2026 Future of Pharmacy Award - RxA - Alberta Pharmacists' Association

Awarded to up to three pharmacists per year who have been in practice less than five years and who exhibit strong leadership skills, the initiative to become a role model, and offer extraordinary promise to the profession.

Dr. Dillon Jayachandran, PharmD

Dr. Dillon Jayachandran represents the next generation of pharmacists whose clinical excellence, leadership, and vision are actively shaping the future of the profession. In fewer than five years of practice, Dillon has already demonstrated extraordinary promise through his patient-centered approach, innovative practice contributions, and commitment to mentorship and professional growth.

A graduate of the University of Alberta (Class of 2022), Dillon began his career with CareRx in 2023 as a Clinical Consultant Pharmacist, where he supports older adults across continuing care settings. Working with complex and vulnerable geriatric populations, Dillon consistently demonstrates advanced clinical judgment, adaptability, and compassion. His practice experience spans long-term care, supported living, hospice, home-based care, and recovery programs—experiences that have shaped him into a highly capable pharmacist with a deep appreciation for continuity of care and interdisciplinary collaboration.

One of Dillon’s most impactful contributions has been his integral role in CareRx’s provincial Anticoagulation Management Service. As a key member of the program team, he supports residents with complex warfarin therapy—patients who require a level of precision, consistency, and clinical judgment that extends well beyond routine practice. Practicing to his full scope, including Additional Prescribing Authority, Dillon plays a critical role in ensuring safe, evidence-based anticoagulation care, directly improving outcomes for high-risk residents across Alberta.

Dillon is equally recognized for his leadership beyond direct patient care. As a leader within the Orientation and Training Working Group for the Alberta Clinical Team, he has helped streamline and standardize onboarding and education processes for pharmacists, students, and preceptors. His work has led to measurable improvements in onboarding success and team satisfaction, reflecting his belief that the future of pharmacy depends on well-prepared practitioners and strong mentorship.

Despite his early career stage, Dillon is already a dedicated student preceptor, regularly supporting fourth-year PharmD students. He approaches teaching with enthusiasm and clarity, fostering clinical confidence, critical thinking, and professional accountability. His ability to translate complex clinical concepts into practical learning opportunities has made him a trusted mentor and role model for emerging pharmacists.

What truly distinguishes Dillon is his ability to connect—with patients, families, and interdisciplinary teams alike. His collaborative nature and professionalism are consistently recognized by colleagues. As one care home leader noted, “Dillon is a creative, innovative and skilled pharmacist… We are lucky to have him as part of our team.” Physicians echo this sentiment. Dr. Shahida Surmawala describes him as “collegial, respectful, and a wonderful pharmacist… always approachable and dependable.”

Dillon also exemplifies leadership through initiative. From piloting innovative CareRx services to advancing fracture risk reduction and revamping antipsychotic appropriateness reviews, he actively seeks opportunities to improve care quality and patient outcomes. His forward-thinking approach reflects both clinical insight and a strong commitment to advancing pharmacy practice.

Through clinical excellence, mentorship, and leadership by action, Dr. Dillon Jayachandran embodies the spirit of the APEX Future of Pharmacy Award. His impact is already evident, and his continued contributions promise to meaningfully shape the profession for years to come.

Haneen Othman

Haneen Othman is redefining what pharmacy practice can and should look like for society’s
most underserved populations. Early in her career, she has distinguished herself as a clinical leader, innovator, and advocate, advancing pharmacist-led care models that address not only medical complexity, but also the profound social barriers that impact health Outcomes. The pivotal mentorship received from the leadership at Mint Health + Drugs significantly empowered her career and solidified her advocacy-centered vision for contemporary pharmacy practice.

Since 2024, Haneen served as the clinical and operational lead for the Pharmacist-Led Integrated Health Services for Marginalized Populations Innovation Project at Mint Home Care, developed in partnership with Alberta Health Services. From initial concept through full implementation, she designed and led a pharmacist-centered model of primary care embedded directly within shelters, supportive housing, transitional housing, and group homes. This initiative positioned pharmacists as primary clinical leaders, coordinating care for individuals experiencing homelessness, severe mental illness, addiction, and complex chronic disease.

The impact of this work has been both immediate and meaningful. In its first year, the program rapidly established itself as a trusted and responsive resource, supporting individuals with complex health and social needs through coordinated, team-based care. Pharmacist-led complex case management emerged as a cornerstone of the model, demonstrating the vital role pharmacists play in addressing multifaceted clinical and social challenges.

Alongside her system-level leadership, Haneen remains deeply committed to frontline clinical practice. She provides direct patient care across Indigenous health, supportive housing, and palliative care settings, including ongoing involvement at George’s House, an end-of-life care home serving Edmonton’s unhoused population. There, she participates in weekly multidisciplinary rounds, contributing to medication optimization, care planning, and patient advocacy for individuals with highly complex medical and social needs.

Haneen is widely recognized for her accessibility, clinical insight, and collaborative approach. Physicians, nurses, social workers, and community teams rely on her for urgent consultation and thoughtful decision-making, often outside traditional practice hours. As one physician colleague noted, “She is deeply kind and respectful with patients and brings a calm, collaborative presence to patient meetings.” This reliability and compassion have had a direct and lasting impact on patient care and team confidence.

Central to Haneen’s practice philosophy is the belief that pharmacy must evolve beyond traditional roles. She views pharmacists as care coordinators, advocates, and innovators—professionals uniquely positioned to meet patients where they are and to dismantle systemic barriers to care. Her work connecting marginalized patients to hepatitis C treatment, palliative services, and long-term supports exemplifies this vision, enabling individuals previously disengaged from healthcare to achieve stability and improved quality of life.

Through courageous leadership, clinical excellence, and an unwavering commitment to equity, Haneen Othman exemplifies the intent and spirit of the APEX Future of Pharmacy Award. Her work is transforming care delivery for Alberta’s most vulnerable populations and will continue to influence the evolution of pharmacy practice for years to come.