Meet Sasha Merasty, one of our brilliant pharmacy students. She’s in her fourth year of pharmacy school at the University of Saskatchewan and interns part-time at the pharmacy in store #3083 in Saskatoon.
Growing up, Sasha spent a lot of time in hospitals supporting family members, which planted a desire in her to learn about their medical conditions and medications. This, coupled with the positive experiences she had with pharmacists in her community, led her to pursue a career in pharmacy.
As a member of Peter Ballantyne First Nation, Sasha’s ultimate goal is to provide patient-centred care to underserved Indigenous communities. “Patient-centred care that respects the patient’s autonomy, cultural values, religious beliefs, and personal health goals is the most important part of interacting with patients. I want to ensure that my patients understand and are involved in their healthcare needs, because when a patient understands a treatment plan, they are more likely to see it through,” she shared.
Sasha has been a recipient of several awards and scholarships throughout her schooling. She recently received the USask-PDW Indigenous Pharmacy Student Award, where she was selected to attend the 2024 Pharmacy Development Week hosted by the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Students and Interns (CAPSI) in Toronto. Kiran Basara, our Senior Director of Pharmacy & Field Operations, had the pleasure of meeting Sasha at the conference.
“Sasha is an extremely talented and empathic individual with a bright future ahead of her in pharmacy. We’re so grateful to have exceptional students like Sasha who recognize barriers and seek to accommodate patients, participating in our pharmacy student program at Walmart Canada,” said Kiran.
Walmart Canada’s pharmacy student program pairs students from accredited pharmacy and pharmacy technician programs with seasoned pharmacists in our stores who act as mentors. Throughout their placements, students gain one-on-one, hands-on experience and the opportunity to perform an expanded scope of activities under the supervision of their mentor, including prescribing for minor ailments, immunizing and reviewing medication.
Find out more about Walmart Canada’s career opportunities and student programs: Working at Walmart Canada | Jobs and Careers at Walmart Canada.
