is presented to a Pharmacist who, in the last calendar year, has developed and/or implemented an innovative, original pharmacy program or service which is significant to their area of practice and has a lasting impact on patient outcomes.  Zenon Wojnowskyj, Pharmacy Manager and Licensee of aaa homehealth pharmacy in Edmonton, Alberta, is the inaugural recipient of this award for his outstanding contributions to the healthcare of Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine.

Zenon, fluent in both Ukrainian and Polish, has used his linguistic and professional skills to create an innovative care model that addresses refugees’ medical and social needs. As the number of refugees in Edmonton grew, Zenon recognized the unique challenges they faced in accessing healthcare and the language and cultural barriers that made it difficult for them to navigate the Canadian healthcare system.  In response, he adapted aaa homehealth pharmacy’s services to provide medical care and community support, significantly impacting the refugee population.

Dr. Wayne Tymchak, Professor of Medicine at the University of Alberta Hospital & Director of the Division of Cardiology at the Mazankowski Heart Institute, explains the essential role Zenon plays, stating: “Zenon’s profession in the pharmacy sphere, also being familiar with the Ukrainian language, provides a crucial service for these patients as an interpreter, source of information regarding patient’s health, relief in uncertainty/anxiety and from a social aspect.”  Zenon acts as a Pharmacist and a cultural and linguistic bridge, helping refugees feel heard and understood while easing their anxieties around healthcare.

Dr. Michelle Semenjuk, of the New Foundation Medical Clinic in Edmonton attests that “(Zenon) has translated diagnoses for them (Newcomers from Ukraine), done countless hours of counselling about meds, diseases, conditions, etc.  He has reached out to me many times to co-ordinate care for a patient, and to be sure that they continue to receive follow-up.”  “It is so, so reassuring for these people to hear and receive care in their native tongue.”

Zenon’s commitment to helping Ukrainian refugees is deeply personal.  His father was also a refugee who fled Ukraine after World War II.  Upon arriving in Canada, his father sought out the help of Ukrainian-speaking healthcare providers to better navigate his new life. Zenon witnessed his father’s challenges adjusting to life as a newcomer.  This experience shaped Zenon’s desire to offer support similar to that of the current generation of Ukrainian refugees.  Zenon shared, “I’ve always been motivated to work as a pharmacist to help Ukrainians,” reflecting his long-standing dedication to assisting his community in times of need.

The initial vision aa homehealth pharmacy upon opening in Spring of 2023 (in the former Edmonton Oilers Office Building) was to be a centre focusing on Women’s Health & partnering with the Obstetrics & Gynecology Clinic located downstairs from them.  However, this quickly changed as Alberta’s population grew exponentially with Ukrainian refugees fleeing the ongoing war in their country.  With Zenon fluent in both Ukrainian and Polish along with his knowledge of Ukrainian medical terminology and his willingness and determination to help, those that had been forced to settle in a new land with little planning or medical supplies had a place to get started.  Word of his pharmacy spread quickly among the Ukrainian refugee community and the pharmacy was forced to shift its focus.  Basic “over-the-counter” needs were met and referrals to Ukrainian-speaking Physicians, Dentists, Podiatrists, and other required health care professionals became quite popular with the local refugee population.

Recognizing that the demand for services exceeded available resources, Zenon took the initiative to apply for and complete his Additional Prescribing Authorization (APA) in July 2023. This allowed him to begin prescribing medications, further enhancing his ability to provide timely care and bridge the gap for patients in need of immediate treatment while awaiting physician appointments.  Eventually ex-Pharmacists and/or ex-Physicians from Ukraine were hired as Zenon’s Pharmacy Assistants and help collaborate and interpret medications and treatments that were available and initiated in Ukraine and Eastern Europe to convert to closest alternatives and analogues that Zenon was familiar with as a Pharmacist with over 35 years of experience in Canada.  Zenon and his team then worked with the network of other Ukrainian speaking health care professionals they had established together with his own patient consultations, monitoring, and when necessary, APA Pharmacist prescribing and referrals to other health care professionals to provide the best possible continuity of care for this very vulnerable population already traumatized by the horrors of war and having to flee around the world for their own safety.

Beyond his clinical work, Zenon transformed his pharmacy into a vital community hub for Ukrainian refugees.  Through educational seminars on topics such as immigration, mental health, insurance, purchasing vehicles/residences, and healthcare access, as well as providing practical resources like English classes and child-friendly spaces,  Zenon’s pharmacy has become a center for integration and support.  Zenon and the ownership group he partnered with also eventually converted an unused corner of the Pharmacy into a Café and hired baristas from Ukraine to serve gourmet Ukrainian coffee and non-alcoholic beverages to the Pharmacy’s customers.  This Café has become a popular gathering place for Ukrainian war refugees to socialize and network.  Zenon’s efforts to alleviate the emotional strain of displacement and provide essential information have made a lasting difference in the lives of refugees.

Zenon Wojnowskyj has improved refugee healthcare access and fostered a sense of community and belonging, providing long-lasting support to those needing it most. Through his dedication, Zenon is a prime example of how a Pharmacist can make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and their communities.

Zenon’s innovative approach to pharmacy has impacted patient outcomes as he addresses the healthcare and social challenges that Ukrainian refugees face. His work exemplifies the spirit of the Award for Innovative Practice, making him a highly deserving recipient of this recognition.