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The McKenna Institute at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) is excited to announce the funding of the first five projects through its ongoing collaboration with Shoppers Drug Mart. Announced in 2022 with the objective of creating innovative, patient-centric community health care solutions, these initiatives will advance work to help address health care gaps in the province and across the country.

“We are thrilled to see our partnership with Shoppers Drug Mart generate important investments in New Brunswick medical research,” said Adrienne Oldford, Executive Director of the McKenna Institute. “These investments will not only directly benefit the health of our population, they will also establish our province as a prominent player in advancing digital health care nationally.”

The first funded project supports a research initiative led by Dr. Ted McDonald and Dr. Chris Folkins, from the New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training (NB-IRDT) at UNB, examining diabetes and cardiovascular conditions among New Brunswick residents with analysis by location, socioeconomic status and demographic characteristics. The study aims to identify specific areas and groups that would benefit most from pharmacy-based interventions.

Building on these insights, Shoppers Drug Mart is supporting a 100-Day Challenge led by the University of New Brunswick’s Pond-Deshpande Centre. This initiative will identify innovative solutions and collaborations with systems leaders and community health care providers that address identified disparities in diabetes and cardiovascular care, with a focus on underserved and female populations.

Dr. McDonald and Dr. Folkins are also leading an evaluation of the Pharmacist Care Clinic Pilot Project. This collaborative initiative of the New Brunswick Pharmacists Association and the Government of New Brunswick is exploring the role of community pharmacists to support improved access to primary care and chronic disease management services for patients. The evaluation will focus on service delivery and client perceptions associated with pharmacist provision of these services in New Brunswick.

Shoppers Drug Mart is also supporting the work of Dr. Jalila Jbilou at Université de Moncton to expand the Truckers’ Health Adaptive Technology Clinic (TH@CLINIC) Project. This project enables long-haul truckers to access physical, mental health and social services virtually while on the road. This collaboration will facilitate the program's expansion and adaptation for other relevant population segments.

Dr. Sarah Pakzad’s research at the Université de Moncton will also benefit from the McKenna Institute’s ongoing collaboration with Shoppers Drug Mart. Her study focuses on how pharmacists’ use of her screening tool, the Neurocognitive Frailty Index (NFI), can improve the timely identification of cognitive disorders and result in earlier treatment and better care for patients.

“Our purpose is to help Canadians live life well, and that means providing them with the services and support needed in their own communities to successfully and conveniently manage their overall health,” said Jeff Leger, president of Shoppers Drug Mart. “Our collaboration with the McKenna Institute at the University of New Brunswick is well on its way to demonstrating improved access to care for New Brunswick residents through pharmacy resources, particularly for women and those in marginalized groups.”

About the McKenna Institute

The McKenna Institute fuels economic growth and social progress by advancing the use of digital technologies in New Brunswick. The Institute collaborates to accelerate our talent pipeline, nurture ideas and enable all New Brunswick communities to thrive in a digital world.

About Shoppers Drug Mart® Inc.

Shoppers Drug Mart® Inc. is one of the most recognized and trusted names in Canadian retailing. The company is the licensor of full-service retail drug stores operating under the name Shoppers Drug Mart® (Pharmaprix® in Québec). With more than 1,300 Shoppers Drug Mart® and Pharmaprix® stores operating in prime locations in each province and two territories, the company is one of the most convenient retailers in Canada.

The company also licenses or owns 70 medical clinic pharmacies operating under the name Shoppers Simply Pharmacy® (Pharmaprix Simplement Santé® in Québec). As well, the company owns and operates 43 corporate Wellwise by Shoppers Drug MartTM stores and an ecommerce site Wellwise.ca, making it the largest Canadian retailer of home health care products and services.

In addition to its retail store network, the company owns Shoppers Drug Mart Specialty Health Network Inc., a provider of specialty drug distribution, pharmacy and comprehensive patient support services, MediSystem Inc., a provider of pharmaceutical products and services to long-term care facilities and Lifemark Health Group, Canada’s leading provider of outpatient physiotherapy, massage therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic, mental health and other ancillary rehabilitation services. Shoppers Drug Mart is an independent operating division of Loblaw Companies Limited.

Media contacts

Kathleen McLaughlin
Media Relations Strategist
University of New Brunswick
talktous@unb.ca 

Liam Floyd
Communications and Events Coordinator
The McKenna Institute
liam.floyd@unb.ca 

Shoppers Drug Mart® Inc.
pr@loblaw.ca 

Photo: (L-R): Dr. Jalila Jbilou, Dr. Chris Folkins, Dr. Ted MacDonald and Dr. Sarah Pakzad