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Current Graduate Trainees

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Luna Deker, PharmD, BCGP, CDE

PhD Student

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Luna's research looks at the potential roles of artificial intelligence to support community pharmacists' patient care services.

Mathew DeMarco, Graduate Student, University of Waterloo

Mathew DeMarco, PharmD

PhD Candidate

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Co-supervision with Dr. Nancy Waite

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Mathew's graduate studies are supported by an Ontario Graduate Scholarship. His research examines the roles, implementation, and outcomes of pharmacy technician administration of immunizations.

 

Publications arising from research as a graduate student:

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  • DeMarco M, Waite NM, Houle SKD, McKeirnan MC. Integrating immunization-trained pharmacy technicians into pharmacy workflow: A qualitative analysis of best practices. J Am Pharm Assoc 2026;66(3):103073. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2026.103073.

  • DeMarco M, Carter CA, Houle SKD, Waite NM. The role of pharmacy technicians in vaccination services: A scoping review. J Am Pharm Assoc 2022;62(1):15-26. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2021.09.016.

Past Graduate Trainees

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Ali Syed, HBSc, PharmD, PhD

PhD, 2026, University of Waterloo

Co-supervision with Dr. Nancy Waite

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Thesis: Evaluating pharmacy students’ practice readiness: Insights from academic and experiential performance at University of Waterloo

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Publications arising from research as a graduate student:

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  • Syed A, Pereira J, Manson K, Miller A, Houle SKD, Waite NM. Entrustable professional activities (EPAs) for pharmacy students during experiential education: A comparative analysis. Curr Pharm Teach Learn 2026;18(5):102601. doi: 10.1016/j.cptl.2026.102601.

  • Syed A, Pereira J, Alsabbagh MW, Houle SKD, Waite N. Fostering career-readiness in pharmacy students through work-integrated learning: Qualitative analysis of co-op supervisor and rotation preceptor feedback on student performance. Curr Pharm Teach Learn 2025;17(10):102413. doi: 10.1016/j.cptl.2025.102413.

  • Syed A, Huang Y, Goh J, Moroz S, Pugsley J, Waite NM, Houle SKD. The association between academic performance and entry-to-practice milestones within a co-operative education PharmD program. Pharmacy 2024;12:90. doi: 10.3390/pharmacy12030090.

Ai-Leng Foong Reichert, Graduate Student, University of Waterloo

Ai-Leng Foong-Reichert, BSc, PharmD, PhD

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PhD, 2024, University of Waterloo

Co-supervision with Dr. Kelly Grindrod​

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Thesis: Professional regulation in healthcare: Exploring trends, predictors, and the disciplinary action process for health professionals in Canada

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Ai-Leng's graduate studies were supported by an Ontario Graduate Scholarship and a Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

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Publications arising from research as a graduate student:

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  • Foong-Reichert A-L, Grindrod KA, Houle SKD. A review of regulatory body nurse practitioner disciplinary action cases in Canada. J Nurs Regul 2025;15(4):37-42. doi: 10.1016/S2155-8256(25)00032-8.

  • Foong-Reichert A, Houle SKD, Grindrod KA. Regulatory body perspectives on complaints and disciplinary action processes for health professionals. J Med Regul 2024;110(2):14-25. doi: 10.30770/2572-1852-110.2.14.

  • Foong-Reichert A, Grindrod KA, Edwards DJ, Austin Z, Houle SKD. Pharmacist disciplinary action: What do pharmacists get in trouble for? Healthc Policy 2023;18(3):60-71. doi: 10.12927/hcpol.2023.27034.

  • Foong-Reichert A, Houle SKD, Austin Z, Edwards DJ, Grindrod KA. Dentist disciplinary action: What do dentists get in trouble for? Healthc Policy 2023;18(3):72-83. doi: 10.12927/hcpol.2023.27033.

  • Fung A, Foong-Reichert EA, Houle SKD, Grindrod KA. Examining the reasons for low regulatory body discipline rates for Canadian hospital pharmacists. Can J Hosp Pharm 2022;75(2):97-103. doi: 10.4212/cjhp.v75i2.3123.

  • Foong-Reichert EA, Fung A, Carter C, Grindrod K, Houle S. Characteristics, predictors, and reasons for regulatory body disciplinary action in healthcare: a scoping review. J Med Regul 2022;107(4):17-31. doi: 10.30770/2572-1852-107.4.17.

  • Foong-Reichert AL, Grindrod K, Houle S, Austin Z. Quacks versus facts: Regulatory body discipline when clinicians spread COVID-19 mis/disinformation. Can Pharm J 2022;155(2):72-74. doi: 10.1177/17151635221076003.

  • Foong EA, Grindrod KA, Houle SKD. Exploring health professional criminality and competence using the case of Canadian health care serial killer Elizabeth Wettlaufer. J Med Regul 2021;107(3):19-27. doi: 10.30770/2572-1852-107.3.19.

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John Papastergiou, BSc, BScPhm, PhD

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PhD, 2024, Radboud University

Co-supervision with Dr. BJF (Bart) van den Bemt and Dr. Chris Folkins​

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Thesis: Exploring the value and implementation of novel point-of-care testing and pharmacogenomic services into community pharmacy practice.

 

Publications included in thesis:

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  • Papastergiou J, Rajan A, Diamantouros A, Zervas J, Chow J, Tolios P. HbA1c testing in the community pharmacy: A new strategy to improve care for patients with diabetes. Can Pharm J 2012;145(4):165-7. doi: 10.3821/145.4.cpj165.

  • Papastergiou J, Folkins C, Li W. Community pharmacy-based A1c screening: a Canadian model for diabetes care. Int J Pharm Pract 2016;24(3):189-95. doi: 10.1111/ijpp.12228.

  • Papastergiou J, Folkins C, Li W, Young L. Community pharmacy rapid influenza A and B screening: A novel approach to expedite patient access to care and improve clinical outcomes. Can Pharm J 2016;149(2):83-9. doi: 10.1177/1715163516629157.

  • Papastergiou J, Tolios P, Li W, Li J. The Innovative Canadian Pharmacogenomic Screening Initiative in Community Pharmacy (ICANPIC) study. J Am Pharm Assoc 2017;57(5):624-629. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2017.05.006.

  • Papastergiou J, Trieu CR, Saltmarche D, Diamantouros A. Community pharmacist-directed point-of-care group A Streptococcus testing: Evaluation of a Canadian program. J Am Pharm Assoc 2018;58(4):450-456. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2018.03.003.

  • Papastergiou J, Donnelly M, Li W, Sindelar RD, van den Bemt B. Community Pharmacy-Based eGFR Screening for Early Detection of CKD in High Risk Patients. Can J Kidney Health Dis 2020;18(7):2054358120922617. doi: 10.1177/2054358120922617.

  • Papastergiou J, Donnelly M, Yuen T, Li W, van den Bemt B. Community pharmacy-based H. pylori screening for patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia. Can Pharm J 2020;153(2):101-107. doi: 10.1177/1715163520903065. 

  • Papastergiou J, Li W, Sterling C, van den Bemt B. Pharmacogenetic-guided cannabis usage in the community pharmacy: evaluation of a pilot program. J Cannabis Res 2020;2(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s42238-020-00033-1.

  • Papastergiou J, Quilty LC, Li W, Thiruchselvam T, Jain E, Gove P, Mandlsohn L, van den Bemt B, Pojskic N. Pharmacogenomics guided versus standard antidepressant treatment in a community pharmacy setting: A randomized controlled trial. Clin Transl Sci 2021;14(4):1359-1368. doi: 10.1111/cts.12986.

Heidi Fernandes, Graduate Student, University of Waterloo

Heidi Fernandes, PharmD, MSc

MSc, 2019, University of Waterloo​

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Thesis: Development and testing of a framework for the assessment of health-related risks among travellers by pharmacists in Ontario.

 

Publications arising from research as a graduate student:

 

  • Fernandes HVJ, Richard C, Bynkoski K, Ewan B, Houle SKD. Check-In: An educational activity to address well-being andburnout among pharmacy students. Pharmacy 2020;8:184. doi: 10.3390/pharmacy8040184.

  • Fernandes HVJ, Cook B, Houle SKD. Travel medicine curricula across Canadian pharmacy programs and alignment with scope of practice. Pharmacy 2020;8(2):102. doi: 10.3390/pharmacy8020102.

  • Fernandes HVJ, Houle SKD. Development and testing of a clinical practice framework for pharmacists to assess patients’ travel-related risks: The 5W Approach to Travel Risk Identification. Pharmacy 2019; 7, 159; doi: 10.3390/pharmacy7040159.

  • Fernandes HVJ, Houle SKD, Johal A, Riddle MS. Travelers’ diarrhea: Clinical practice guidelines for pharmacists. Can Pharm J 2019;152(4):241-50. doi: 10.1177/1715163519853308.

  • Houle SKD, Kozlovsky K, Fernandes HVJ, Rosenberg-Yunger Z. Uptake of travel health services by community pharmacies and patients following pharmacist immunization scope expansion in Ontario, Canada. Pharmacy 2019;7:35. doi: 10.3390/pharmacy7020035.

  • Grindrod KA, Houle SKD, Fernandes H. La diarhée du voyageur. Can Fam Phys 2019;65(7):487-90.

Undergraduate Students

  • Co-op students:

    • Kyla Barrera, 2022

    • Karolina Suszek, 2021

    • Ai-Leng Foong, 2017-2018

  • University of Waterloo Independent Studies elective projects:

    • Ariane Fung. An examination of pharmacist discipline and remediation processes in hospitals. 2020.

    • Besjana Avdiaj. Pharmacy student and supervisor perceptions of a distance-learning approach to injection administration training and assessment. 2020.

    • Jocelyn Chan. Understanding northern Ontario pharmacy practice from the perspective of female pharmacists. 2019.

    • Nastaran Keshmiri. Curriculum, geography, gender: Exploring the barriers and facilitators to selecting northern, rural, and remote co-op placements by pharmacy students. 2019.

    • Katie Flynn. Global health education and international experience opportunities at Canadian faculties/schools of pharmacy. 2019.

    • Brenda Oh. Male and female pharmacy students' experiences in the pharmacy co-op program related to wage, negotiation, and job selection. 2019.

    • Brittany Cook. Travel medicine education within the Canadian undergraduate pharmacy curricula. 2019.

    • Kristina Kozlovsky. Community pharmacy-based travel medicine services: Current landscape and perceptions of implementation following expansion of scope in Ontario. 2017.

    • Max Chong. Community pharmacist performance evaluations: Do they capture the modern pharmacist's role? 2017.

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  • University of Toronto Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) students (co-supervised with Molly Yang):

    • 2025/26: Rj Ridsdill-Miller, Joyce Henein, Numra Shah, Calista Perrons, Madeleine Yee, Saniha Budhwani, Nicole Frowley, Monica Elzawy

    • 2026/27: Sophia Lygdas

  • Research assistant volunteers:​

    • Silvia Luk, 2023-2025

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