Student Spotlight: Pauwlina Cyca

January 13, 2021

Pauwlina Cyca, medical student, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary

Contributed by University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine medical student Pauwlina Cyca.

From pharmacy operations to medical school

Pauwlina Cyca is a first-year medical student at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine. She is also a long-standing pharmacy operations executive with experience overseeing the operations of Alberta hospital outpatient pharmacies, long-term care and specialty pharmacies, 90 community pharmacies in British Columbia and the Yukon, and 41 rural and remote pharmacies in New Brunswick. She is a pharmacist who holds a graduate degree, has practiced in many provinces, is injection certified, and has additional prescribing authority in Alberta.

Pauwlina began her career in health care within the intensive care units and surgery floors in the geriatric hospitals of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and later transitioned to community pharmacy. Pauwlina owned and operated several drug stores before becoming involved with policy and regulatory affairs, serving as president-elect of the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists and on the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities board of directors, which contributed to her exposure to and appreciation for the privilege of professional self-governance.

Pauwlina's desire to help others reaches beyond the world of health care practice. After giving birth prematurely to twin girls, Pauwlina’s desire to contribute to her community and advocate for the health of marginalized populations accelerated. She volunteered on a weekly basis at a hospital, serving on the steering committee for scientific studies and providing advocacy and parent support for new parents admitted to the NICU with their premature babies.

Continue reading Pauwlina Cyca's Student Spotlight profile (Alberta Doctors’ Digest, January-February 2021)

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Alberta Medical Association Mission: Advocate for and support Alberta physicians. Strengthen their leadership in the provision of sustainable quality care.