2025
Winner of The Ozturk
Patient Choice Award:
Jamey Willsey
Biography:
Jamey received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy Degree from the University of Manitoba in 2009. Upon graduation, she started as a hospital pharmacist with Southern Health Sante Sud at the Portage District General Hospital. Jamey received training to be a community cancer program network pharmacist in 2009, as well as became a personal care home pharmacy and therapeutics committee chairperson and conducted medication reviews, developed policies and provided education sessions for the nursing staff. She obtained her Green Belt and Black Belt in Lean/Six Sigma and was project lead for 2 different projects at the Portage Hospital looking at improving the medication delivery processes on the medical ward as well as improving the chemotherapy delivery process. This helped improve inefficiencies and patient safety, and reduce wait times for staff and patients. She spent 2 one-year terms as the Pharmacy Manager at the Portage Hospital and covered for a short term as the Pharmacy Manager at Boundary Trails Hospital
In 2020, Jamey started as a primary care pharmacist with My Health Team, Southern Health Sante Sud, located at the Portage Clinic. It was in this role that she was able to interact more with patients and developed a passion for helping and connecting with others that needed assistance with their healthcare. She is part of the cardiac rehab team, offering education sessions and medication reviews for all patients enrolled in the cardiac rehab program. Jamey is consulted by many other interdisciplinary team members including physicians, medical residents, dietitians, nurses and other My Health Team members to provide assistance with drug information or chronic disease management. She provides education sessions for the residents and physicians, as well as patient groups. Jamey works along side Dr. Shayne Reitmeier through the sexuality and gender clinic offering education for patients and family members, injection training sessions, monitoring and recommendations as well as developing patient education materials. She is a preceptor for University of Manitoba students in their final year of their program, and is the lead investigator on a diabetes study at the Portage Clinic looking at the outcomes of pharmacist involvement in diabetes care
It has been through her work as a primary care pharmacist where Jamey was able to fully appreciate how her role as a pharmacist can impact patients and their caregivers. Patients have been appreciative of having her spend time with them, listening to their concerns and often educating them on their disease condition, current medications and best treatment options. She often helps sort out cost concerns or simplify regimens to help promote adherence and safety for the patients. She offers a mix of virtual and in-office appointments to try to allow easier access to care for patients who may have mobility or accessibility barriers. Once a patient is doing well and no longer requires follow up, many patients want to continue to reach out to her, just to keep her in the loop and will call just to say hello.
Jamey lives in Portage la Prairie, MB with her husband Stacy, their daughter Brynnae, and 2 sons, Kaiden and Ryland. When not working, she can often be found enjoying her kids sporting events at the hockey rink or at the ball field.