Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada

A Message from the President

As the current President of the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC),
I am pleased to provide you with this Information Kit, which has been developed by the
Boards Public Relations Committee as part of an overall communications strategy to
generate and enhance awareness of PEBC among its key audiences.
The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada has more than 50 years of experience providing
excellence in certification for the pharmacy profession. This involves evaluating
qualifications, developing and administering examinations including a national Pharmacist
Qualifying Examination, and issuing Certificates of Qualification for Pharmacists. The
comprehensive certification processes administered by PEBC ensure the quality of
pharmacists entering practice, and are a vital component in the delivery of safe and
effective health care to Canadians.
Throughout its history, PEBC has established a strong record in the research, development
and provision of fair, comprehensive and relevant competency-based assessment
programs. A significant milestone in recent years was the implementation, in 2001, of a
performance-based component (Objective Structured Clinical Examination OSCE) to
complement the written component of the Qualifying Examination.
The Pharmacy Technician Qualifying Examination was developed by PEBC to provide
certification of pharmacy technicians for the purposes of licensure and regulation. This
examination includes both a written multiple choice examination and a performance-based
examination. PEBC is proud to have worked collaboratively with key stakeholders in this
endeavour, including NAPRA and provincial regulatory authorities. PEBC continues the
process of implementing this examination in provinces that are progressing towards
regulation of pharmacy technicians.
As we look forward to the future, PEBC is well-positioned to strengthen its contribution to
the growth and development of the pharmacy profession in Canada. We are moving forward
with the exploration of the feasibility of computerized testing.
This Information Kit is intended to provide an overview of the PEBC, its role, its programs,
and its leadership. We invite you to review the materials included in this kit and to visit the
PEBC website at www.pebc.ca. You are encouraged to respond with your feedback and
comments on the enclosed questionnaire. Your input is valuable and will enable us to serve
you better.

Catherine Schuster, RPhT, R PEBC-(PT)

President

Profile
John Pugsley, B.Sc.Phm., R.Ph., ACPR, Pharm.D.
Registrar-Treasurer
John Pugsley is the appointed Registrar-Treasurer of the Pharmacy Examining Board of
Canada. He has served since 1995 as PEBCs Chief Operating Officer, overseeing and
managing office and Board operations. He currently represents PEBC on the Blueprint for
Pharmacy Steering Committee.
Dr. Pugsley previously was a member of the Leslie A. Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the
University of Toronto from 1986-1995. He served as the Faculty Clinical Coordinator for
fourth year undergraduate students. In addition, during his academic stay at the University
of Toronto, he served as Chair of the Curriculum Committee for a five year period, playing a
vital role in the establishment of the Pharm. D program, as well as in the development and
introduction of a communications skills course and a language proficiency support program.
During this period, he conducted clinical research in the area of respiratory diseases.
Dr. Pugsley is a member of the Ontario College of Pharmacists, the Canadian Pharmacists
Association, the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists, and the Association of Faculties
of Pharmacy of Canada.
Dr. Pugsley graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from the Faculty of
Pharmacy at the University of Toronto, and subsequently completed a hospital pharmacy
residency at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, Canada. He earned his Pharm. D. (Doctor of
Pharmacy) degree from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, Boston, in 1982.

Profile
Catherine Schuster, R.Ph.T., RPEBC-(PT)
President
Catherine Schuster is President of the Executive Committee of the Pharmacy
Examining Board of Canada. She has served as a member of the Board since 2010,
representing the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Technicians (CAPT). Catherine is
currently a member of the Public Relations Committee and the Committee on
Examinations.
Catherine is a graduate from the St. Clair College Pharmacy Assistant program and
received her Teaching Certificate (Adult Education) from Brock University in 2005.
Catherine has many years of practicing in retail and hospital settings. Currently she is
Coordinator, Pharmacy Technician Programs, Canadian Council for Accreditation of
Pharmacy Programs. She served as Coordinator of the Pharmacy Technician Program
at Lambton College in Sarnia, Ontario from 2006 - 2014.
Catherine has served on a number of Pharmacy committees and boards, including the
Ontario College of Pharmacists Pharmacy Technician Working Group, OCP
Jurisprudence Steering Committee, National Advisory Committee Centre for Canadian
Language Benchmarks, CCAPP Working Group for the Development of Standards for
Accreditation of Pharmacy Technician Programs, CCAPP Pharmacy Technician
Programs Accreditation Committee, She has served on the Canadian Association of
Pharmacy Technician and the Canadian Pharmacy Technician Educators Association
Board of Directors.

Profile
Shawn Bugden, B.Sc. (Pharm), M.Sc., Pharm. D., RPEBC
Immediate-Past President
Shawn Bugden is Immediate-Past President of the Pharmacy Examining Board of
Canada. He has served as a member of the Board since 2009, representing the College
of Pharmacists of Manitoba. Dr. Bugden currently serves as Chair of the Finance
Committee and as a member on the Committee of Examinations.
Shawn graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Science in
Pharmacy in 1991 and a Masters of Science in Behavioral Ecology in 1996, and from
Oxford University with a Masters of Science in Evidence Based Health Care in 2006
and from the University of Washington with a Pharm.D. in 2011
Shawn is currently Associate Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of
Manitoba, in the area of drug evaluation, outcomes research, health policy, pharmacy
practice and biomedical ethics. He also serves on the Board of the Biomedical
Research Ethics Board at the University of Manitoba, and is an Associate Member of
the Canadian Centre for Applied Research in Cancer Control. He is actively involved in
the pharmacoeconomic assessment of new oncology medications through the Manitoba
provincial Oncology Drug program and the pan-Canadian Oncology Drug Review.
Shawn is a Past President of the Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association, a Past
President of the Manitoba Association of Pharmacy Directors, and a Past Chair of the
Professional Development Committee of the Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association.

Profile
Karen McDermaid, BSc, BSP, ACPR, CDE, RPEBC
Vice President
Karen McDermaid is Vice President of the Executive Committee of the Pharmacy
Examining Board of Canada. She has served as a member of the Board since 2011,
representing the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacists (SCP). Karen also currently serves
as Chair of the Committee on Examinations and as a member of the Committee on
Specialties. She served as Past Chair of the Committee on Specialties, as member of the
Committee on Examinations, and the Finance Committee.
Karen graduated from the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, with a Bachelor of
Science, Advanced, Major Physiology in 1987. In 1991 she earned her Bachelor of Science
in Pharmacy from the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan,
Saskatoon. In 1992, she received her Hospital Pharmacy Residency, from the South
Saskatchewan Health Centre.
Karen is currently Manager of Rural Pharmacy Practice, Regina QuAppelle Health Region.
She is a current member of the Practice Standards Steering Committee of the Canadian
Society of Hospital Pharmacists, a member of the Structured Practice Experiences
Programs Advisory Committee of the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition of the University of
Saskatchewan, and a member of the Saskatchewan Advocacy Committee of the Canadian
Diabetes Association. From 1998 to 1999, Karen served as the Saskatchewan Branch
President of the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists.
In 2001, Karen was awarded Pharmacist of the Year of the Canadian Society of Hospital
Pharmacists, Saskatchewan Branch. In 2008, she received the Betty C. Riddell award for
Pharmacy Practitioner Excellence, Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists,
Saskatchewan Branch.

Profile
Mits Miyata, B.Sc. (Pharm), ACPR, FCSHP, RPEBC
Executive Member
Mits Miyata is a member of the Executive Committee of the Pharmacy Examining Board
of Canada. He has served as a member of the Board since 2011 representing the
Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists. He was previously a member of the PEBC
Board from 1995 to 2001 representing the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia
and served as President in 1998-1999. Mits currently serves on the Finance Committee
and the Committee on Examinations.
Mits graduated from the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy. He subsequently completed a
hospital pharmacy residency program. Currently he is the Director of Pharmacy for the
Lower Mainland Pharmacy Services.
Mits has held leadership positions in other professional organizations, including Chair of
the Board of Examiners of the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia (CPBC), and
is currently a member of CSHPs National Advocacy Committee (NAC), and has
recently completed his term as NAC Senior Chair. He has served on several other
CSHP committees. In 2014, Mits was made a Fellow of the Canadian Society of
Hospital Pharmacists. He is currently a member of the Drug Benefits Council of the BC
Ministry of Health and the BC Health Authority Provincial Pharmacy and Therapeutics
Committee.

Profile
Bonnie Hauser, B.Sc.Phm., R.Ph.,RPEBC
Executive Member
Bonnie Hauser is a member of the Executive Committee of the Pharmacy Examining
Board of Canada. She has served as a member of the Board since 2012, representing
the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP). Bonnie also serves as Chair of the By-Laws
Committee, and as a member of the Public Relations Committee.
Bonnie graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Science in
Pharmacy. She subsequently completed a hospital pharmacy residency program.
Bonnies broad experience includes positions as a hospital pharmacist, a pharmacy
technician educator and a pharmacy owner and operator. She is currently a Staff
Pharmacist at an independent pharmacy.
Bonnies leadership experience covers both community and pharmacy. She is Past
President of the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP) and has chaired several OCP
committees. She has held leadership roles in several local and provincial organizations
such as Health Promotion and Fundraising with the Canadian Cancer Society, Southern
Ontario Library Services Board, Campaign Chairman Harvest of Hope Capital
Campaign Church, and Assistant Campaign Chairman Fundraising Dunville Arena.
Bonnie currently serves as a Director of the Board of Dunville War Memorial Hospital.