This week on the Rated Rx Podcast, pharmacists Robbie Abasi, Sam Lona, and Xavier Hill sit down with Hila, a fourth-year pharmacy student from the University of Toronto, for a candid look at training on the other side of the border. Hila talks through Canada’s PharmD path, why U of T is moving to a three-year, year-round program, and the tradeoffs that come with accelerated timelines—more clinical exposure, but real burnout risk. She also breaks down Ontario’s expanding “minor ailments” prescribing (hello, bigger clinical role) and shares what school really costs, what new-grad pay looks like in Toronto vs. rural areas, and why many students still peek at U.S. opportunities.
The weekly weigh-in tackles first-job counseling nerves: freezing mid-sentence, scaring patients with rare side effects, and handling the classic “Can I drink on rifampin?” conversation. Hila shares a humbling hydrocortisone story plus a simple community tactic for required counseling when patients try to bolt. From there, the team gets practical about documentation (be accurate without boxing yourself in), how to coach students without crushing them, and why the best preceptors set expectations, give timely feedback, and praise in public while correcting in private. They close with a Reddit story about a nightmare preceptor—and Hila’s take on turning school “essays” into usable, real-world workups.
If you’re into real talk about pharmacy school, early-career confidence, and what great teaching looks like, you’ll like this one. Stick around to the end for Hila’s TikTok plug and how she’s building community for students.
Disclaimer: This show is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only.
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