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District 1 - Alex Dar Santos
My name is Alex Dar Santos, and I am seeking re-election fordistrict 1 in the College of Pharmacists elections (Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, New Westminster, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Squamish, Whistler). I am fortunate to live and work in the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. I am honoured to live on this land and I am committed to reconciliation and building relationships in our communities and schools.
I am a UBC graduate with BSc in Pharmacy (2002). I am very passionate about the profession of pharmacy in our province. I have more than 20 years of experience as a front-line community pharmacist and 19 years of pharmacy management experience.
I am currently the Associate-owner of Shoppers Drug Mart #2237 in Richmond. I have significant board experience including my first term as a College Board member, and 6 years on the BCPhA Board of Directors (elected in 2013) in which I served as president in the 2017/18 term. On the College Board I have advocated for safe pharmacy practice in the interests of public safety and the public good. I am a member of multiple committees at the College.
I believe I bring common sense and practicality to the College board. I believe that patients and the public benefit the most when a pharmacist spends more time with their patients rather than on administrative burdens and paperwork. I believe that a pharmacist’s time is most beneficial when solving drug related problems rather than cycling through repetitive tasks.I believe in ensuring fiscal responsibility at the College, and I have worked hard at ensuring financial stability at the College by being mindful of expenses, not just revenues.
I believe I have brought a strong voice to the board with a lens of someone with 20 years of frontline experience. I bring a pragmatic and common sense approach. With an eye on reducing barriers, my goal is to always craft simple and straight-forward regulation that ensures public safety and allows for great patient care. Through the pandemic I helped craft regulations that helped avert disruptions in pharmacy and health services. Pharmacy was able to continue to delivery safely on critical pharmaceutical services to the citizens of British Columbia and helped the health system in the pandemic response. I continue to promote the idea that because of the diversity of pharmacies and pharmacy professionals in the province, a one-size fits all approach is usually not the best solution. By leveraging our professional skills, I am a strong believer in enabling pharmacists and pharmacy professionals to do the right thing for patients.
If re-elected, I will continue to work diligently and bring the same attributes that I bring as a pharmacist, one that is both ethical and professional, with a look towards the future. I would appreciate your support in this election.
If you wish to contact me during the election period, feel free to email me at [email protected].