New Brunswick pharmacists gathered in Fredericton on Saturday to pay tribute to the best and brightest in their profession.
The New Brunswick Pharmacists’ Association, the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (NB chapter) and the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists honoured Judith Seymour of Fredericton with the Bowl of Hygeia at their Past President’s Awards Gala held as part of the 2015 New Brunswick Pharmacy Conference.
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.
Here are some of the ways colleagues describe Judith Seymour: “A force to be reckoned with”; “never without a project”; “smart, determined and fully committed to all she does”; “an inspiration personally and professionally”; “role model and mentor”.
Judith has been helping patients, building her profession and contributing to her community for more than 40 years. A graduate of Dalhousie’s pharmacy program in 1972, Judith spent much of her career as a pharmacist and owner at Jean Coutu in Fredericton. She was instrumental in the development of the methadone program in her community; her work established guidelines and standards that would eventually be incorporated into provincial methadone policy directives. She helped update the Pharmacy Act in both 1983 and again last year, a significant contribution to building her profession. She has served as President of the New Brunswick Pharmaceutical Society, chaired Dalhousie University’s Practical Training Program committee that was responsible for writing student manuals and marking exams. She currently serves on the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists’ Finance Committee.
In her community, Judith has served on the Local Service District in Estey’s Bridge, is a member of 100 Women Who Care, volunteers with the John Howard Society and regularly contributes her time to committees at local hospitals.
“The pharmacists honoured have made extraordinary contributions to building our profession, volunteered countless hours in their communities and have demonstrated excellence in patient care,” says Daniel Pike, President of the New Brunswick Pharmacists’ Association. “These individuals are shining examples of the incredible work New Brunswick pharmacists are doing to improve the health care in this province.”
Approximately 150 New Brunswick pharmacists attended the annual conference held over the weekend at the Delta in Fredericton. The conference included the annual general meetings of the New Brunswick Pharmacists’ Association, New Brunswick College of Pharmacists and the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (NB chapter) as well as professional development sessions and a keynote address by Dominic Cardy, leader of the New Brunswick New Democratic Party.