Even with many years of private and public health experience under her belt, Kim Abbass says a constantly shifting healthcare paradigm requires a lifetime of learning—and she’s all in.

A certified infectious disease pharmacist, Abbass is Clinical Coord. for AMS and Pharmacy Practice in NS Health Eastern Zone. NHS is a multisite organization with more than 80 sites divided across four geographic zones. As part of the pharmacy leadership team and the practice lead, she participates in budgetary decisions, resource allocation, formulary reviews, and educational, clinical, and research decisions of the department and province, along with intervention monitoring and data collation. She has developed numerous infectious diseases and antimicrobial stewardship education sessions for physicians, pharmacists, students, medical residents, nursing, and allied health professionals.

Yet Abbass continues to enhance her own knowledge and skills and will be putting her Wellspring Leadership grant towards completion of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists’ Pharmacy Leadership Academy. This comprehensive, seven-course program is designed to develop leaders at a graduate level. Course topics range from Leading Effective Financial Management to Leading Transformation Change and Innovation. The program incorporates self-learning and reading, presentations and case-based interactive components to inform and stimulate mentees, with an overall aim to benefit patient care through enhanced leadership skills at every level of a healthcare organization.

“The impact of an engaging and informed leader enhances the effectiveness of a team, fosters teamwork, providing benefits on many levels,” says Abbass. “The Pharmacy Leadership Academy integrated program, along with attestations from colleagues who have completed the program, strengthens my quest to develop my leadership skills and capabilities.” In addition to her current role, Abbass has worked with the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada in various capacities since 2001 and is also a Board Director for the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists. “Throughout my career, I have witnessed the advancement of pharmacy practice, markedly evident throughout the recent pandemic,” she says. “I have also experienced personal and professional growth, and I am poised to advance my career and profession to the next level.”