Jaris Swidrovich (BSP’10) is the recipient of this year’s USSU Engaged Young Alumni Award. He will also be speaking at the upcoming Alumni Association Annual General Meeting on June 22, 2016.

USSU Engaged Young Alumni Award

Congratulations to Jaris Swidrovich, this year’s USSU Engaged Young Alumni Award winner!

By Sean Conroy
Swidrovich received the honour at the USSU Experience in Excellence Awards on April 3, 2016. Swidrovich graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Science in pharmacy in 2010. Following the attainment of this degree, Swidrovich completed his Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program at the University of Toronto, where he became the first self-identified First Nations Doctor of Pharmacy in Canada. Swidrovich is now proudly employed as a Lecturer at the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition at the U of S.

He has been recognized with many prestigious awards and honours for his work in the pharmacy field while remaining a strong supporter of the community.

Swidrovich acted as a First Nations Advisor for the Lung Association of Saskatchewan and the Ministry of Education. Currently he sits on the City of Saskatoon's Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee.

He is the creator and chair of the National Aboriginal Health Pharmacist specialty network and the acting past-president of the Saskatchewan Branch of Canadian Society for Hospital Pharmacists. He is also a clinical pharmacist and mentor at the student wellness initiative toward community health (SWITCH), a student-run clinic that provides a valuable service to the clients who attend.

One of his most recent accomplishments is his work with the HIV/AIDS community. Swidrovich was employed as a Clinical Coordinator of Pharmacy Services for two years where he self-created a clinical practice in HIV/AIDS and addiction. He is also on the Board of Directors for Sanctum– a new transitional care home and hospice for people living with HIV in Saskatoon.

Throughout his many undertakings, Swidrovich remains a strong advocate for the U of S and extends this through his continued dedication to Aboriginal students and initiatives. He has spent time as a volunteer mentor for pharmacy and health science students and is frequently a keynote speaker and participant in events such as the Yellow Quill First Nation Annual Career Day, ExperienceUS and STEMfest.

Today, Swidrovich is assisting with the design and planning of the upcoming Doctor of Pharmacy program at the U of S and also assisting faculty both within and outside the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition in incorporating and enhancing indigenous content in the curriculum.

Jaris Swidrovich will also be a guest speaker at the Alumni Association Annual General Meeting on June 22, 2016, 6:30 p.m., at the Gordon Oakes Red Bear Student Centre.