Andrea Silver, RPh
Andrea has over 18 years of pharmacy experience and has come to understand patients’ experience within the healthcare system through a variety of experiences in research, hospital, and outpatient care. She currently manages an independent pharmacy in Victoria BC, acts as clinical lead on a number of new initiatives in her community, and actively practices as a diabetes educator.
Terri Gibson, RPh
Terri Anne Gibson is a 2012 alumni of the University of Victoria (Bachelor of Arts, Psychology and Applied Ethics) and a 2017 alumni of the University of Saskatchewan (Bachelor of Science, Pharmacy). She has been practicing as a community pharmacist for four years, beginning her career in the Province of Alberta where she was able to advocate and care for her patients to the fullest scope of pharmacist practice with her Additional Prescribing Authorization Certification. She is currently a pharmacy manager with Shoppers Drug Mart. In addition to her role as a community pharmacist, she dedicates her time to a number of leadership and volunteer positions within the community. Most notably, she serves as the Regional Coordinator for the Vancouver Chapter of The Shoebox Project for Women. Terri is passionate about giving back to her community, especially vulnerable populations, both through volunteerism and in her role as a healthcare provider; it is with this conviction that she serves on the Board of the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia. At present, Terri makes her home in the beautiful community of Maple Ridge with her husband and three year-old son.
Alex Dar Santos, RPh
Alex is a UBC graduate with 17 years of pharmacy experience, and is currently the pharmacist-owner of a pharmacy in Richmond. From September 2013 to October 2019, he was a Board Director with the BCPhA and served as President in 2017/18. He holds himself and other pharmacists to a high level of integrity and professional standard. He also strives for common sense solutions in order to continue to practice pharmacy safely and efficiently. He believes that pharmacists can provide better patient care and outcomes by utilizing all aspects of a pharmacist’s scope of practice and by advancing pharmacy practice. In his spare time he enjoys travelling with his wife and two children.
Steven Hopp, RPh
Steven graduated from UBC in 2002. He has worked primarily in rural settings as a staff pharmacist and relief pharmacist, has provided pharmacy services to long term care facilities, and has 13 years of experience owning and managing both small clinic pharmacies and larger format stores. He is passionate about rural health services and the positive impact pharmacy practice can have on the health and wellness of our communities. Steven previously served 2 terms on the board of a local hospice society, has a strong interests in travel medicine as well as mental health awareness. He strives to progress towards a safer, more effective future of pharmacy practice in British Columbia that responds to the evolving needs of our population through right touch legislation that will support optimal, evidence-informed care. Steven believes very strongly that as a pharmacist, ethics and integrity must always be at the forefront of our practice, this includes awareness of the legacy of discrimination towards Black, Indigenous and People of Color, and the importance of practicing anti-racism as part of safely providing pharmacy care.
Michael Ortynsky, RPh
Micheal Ortynsky has practiced pharmacy for over 38 years, with the majority of his career spent in northern communities. Since 1989, he has managed an independent pharmacy in Fort St John. He won the Ben Gant Award for Innovation in 2004 for the novel ownership model he promoted whereby pharmacy assistants, technicians, nurses, and pharmacists are all shareholders in the business. The group expanded to include pharmacies in Tumbler Ridge, Keremeos, and West Kelowna. He promotes a collaborative environment with nurses providing wound, ostomy, and footcare on site at the Fort St John pharmacy as well as a travel medicine clinic with a local physician. Mike is an advocate for pharmacists being engaged in the larger community.
Anca Cvaci, RPh
Anca Cvaci’s diverse experiences have allowed her to appreciate and understand the roles pharmacy plays in healthcare, as well as how pharmacy practice interlinks with other healthcare professions and contributes to patient care. Her career in pharmacy started as a Pharmacy Assistant. After completing the Lower Mainland Pharmacy Services Pharmacy Residency program, she worked at St. Paul’s Hospital as a Clinical Pharmacist. In 2014, she completed a Master in Business Administration, and then worked in the Vancouver Coastal Health - Coastal Corporate Office. Her next role allowed her to lead the implementation of automated dispensing cabinets in all acute care areas at Providence Health Care. After completing the project, she worked at the Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre as a Clinical Supervisor where she led pharmacy practice in an outpatient care environment. Her current role as Distribution Coordinator at Lions Gate Hospital involves leading the pharmacy team through the implementation of a new Clinical Information System. Also, over the last seven years she served on the BC Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists council in various capacities. Her passion for pharmacy practice and dedication to making a difference fuel her drive to contribute to improving patient care.
Vacant
Eric Ewing, RPhT
Eric is an energetic and hardworking BC local with 7+ years of experience in pharmacy practice. After studying acting in the Bachelor of Fine Arts undergrad program at Simon Fraser University he enrolled in the Pharmacy Technician program at Vancouver Community College, graduating from that program in 2014 with a practicum at Royal Columbian Hospital pharmacy. He went on to work towards regulation at the Pharmacy Drug Distribution Center in Langley, becoming regulated later that same year. He then gained some specialized experience from BC Children’s & Women’s Hospital pharmacy before finding his home at Vancouver General Hospital where he currently works, and where he also serves on the Pharmacy JOHS Committee to improve workplace safety. He currently enjoys a varied technician role that also includes coverage at GF Strong Rehab Center and at UBC Hospital pharmacies, requiring travel to all three of these sites.
He brings this varied experience as well as his proven problem-solving abilities and strong communication skills to the board with him, which have previously been tested in various professional initiatives advocating for pharmacy personnel across British Columbia and as a frequent speaker at pharmacy technician continuing education events in the Lower Mainland. As a proud member of the LGBTQ2 community, Eric is excited to use his passions for equality and representation as well as his unique experience to bring as much perspective to the board as possible, and looks forward to the chance to further serve the people of British Columbia.
Alison Jane Carstairs
A.J. is a Métis lawyer (Saulteaux / British) and a mother, and she became a General Law Practice partner at the Law Office of M.J. Carstairs, K.C., and A.J. Carstairs LLP in 2022. A.J. enjoys legal writing, research, and legislation design. As a lawyer, A.J. practices in Indigenous legal issues, including legal research; Wills and Estates, including Indigenous Wills; not-for-profit organizations, including business structures; and other areas of General Law Practice. As a senior police murder detective, A.J. was initially called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2015 and, more recently, to the Bar in British Columbia. As a bronze and silver medalist in the World Open Karate Championships, A.J. is an author of a book for Self Defence and Protection Awareness for Women. In Canada, A.J. achieved the National Canadian Accreditation examinations in Law through the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, including Aboriginal Law, Canadian Constitutional Law, and Tax Law, in 2019. In the U.K., A.J. read Law at the University of Law and London South Bank University. A.J. had previously read police studies, including criminology, at the University of Portsmouth and, more recently, advanced writing and critical reasoning at the University of Oxford.
Stephen Charles Learey
Stephen has a long history working for low income, marginalized urban populations. Most recently Stephen was Executive Director of the Strathcona Health Society which runs the Strathcona Community Dental Clinic serving children from low income families in Strathcona and the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. Previously he was Executive Assistant to the Mayor of Vancouver Larry Campbell and dealt with a multitude of community issues, representing the Mayor on occasion. Stephen was also the Executive Director of the Urban Community Development Unit (UCDU) with the Provincial Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services where he worked with community groups around British Columbia. The UCDC developed and funded innovative programs to address unemployment, housing and community development. Stephen has served on numerous non-profit and housing co-op boards such as Reach Community Health Centre, PHS Community Services Society and on the Vancouver Community College Board.
Anne Peterson
As of January 2019, Anne is the VP, Strategy & Quality Improvement for Child Development for the Lower Mainland. Previously, she was the Policy & Research Manager of the Surrey Board of Trade. Anne’s career spans over 25 years working with a range of organizations for the benefit of community service, including as a former city councilor, focusing primarily on policy, research, and organization development.
In 2018, she had the privilege and honour of being appointed to the BC Poverty Reduction Forum by the Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction through the BC Chamber of Commerce Nomination to be the representative for business. The Forum’s work will inform the BC Government’s new Poverty Reduction Strategy anticipated spring 2019.
Anne’s educational background includes an MA (UBC 2006), a BA (SFU 2001), Advanced Project Management Certificate from Langara College (2015), and numerous certificates including evaluation methodology and leadership.
Katie Skelton
Katie Skelton is Anishinaabe, Ojibwe from Henvey Inlet First Nation and an adopted member of the Tak'aya Wolf Clan, First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) family. Growing up as an Urban First Nation in the Greater Toronto Area, Katie now considers herself a guest on the unceded and traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples - sḵwx̱wú7mesh úxwumixw (Squamish), sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) nations.
Katie proudly serves First Nations people through her role in Partnership Development and Projects at the First Nations Health Authority. As part of the CEO’s office, Katie directly supports the CEO in the implementation of a health governance partnership between BC First Nations, the province of BC, and the government of Canada. This health governance partnership, led to the formation of the FNHA, an institution created by First Nations people for First Nations people. Working to change 'the system' from sickness to wellness, the FNHA champions a holistic and traditional perspective of health and wellness.
Katie brings her energy as a young mother of two, who is consistently encouraged by the vibrancy of the culture that surrounds her, as motivation to champion change for the next seven generations.