On these pages last September, I referred to the unfortunate passing of one of our own pharmacy community. Karen Zed was someone who has had an impact on my practice for my entire career. Working with the same company since before graduation, her visibility within the profession as a mentor and advocate was evident through her work with our Nova Scotia regulatory body as well as the Dalhousie College of Pharmacy.

My working relationship with Karen developed over the years. I worked first as a student, then as a relief pharmacist, before transitioning into management roles. With each step, I was reminded of the respect she commanded from her peers. We may not have always agreed with her opinions, but they carried weight and inspired healthy debate. Although I did not know her well on a personal level, it was obvious how much she thrived when precepting students, interns, or anyone with an interest in pharmacy. She was staunch in defending her practice site as a true ‘real-world’ experience; you learned by doing, by making mistakes and fixing them, all with an eye towards the patient above all else.

In the 10+ months since, I have been lucky enough to be appointed as secretary of our pharmacy alumni division at the university. With Karen being taken away so suddenly, there was an appetite to celebrate her contributions on a grander scale. That is why the Dalhousie College of Pharmacy Alumni Division (DUCPAD) is pleased to announce the annual Karen Zed Spirit of Community Pharmacy Award. This award recognizes students who share Karen’s passion for community pharmacy as both a place to learn and to provide caring support for those in need of our medication expertise.

Details on how to donate to the award fund may be found in the June 2014 issue of the DUCPAD Dispatch, or by following the link below:

http://alumniapps.dal.ca/giving/giving.php

Rest in peace Karen. May your spirit endure in the next generation of community pharmacists.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.