The NBPA has honoured Jonathan Stevens of Quispamsis with the Scott Knowles Memorial New Practitioner Service Award on Saturday at its Awards Gala held as part of the New Brunswick Pharmacy Conference. Stevens earned the award, which recognizes an emerging leader in the pharmacy profession, for his work to improve oral chemotherapy treatment for cancer patients. His work will result in changes to cancer care at hospitals across Horizon Health.
This award is presented to a new pharmacist (five years or less since graduation) for exceptional service through innovation or contributions to his/her community. Jonathan Stevens is an exceptional young pharmacist whose drive and commitment to patient-centered care is changing the way Horizon Health provides cancer care.
A graduate of Memorial University’s School of Pharmacy in 2014, Jonathan returned home to New Brunswick to work at the Saint John Regional Hospital where he now works in all areas of the oncology pharmacy practice, including inpatient and outpatient care as well as the Hematology/Stem Cell Transplant. He led an Oral Systemic Therapy Monitoring Program whereby oral chemotherapy patients receive counselling, monitoring and follow-up from pharmacists in order to decrease treatment-related toxicity and improve adherence to therapy. Jonathan was responsible for researching and establishing protocols for best practices, training and education within an interdisciplinary team and continuous evaluation and quality improvement. This pharmacist-led program has identified numerous drug-related problems and chemotherapy-related toxicities that previously may have gone unrecognized; these issues are now being resolved or prevented daily. His work has made a significant difference in the lives of many cancer patients, and plans are underway to expand this program to all sites within the Horizon Health Network.
Jonathan has also recognized the need for expanded patient and staff education programs for patients receiving novel immune-oncology agents, as these patients are at especially high risk for treatment-related toxicities. He took the lead on developing and implementing a patient education program whereby patients receive counselling based on their unique needs. Jonathan also mentors other learners within the hospital. In addition to his dedication and contributions to patient care within the workplace, Jonathan is also the current President-elect of the NB Branch of the Canadian Society for Hospital Pharmacists, an organization he has been involved with since his days as a pharmacy student. He also devotes his spare time within his community as a hockey and soccer coach, serving as a role model and mentor for youth. Jonathan is passionate about improving care for patients, and he inspires pharmacists and multidisciplinary team members to move above and beyond their current practice to achieve better outcomes for patients.
“New Brunswick pharmacists are committed to their patients, their communities and their profession. It’s important that we recognize those who have made extraordinary contributions to patient care and to the evolution of pharmacy practice,” says Andrew Brillant, President of the New Brunswick Pharmacists’ Association. “We are incredibly proud of the work done by our award winners, who are shining examples of the valuable work that pharmacists are doing to help patients every single day.”
Approximately 200 New Brunswick pharmacists attended the annual conference at the Delta in Fredericton. The conference includes the annual general meetings of the NBPA, the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists and the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (NB chapter) as well as professional development sessions. New Brunswick Liberal leader Kevin Vickers, a former Sergeant-at-Arms at the House of Commons and Ambassador to Ireland, was the keynote speaker at the conference.