Intersectoral collaboration to enable bridging education for pharmacists: The International Pharmacy Graduate Program in Ontario, Canada
Written by: Zubin Austin, Della Croteau • March 1 2007• Volume 7 - Issue 1•Abstract
As Canada’s economy and health care system become more reliant upon contributions made by individuals educated outside North America, there is an increasing need to develop systems and supportive programs to facilitate integration in the Canadian workforce. Collaboration between partners in different sectors is essential in ensuring success of such programs and systems. This paper reviews the development and outcome of inter-sectoral collaboration in the profession of pharmacy in Ontario, Canada. The need to develop such collaboration in pharmacy was particularly acute given the unusually high reliance upon internationally educated pharmacists in Canadian practice. The value of this collaboration, the way in which it developed and was nurtured, and challenges that emerged as part of the process, are discussed and analyzed as a case study example of how bridging education for internationally educated health care professionals may be operationalized.
