Clinical placements play a vital role in a health care learner’s journey, bridging academic learning with real-world practice and helping students build confidence, competence, and professional identity. Through hands-on experience, learners develop essential clinical skills, teamwork, and an understanding of patient-centred care.

As an academic health sciences centre, our Hospital is proud to support learners by providing a safe, supportive, and enriching placement environment where future professionals can learn, grow, and contribute meaningfully to patient care.

We want you to meet some of the learners at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) who are currently on that journey — such as Megan Dysievick.

Hometown: Kakabeka Falls, ON

Program: Doctor of Pharmacy at the University of Waterloo

What does an average day during your placement look like?

I am currently completing a placement in the Specialty Pharmacy within the Cancer Centre at TBRHSC. Each day brings something different, as the pharmacists here have a wide range of responsibilities. One of my primary tasks is performing dose checks on oral chemotherapy medications. The oncologists send the pharmacy team different regimens that they either want to start a patient on, or are considering as part of treatment. I review the regimen and provide a dosage that is appropriate for the patient based on their condition, lab values, etc. I review their other medications to check for any potential interactions, and if there are any present, determine how we manage them.

I also answer questions patients have about natural health products and whether they are safe to take with their chemotherapy, home medications, and medical conditions. I observe the pharmacists when they teach patients about their new oral chemotherapy meds, and help provide counselling on supportive medications they may be on during treatment. I also help provide follow up once patients are started on new oral chemotherapy regimens.

Is there a mentor of faculty member who has significantly impacted you?

One of my most influential mentors at the hospital has been Erika, a pharmacist in the main Pharmacy Department. She served as my preceptor during my co-op placement at TBRHSC in 2024. When I started that placement, I did not think that I was going to enjoy practicing pharmacy in a hospital setting, and I thought that I was going to practice in a community setting when I graduated. Erika was so encouraging and inspiring every day that I was here, and I ended up falling in love with hospital pharmacy practice. She goes above and beyond in her duties as a pharmacist, and I truly look up to her.

What is one interesting fact others might not know about you?

I have been teaching myself to crochet! I wanted to be able to create personalized gifts for my loved ones. I recently finished a baby blanket to gift a baby that’s joining the family mid-May.