2025 Mentorship Award: Brian Abernethy

The Mentorship Award recognizes excellence among mentors in the pharmacy profession. The recipient of this award has shown extraordinary commitment throughout their career in guiding, supporting, and promoting the training and career development of others and has had a significant positive impact on their mentees’ careers. Brian Abernethy is the recipient of this year’s Mentorship Award.

 As a Clinical Consultant Pharmacist at CareRx, Brian has built a reputation for his unwavering dedication to patient care and the professional growth of the next generation of pharmacists. His mentorship extends well beyond traditional preceptorship, exemplifying an individualized, hands-on approach that tailors to each student’s unique learning needs.

Over the years, Brian has mentored countless pharmacy students, providing them with the skills, confidence, and knowledge necessary to succeed in their careers. His commitment to student learning is unparalleled. He often goes above and beyond the call of duty to ensure each student has a meaningful and enriching learning experience. Brian is known for engaging with his students, offering tailored guidance, thoughtful feedback, and ample opportunities for students to take the lead in patient care and professional responsibilities. Brian’s dedication to mentoring has made him an integral part of the CareRx team. He has voluntarily stepped up to serve as a preceptor for every block throughout the school year, ensuring that CareRx can provide students with clinical placements. This exceptional level of involvement demonstrates his deep belief in the value of mentorship and the importance of hands-on learning. His approach allows students to build real-world skills while fostering their growth into independent, confident, and compassionate pharmacists.

Seeing the importance of collaboration in a healthcare setting, Brian also mentors nursing, LPN, and medicine students. With these learners, he takes the opportunity to speak about the role of pharmacists in health teams, and how working together can improve patient outcomes for vulnerable older adults. 

His impact on students is evident by the numerous accolades and positive testimonials from those he has mentored. During the last year, Brian has been appointed as a Clinical Academic Colleague – Clinical Professor and received a Preceptor Recognition Award from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Alberta, both of which speak to his outstanding contributions to the education and development of future pharmacy professionals. Students consistently praise Brian for his comprehensive knowledge, patient teaching style, and ability to explain complex clinical concepts. His mentorship goes beyond clinical knowledge to instill a deeper understanding of the importance of compassionate, patient-centered care.

One of the hallmarks of Brian’s mentorship is his ability to foster an environment where students feel empowered to take ownership of their learning and confidently engage with the healthcare team. Brian provides students ample opportunities to lead in-care conferences, make recommendations, and work directly with other healthcare professionals. His students consistently report how these opportunities built their confidence and helped refine their decision-making and communication skills. Brian’s students also appreciate his willingness to dedicate extra time, whether staying late to clarify questions or offering additional learning resources to enhance their understanding of key topics.

Beyond his work with students, Brian is a respected and sought-after resource at CareRx. As a Board-Certified Geriatric Pharmacist, his extensive knowledge of geriatrics and pharmacy practice and his in-depth understanding of the Alberta healthcare system make him an invaluable asset to his colleagues and management. Brian is often asked to weigh in on complex clinical cases, and his ability to provide evidence-based, patient-centered recommendations has solidified his role as a trusted expert within the team.

Brian Abernethy’s extraordinary dedication to mentoring students entering the healthcare profession as well as colleagues has had a significant and lasting impact on the careers of those he has worked with. His commitment to providing meaningful learning experiences and his genuine desire to see others succeed has made him an exceptional mentor and a valued member of the pharmacy profession.