Alison Desjardins

Alison (Whitaker) Desjardins has been practicing community pharmacy for 14 years, the first 5 years as an employee pharmacist in Winnipeg and Brandon, and the past 9 years as a pharmacy owner/manager in Birtle.  Alison has previously served on the MSP board, from 1997 until 1999.  She has been a pharmacist representative on the U. of M. Pharmacy Faculty Council, and recently a member of MPhA's Methadone Standards of Practice committee.  Closer to home, she is a member of the local palliative care committee, and on the board of the local nursery school and daycare.  As a member of the MSP board, Alison is working to ensure that pharmacists are adequately compensated for the expanded roles they have already taken on (due to cutbacks and staff shortages in the healthcare system), and will take on in the coming years under the new pharmaceutical act. When she can get away from the pharmacy, Alison tries hard to keep up with her family (husband Steve and 3 sons, Mason, Miles and Emmett).  Given the chance, she enjoys scrapbooking, yard work, and sunny vacations.