A long-time Bathurst pharmacist known for his outstanding patient care and significant volunteer work in the Chaleur region has earned one of pharmacy’s highest honours.
The New Brunswick Pharmacists’ Association (NBPA) honoured pharmacist/pharmacy owner Brian Fitzpatrick with the 2021 Bowl of Hygeia on Sunday night during its virtual Annual General Meeting and NB Pharmacy Awards.
“Brian Fitzpatrick is an absolute marvel, respected for both his work as a pharmacist and his many contributions to his community. His clinical expertise, professionalism and compassion for his patients are extraordinary, said Christine Boudreau, President of the NBPA. “In addition to his work as a pharmacist, he has made an extraordinary impact in the Chaleur region by volunteering his time and efforts to so many worthy causes.”
The Bowl of Hygeia is the most widely recognized international symbol for the pharmacy profession and is considered one of the profession’s most prestigious awards. This award recognizes pharmacists who make outstanding contributions to their profession and to their communities.
A pharmacist/owner of Jean Coutu pharmacies in Bathurst, Beresford and Petit Rocher, Brian has spent nearly three decades helping patients and contributing to his community in the Chaleur region. His passion for pharmacy and life-long learning are well known. Not only does he strive to continue his own learning, but he also dedicates time to mentoring and teaching new pharmacists, including working as a clinical professor at L'Université de Sherbrooke. He’s taught several continuing education courses to nurses, pharmacists and doctors on vaccination, treatment of topical pain, anaphylactic shock and smoking cessation.
Over the years, Brian has volunteered his time to the New Brunswick Pharmacists Association, the NB College of Pharmacists, the IWK, La Fondation du Foyer Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, the Chaleur Region Economic Leadership Group. During his time at the Gowan Brae Golf Club, he was part of the organizing committee for the Chaleur Regional Hospital Foundation Golf Tournament. During his 11 years as president, the tournament raised over $500,000 for the local hospital foundation. He’s also volunteered as a hockey coach with over 15 teams in the Bathurst area over the past eight years. Brian was named the Chaleur Region’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2012. Most recently, he’s serving on northern New Brunswick’s COVID planning committee with Public Health. He and his teams at his three pharmacies have administered 3,000 COVID vaccines so far.
Pharmacists from across the province took a short break from vaccinating New Brunswickers against COVID to attend the NBPA virtual AGM and Pharmacy Awards year. The meeting served as a much-needed break to celebrate the remarkable work done by not only the award winners but all pharmacy professionals over the past several months. New Brunswick has led Canada in terms of how early and to what extent pharmacy became involved in the province’s COVID vaccination program. Of the 233 community pharmacies in New Brunswick, 218 have participated in the COVID vaccination program. As of June 6, New Brunswick pharmacy teams have administered 233,000 COVID vaccines – that’s about 45 per cent of all the COVID vaccines administered in the province.
“Since the world turned upside down in March 2020, pharmacists, like other healthcare professionals, have faced long, stressful days that left them bone-tired as they returned home to their families in a time of uncertainty and fear,” said Boudreau. “The road ahead is still long but there’s now a glimmer of light. That light is due in part to New Brunswick pharmacy professionals who are continuing to rise to the challenge of this pandemic.”
Sunday’s meeting was the last for Ms. Boudreau in her role as President. She welcomed Moncton pharmacist Andrew Drover as the new President of the NBPA. Mr. Drover has served on the NBPA board for the past seven years, most recently as Vice President.