CAPhO has made every effort to ensure that information included within this podcast episode is accurate at the time of production. The information cannot substitute for the advice or direction of a health care professional, and the association makes no guarantees, nor can it assume any legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of such information or for any damage incurred directly or indirectly from the information.

This episode of the CAPhO Connections Podcast is sponsored by Apobiologix.

Go behind the scenes with two steering committee members to highlight the HOPE Awards and the ABC course, two key initiatives sponsored by the Apobiologix Partnership Program. They'll share an insider's perspective on celebrating six years of excellence and building the foundational skills needed to advance oncology pharmacy practice across Canada.

Learning Objectives:

1. Gain insights from steering committee members on the vision and impact of fostering professional development within Canadian oncology pharmacy, through the Apobiologix Partnership Program (APP).
2. Explore the purpose and evolution of the HOPE Awards through the personal experiences of the committee members and understand its role in celebrating excellence and innovation among pharmacists, technicians, and DANs.
3. Identify the unmet need for standardized oncology education among Canadian pharmacists and explain how the Addressing Basics in Cancer (ABC) program serves as a direct solution by providing essential, practical training.
4. Outline the key steps and criteria for participating in both the HOPE Awards and the ABC course, empowering listeners to engage with these valuable initiatives.

Guests:

Tina Crosbie

Tina Crosbie is a clinical hematology pharmacist at The Ottawa Hospital’s ambulatory hematology unit. With over 25 years of experience, she counsels patients diagnosed with lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and acute and chronic leukemia. For the past six years, Tina is also a hematology pharmacist at Extend Pharmacy; a community oncology-focused pharmacy. Here she supports patients in managing their take-home anti-cancer therapy. Tina’s research aims to optimize drug administration and enhance patient education. She evaluates pharmacy education programs for CCCEP and is a conference planning committee member for CAPhO Con 2026 taking place April 2026 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Scott Edwards

Scott Edwards is currently the Clinical Oncology Pharmacy Specialist at the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Center in St. John’s, Newfoundland. He is also an assistant professor at the School of Pharmacy and the Discipline of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland. He is active in clinical cancer research in the area of chemotherapy toxicities, supportive care and oral chemotherapy adherence. He graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland with a B.Sc. (Neuroscience) in 1994 and a B.Sc (Pharmacy) in 1997. In 2005, he graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Washington. He completed a Master’s degree in Oncology from Newcastle University in 2015.

Learn more about the HOPE Awards.

Learn more about the ABC Program.

Precision oncology is advancing cancer care, turning one-size-fits-all treatment into tailored therapy designed for each patient’s unique genetic blueprint. For oncology pharmacists, this opens new possibilities to lead in matching the right drug, dose, and patient at the right time. In this episode, we explore how pharmacists can decode the genomic puzzle, navigate biomarker-driven decisions, and drive innovation in personalized cancer care. Get ready to discover why precision pharmacy isn’t just the future, it is happening now!

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the evolving role of oncology pharmacists in biomarker-guided therapy and precision oncology decision-making.
• Identify pharmacy-led innovations in personalized cancer care and their application in diverse practice settings.
• Evaluate strategies to integrate genomic and biomarker data into pharmacy workflows while managing operational challenges.
• Assess the impact of precision oncology on outcomes, safety, and resource use, highlighting the pharmacist’s role.
• Outline practical steps for pharmacists to lead precision oncology initiatives through collaboration, education, and research.

Guest: Dr. Mya Tran

Dr. Mya Tran, PharmD, BCOP, is a Precision Oncology Clinical Pharmacist at Indiana University Health Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. Since joining the IU Precision Genomics program in 2022, she specializes in genomic analysis and targeted therapies for solid tumors, particularly lung cancer, while standardizing biomarker testing protocols

Resources Referenced:

- Podcasts: Research to Practice, Onc Brothers, Illumina Genomics Podcast

- Virtual MTBs:

• Caris (https://www.carislifesciences.com/caris-resources/caris-molecular-tumor-board/ or email Ricci Sheridan at RSheridan@carisls.com)
• NCCN (https://education.nccn.org/tumorboards#group-tabs-node-course-default1)

- GenomeWeb (webinars, resources, and archived vMTBs)

- Targeted Oncology

- Precision Oncology News newsletter

- ACCP/HOPA PGx Certificate Course

- Harvard HMX Pro Genetics - Cancer Genomics and Precision Oncology Certificate Course

- AMP (especially webinars and "Molecular in My Pocket" reference cards)

Could the secret to optimizing immunotherapy success lie in the gut flora? Emerging research reveals how the microbiome influences cancer treatment response, toxicity, and overall health outcomes. Join us as we explore how gut health, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), and pharmacy practice are coming together to transform cancer care. Get ready to rethink the future of immunotherapy from the inside out!Learning Objectives:

• Explore the influence of the gut microbiome on immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) efficacy, toxicity, and overall immuno-oncology outcomes, with a focus on emerging evidence.
• Evaluate the impact of gut-disrupting factors, including antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors, and other medications on ICI treatment response and adverse events.
• Discuss current and emerging microbiome modulation strategies, such as dietary interventions, prebiotics, probiotics, and fecal microbiota transplants, to enhance ICI outcomes and manage toxicity.
• Identify practical recommendations for oncology pharmacists to promote microbiome health through medication stewardship, dietary counseling, and collaboration with the care team to optimize ICI therapy.

About the Guest: Dr. Arielle Elkrief:

Dr. Arielle Elkrief MD, FRCPC is a clinician-scientist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Oncology at the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM). She was recruited to the CRCHUM in 2023 and directs her research laboratory focused on the gut and tumor microbiome as a biomarker of response to immunotherapy. She is also co-Director of the CHUM Microbiome Centre where she leads microbiome-centered clinical trials combining microbiome interventions such as fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), prebiotics, and diet. In addition, she contributed to establishing the negative impact of antibiotics on immunotherapy activity in patients with cancer. She was recently awarded the American Society of Clinical Oncology Young Investigator Award and the Society of Immunotherapy of Cancer-Melanoma Research Alliance Women in Melanoma Award.