Sydney Facette knew from an early age that she wanted to find a career that would allow her to explore her passion for science and give back to her community.
“I always knew I wanted to serve my community as a healthcare provider,” said Sydney. “I didn’t know which field would be the right fit, but I knew I wanted to combine my love for science with my desire to help others.”
In the end, it was Sydney’s neighbour who inspired her to consider a career in pharmacy.
“What really drew me into pharmacy was a conversation with my neighbour, who is a pharmacist, who gave me a greater appreciation for the vital role that pharmacists play in health care and a better understanding of the broad scope of practice for pharmacists in Alberta,” she said.
With that push, she made the decision to pursue her PharmD through the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Throughout her education, Sydney worked hard to prepare for her new career.
“I felt extremely challenged in the pharmacy program, not just with academics,” said Sydney. “I’m so grateful that I pushed myself and learned so much over these past four years.”
Sydney’s hard work paid off. In 2025, she graduated with the highest academic standing, earning her the ACP Gold Medal. In addition to receiving a gold medal, Sydney will receive a one-year paid practice permit once she is admitted to ACP’s clinical pharmacist register in recognition of this significant accomplishment.
Reflecting on her remarkable academic journey, Sydney said her involvement with committees, summer research, and work experiences helped her develop her skills and get a better understanding of the pharmacy field.
“I’ve had the privilege of learning from mentors, peers, and pharmacists who are experts in their fields,” she said. “My education provided me opportunities to build skills in collaboration, communication, mentorship, research, and leadership, helping me develop a well-rounded skillset to better serve patients.”
She encourages those who are currently on their educational journeys to take advantage of a range of opportunities to grow and learn.
“I would encourage students to take advantage of every opportunity you can—even beyond academics, there are so many different ways that you can grow,” she said. “Say yes to experiences that push you out of your comfort zone, because I’ve found that’s really where the most growth happens.”
From her personal experience, Sydney found that stepping out of her comfort zone helped her better understand the pharmacy profession and allowed her to establish a clear plan for her own future.
“When I started my education, I was more inclined to community pharmacy because that’s what I knew, but then after my second year of pharmacy school I had the opportunity to work for Alberta Health Services. This was my first exposure to hospital pharmacy and it really changed my career path,” said Sydney. “I’m so grateful that I took an opportunity to try something different.”
Sydney values lifelong learning and she is excited to continue to grow, both personally and professionally, as she embarks on her next chapter of starting a one-year Alberta Health Services Cancer Care pharmacy residency program.
“My education provided a strong foundation and I am looking forward to applying what I’ve learned over the last four years, but ultimately I’m really looking forward to continuing to build on my knowledge and skills and finding ways to contribute to my pharmacy team and make a meaningful difference for the patients I serve,” she said.
