Associate Professor at University of Waterloo, Canada
Dr. Nardine Nakhla is an Associate Professor in the Teaching Stream at the University of Waterloo. She is a community pharmacist with expertise in self-care, minor ailments, and non-prescription medications. Since 2008, she has designed and delivered courses on assessing self-treating patients and managing common illnesses through over-the-counter (OTC) medicines. Dr. Nakhla is also a renowned speaker at national and international forums and has contributed a chapter on Canadian minor ailments. In addition to her academic roles, she actively participates in pharmacy education, mentoring, and public health initiatives, focusing on the safe use of non-prescription medications. Dr. Nakhla also writes for Pharmacy Practice+, offering insights on current OTC counseling issues.
Professional Profile
Education
Dr. Nakhla completed her PharmD at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in New York, USA, in 2007. Her academic background equips her to explore various facets of community pharmacy, particularly focusing on non-prescription therapeutics, minor ailments, and self-care. Her educational experience has shaped her commitment to improving community-based healthcare through research and teaching, contributing significantly to the curriculum development in pharmacy schools.
Professional Experience
Dr. Nakhla’s professional experience spans community pharmacy practice and academia. She is the co-owner and pharmacist at Ash Medical Pharmacy. In addition, Dr. Nakhla has worked extensively with the Ontario College of Pharmacists and has contributed to pharmacy practice guidelines. She serves as the Founder & Vice Chair of the AFPC Self-Care Therapeutics and Minor Ailments Special Interest Group (SIG). Her leadership and active participation in various committees reflect her dedication to improving the quality of pharmaceutical care, specifically in the area of self-care and minor ailment management.
Research Interest
Dr. Nakhla’s research focuses on the clinical and economic outcomes of pharmacist prescribing for minor ailments. She is particularly interested in understanding how community pharmacists assess and triage self-treating patients and the factors influencing over-the-counter (OTC) product selection. Another major area of her research involves examining the role of pharmacists in expanding their scope of practice, particularly in relation to non-prescription therapeutics and self-care. Dr. Nakhla is also dedicated to investigating the impact of pharmacist-driven self-care education, patient counseling, and its broader effect on health system outcomes. Her research contributions aim to enhance the quality of community pharmacy practice and empower patients and healthcare providers in the safe and effective use of non-prescription medications.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Nakhla has received several prestigious awards recognizing her excellence in teaching and pharmacy practice. In 2023, she was honored with the Distinguished Teaching Award from the University of Waterloo. Other notable recognitions include the 2021 Inspirational Pharmacy Professionals Award from the Ontario Pharmacists Association, the Pfizer Bowl of Hygeia Award in 2020, and the Excellence in Science Teaching Award from the University of Waterloo in 2020. Dr. Nakhla’s exceptional contributions to pharmacy education, research, and patient care have earned her numerous accolades, including the Excellence in Pharmacy Teaching Award and being nominated for Canada’s Top 40 Under 40. These honors underscore her commitment to advancing the field of pharmacy and enhancing the role of pharmacists in community healthcare.
Publications Top Noted
- Perioperative opioid-sparing strategies: utility of conventional NSAIDs in adults
Authors: L Martinez, E Ekman, N Nakhla
Year: 2019
Citation: 113
- Further evidence to monitor long-term proton pump inhibitor use
Authors: KN Hayes, NR Nakhla, M Tadrous
Year: 2019
Citation: 17
- Economic evaluation of pharmacists prescribing for minor ailments in Ontario, Canada: a cost-minimization analysis
Authors: JJ Kim, AH Tian, L Pham, N Nakhla, SKD Houle, WWL Wong, …
Year: 2021
Citation: 16
- Non-prescription proton-pump inhibitors for self-treating frequent heartburn: the role of the Canadian pharmacist
Authors: D Armstrong, N Nakhla
Year: 2016
Citation: 14
- Prevalence of prescription and non-prescription polypharmacy by frailty and sex among middle-aged and older Canadians
Authors: DA Harris, Y Guo, N Nakhla, M Tadrous, DB Hogan, D Hennessy, …
Year: 2022
Citation: 10
- Self-care education across Canadian pharmacy schools: Curriculum survey findings
Authors: N Nakhla, E Black, H Abdul-Fattah, J Taylor
Year: 2021
Citation: 9
- Pharmacist prescribing for minor ailments service development: the experience in Ontario
Authors: N Nakhla, A Shiamptanis
Year: 2021
Citation: 8
- Pharmacist-led Smoking Cessation Care in Canada: Current Status & Strategies for Expansion
Authors: N Nakhla, R Killeen, K Butt
Year: 2019
Citation: 5
- Self-care and minor ailments: The view from Canada
Authors: N Nakhla, J Taylor
Year: 2024
Citation: 4
- An infographic assignment to translate self-care therapeutics into practical application
Authors: P Malik, N Nakhla
Year: 2020
Citation: 4
- Pharmacists’ knowledge, perceptions and practices regarding frailty: a cross-sectional survey across practice settings in Canada
Authors: P Malik, N Nakhla, Y Guo, M Tadrous, A Duqoum, DB Hogan, CJ Maxwell
Year: 2023
Citation: 3
- Instructor-blinded study of Pharmacy Student Learning when a flipped Online Classroom was implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: PRV Malik, N Nakhla
Year: 2022
Citation: 2
