As NBCC prepares learners for careers in their chosen fields, community and industry partners play a vital role. Whether they donate bursary funds or equipment, host workplace practicums, provide applied learning opportunities, visit classrooms as guest speakers or hire graduates, their contributions help make the NBCC experience extraordinary for students.
Vitalité Health Network has long been a valued partner of NBCC and, in 2021, was honoured with the NBCC Industry Award. Learn more about this mutually beneficial partnership in this Q&A.
Describe your organization’s relationship with NBCC.
Vitalité Health Network provides practicum placements for students enrolled in the Pharmacy Technician program. We also give students an opportunity to apply for a summer job and/or casual work after their first year is completed. We also hire bilingual graduates as Pharmacy Technicians in our Pharmacy team.
How did this partnership come about? How long has your organization worked with NBCC?
We have partnered with NBCC for this program for several years now, since the Pharmacy Technician program was created.
How does this partnership benefit NBCC? How does it benefit your organization?
This partnership is crucial to our recruitment efforts. We have numerous vacant positions and the availability of competent bilingual pharmacy technicians is rare in New Brunswick.
What are the factors that make your partnership with NBCC successful?
The great collaboration with the program’s coordinator; participation in the program’s Advisory committee; the quality of the program, and the level of preparation and knowledge of the students and graduates.
If your organization did not have a relationship with NBCC, what impact would it have on your operations?
Without this relationship with NBCC, it would be quite difficult for us to have our recruitment needs met; our relationship with NBCC also helps guide the program/course offerings in order to ensure that they meet appropriate guidelines or regulations from the NB College of Pharmacists and other regulatory bodies.
What personal history, if any, do you and/or your colleagues have with NBCC?
A significant portion of our current pharmacy technician staff are graduates of NBCC. This long-standing relationship is very beneficial to our department and has contributed to the expansion of the patient-care services that are provided.
As a leader in your industry, what advice would you give to students who are training for your field? What advice would you give NBCC in training them?
Pharmacy technicians are a vital part of a healthcare team, as they work alongside pharmacists and other healthcare professionals in either a community or hospital setting.
NBCC plays a very important role in providing the proper training and guidance to prepare career-ready graduates with the required professional skills, knowledge, and work ethic. The graduates from the Pharmacy Technician program are currently in high demand and have numerous work opportunities to choose from. This career choice is very rewarding for anyone who wishes to contribute to the promotion of the health and well-being of their community.
