CAPhO Connections Podcast

Canadian Association of Pharmacy in Oncology

CAPhO Connections Podcast Series keeps the oncology pharmacy community informed on matters affecting you and updated on CAPhO’s news related to education, awards, advocacy and research. Whether it’s your morning commute to work, a walk in the park, or just relaxing at home, the CAPhO Connections Podcast will offer a convenient way to keep up to date with all things oncology pharmacy!

  1. 5D AGO

    CAPhO Connections Podcast: Microbiome Matters: Gut Response and Its Impact on Cancer Immunotherapy

    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.

    37 min

  2. JAN 29

    CAPhO Connections Podcast: Young Patients, Complex Care Plans: Pediatric Oncology Unpacked

    Pediatric oncology pharmacy calls for precision, compassion, and innovation to deliver safe, effective, and personalized care for young patients battling cancer. In Ontario, care is uniquely coordinated through the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO), supporting equitable access to specialized therapies and clinical trials. This episode takes a closer look at acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common childhood cancer, and explores how pharmacists navigate complex dosing, formulation challenges, and evolving treatments. Discover how oncology pharmacists shape hope, transform therapy, and change the lives of young patients and their families. Learning Objectives: - Describe how pediatric oncology care is coordinated through the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) and its impact on equitable access to specialized treatments and clinical trial participation across the province. - Explain how treatment design is tailored and influenced, including the use of intensive regimens, off-label therapies, and long-term survivorship planning. - Outline the key phases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment and discuss how evolving risk stratification and the introduction of agents such as blinatumomab have changed pharmacy practice, including drug administration, monitoring, and funding considerations. - Identify strategies pharmacists use to monitor, prevent, and manage early and long-term toxicities, such as steroid-induced myopathy and vincristine-induced neuropathy and to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams. - Discuss the future of pediatric oncology pharmacy, including innovations in molecularly targeted and immune-based therapies, and the pharmacist’s role in advancing access, safety, and advocacy for young patients and their families. Podcast Guest: Matthew Bui

    34 min

  3. JAN 26

    CAPhO Connections Podcast: Unlocking AI in Oncology Pharmacy: Building a Clinically Relevant Future with Artificial Intelligence

    Artificial Intelligence(AI) has the potential to transform oncology pharmacy by offering powerful tools to streamline workflows, support clinical decision-making, optimize treatment planning, and enable safer, more personalized care. However, with great potential comes important challenges related to regulation, reliability, and the need for ongoing professional development. Tune in as we explore the opportunities, limitations, and evolving impact of AI in cancer pharmacy practice! Learning Objectives: Examine the impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) on oncology pharmacists in supporting clinical decision-making and workflow efficiencyAnalyze key regulatory issues related to AI integration in oncology pharmacy, including impacts on clinical roles and data privacy in patient careExplore the challenges and opportunities AI presents for the professional development and future skills of oncology pharmacists Guests:Bastiaan BuijtenhuijsBastiaan is Head of Product at iQ HealthTech and ProductOwner for iQemo, a leading SACT prescribing system used in the UK and internationally. He completed the NHS Digital Academy (Cohort 3) and MSc in AI for oncology pharmacy, and has recently begun a PhD in applied clinical AI. Sean Hopkins Sean Hopkins is a pharmacist with more than 25 years of experience in hospital pharmacy, including over 20 years in outpatient ambulatory oncology clinics. He has served as a front-line pharmacist at The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, worked as a Breast Cancer Clinical Specialist for three years, and later became the Professional Practice Coordinator for Oncology Pharmacy. He also served as the Manager of Oncology Pharmacy at the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Program at the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre, where he additionally held an interim role as Director of the Cancer Program during the recruitment of a permanent Director. He is currently the QI Pharmacist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

    47 min

  4. 12/02/2025

    CAPhO Connections Podcast - Cannabis Part Two: Heading a Pharmacist-led Cannabis Consultation Service for Symptom Management in Outpatients with Cancer

    In Part 1 of our medical cannabis in cancer series, guest Marie Parish discussed the rising interest of patients with cancer to explore and use cannabinoids medicinally, shedding light on emerging dosage forms and providing practical education points for patients. Oncology pharmacists are positioned optimally to help patients with cancer navigate medical cannabis or find reliable information about it. In this Part 2 episode, Carlo De Angelis will take you inside Sunnybrook’s pharmacist-led Cannabis Consultation Service, which has been in existence since 2019. Join us for an insightful episode where Carlo’s expertise shines! He delves into the motivations driving patients' interest in medical cannabis, highlights key safety considerations, and shares practical strategies to support responsible cannabis use. Discover the intricacies of implementing a pharmacist-led, patient-centred cannabis consultation service, as Carlo discusses both its challenges and triumphs. If you’re in oncology pharmacy and looking to deepen your understanding of this evolving area in cancer care, this episode is a must-listen! Learning Objectives: Explore why cancer patients may be increasingly curious about plant-based cannabinoids and explore the specific symptoms or side effects they hope to manageDescribe the structure of the Cannabis Consultation Service, including referral pathways, standardized assessment tools, team roles, typical titration, and follow up practicesExamine the processes of implementing a pharmacist-led cannabis consultation service in an institution, from selecting suitable products to addressing clinician hesitancy, evidence gaps, and patient safety concerns.Consider how cannabis evidence generation and broader collaboration may evolve cancer care symptom management over the next decadeEstablish the role of the oncology pharmacist for patients using medical cannabis, and justify why a pharmacist-led service addresses many gaps in care Publication: Marchese M, Zhu C, Charbonneau LF, et al: Description and disposition of patients with cancer accessing a novel, pharmacist-led cannabis consultation service. JCO Oncol Pract 18:e1777-e1786, 2022

    40 min

  5. 11/05/2025

    Episode 22 - The Highs, the Lows, and the Evidence: Navigating Cannabis in Cancer Care

    Cannabis use among cancer patients is rapidly expanding in both popularity and complexity, creating exciting challenges and opportunities for oncology pharmacists. From understanding a growing variety of product types to interpreting evolving clinical evidence on symptom relief, drug interactions, and treatment outcomes, pharmacists are essential in ensuring safe, personalized patient care. In this episode, we reveal practical insights to empower oncology pharmacists in assessing, counseling, and monitoring patients using cannabis. Discover how this emerging therapy is reshaping oncology practice and could become a game changer! By the end of the podcast, listeners will be able to: Explain the rising use of recreational and medicinal cannabis among cancer patients.Recognize the diverse variety of cannabis product types and their relevance to oncology symptom management.Assess the potential impacts of cannabis on cancer treatments, including drug-drug and drug-disease interactions, safety, and therapeutic outcomes.Summarize current available evidence and data for cannabis use in managing oncology-related symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and pain.Explore practical approaches for oncology pharmacists to evaluate, counsel, and monitor patients using or inquiring. Resource list: 1. Bar-Sela G et al. Cannabis Consumption Used by Cancer Patients During Immunotherapy Correlates with Poor Clinical Outcome. Cancers 12:2447, 2020. 2. Grimison P, et al. Oral THC:CBD Cannabis Extract for Refractory Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Phase IICrossover Trial. Ann Oncol. 2020 Nov;31(11):1553-1560.  Bar-Lev Schleider L, et al. Prospective Analysis of Safety and Efficacy of Medical Cannabis in Large Unselected Population of Patients with Cancer. Euro J of Int Med. 2018 Mar;49:37-43. 3. Khoj L, et al. Effects of Cannabis Smoking on the Respiratory System: A State-of-the-Art Review. Respir Med. 2024 Jan;221:107494. 4. Lopera V, Rodríguez A, Amariles P. Clinical Relevance of Drug Interactions with Cannabis: A Systematic Review. J Clin Med. 2022 Feb 22;11(5):1154 5. Sauer MA et al. Marijuana: Interaction with the Estrogen Receptor. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 224:404-407, 1983. 6. Taha T et al. Cannabis Impacts Tumor Response Rate to Nivolumab in Patients with Advanced Malignancies. Oncologist 24:549, 2019. 7. Worster B, Hajjar ER, Handley N. Cannabis Use in Patients With Cancer: A Clinical Review. JCO Oncol Pract. 2022 Nov;18(11):743-749.

    36 min

  6. 06/24/2025

    Episode 21: Check out the CAPhO Competencies for Oncology Pharmacists in Canada

    What skills and attitudes qualify me to be an oncology pharmacist? Join 2 authors of CAPhO’s new Competencies for Oncology Pharmacists in Canada to explore the 5 pillars of oncology pharmacist competencies. Listeners can reflect on their oncology knowledge and skillset and use the Competencies to advance pharmacy practice. By the end of the podcast, listeners will be able to: Highlight why CAPhO created a collection of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to be an oncology pharmacist in Canada.List 4 competencies expected of an oncology pharmacist in Canada.Describe 3 practical ways in which an oncology pharmacist can use the Competencies document intheir practice.

    20 min

  7. 05/13/2025

    Episode 20: ISOPP CAPhO Symposium 2025: Australia Perspective

    The ISOPP CAPhO 2025 Symposium took place from April 3-7th in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Delegates from all over the world travelled to participate, learn, and network, including Lindon Lin, from Australia. In this episode, Lindon will share their experience from an international lens, including differences in practices and what they took away from the symposium that could be shared locally. Learning Objectives: • Explain why CAPhO ISOPP was chosen to attend • Reflect on the overall experience at CAPhO ISOPP in Victoria BC earlier this month • Highlight symposium takeaways from an International delegate • Discuss global oncology pharmacy practice from an Australian perspective

    19 min

  8. 03/19/2025

    Episode 19: What’s in store for ISOPP CAPhO 2025 Symposium in Victoria, British Columbia: The Pre Show

    The ISOPP CAPhO 2025 Symposium will take place from April 3-7th in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. With participants coming from over 25 countries, you can expect Victoria to have a different feel than our annual CAPhO Conferences. The international ISOPP template will gather pharmacists and pharmacy technicians from around the world to showcase their practices. We are seeing interesting innovations coming forward that could benefit others in their local communities. It will be an exciting event! About the Author: Tina Crosbie Tina Crosbie has been a clinical hematology pharmacist at the Ottawa Hospital for over 25 years and at Extend Pharmacy for the past 6 years. Her research aims to optimize drug administration and enhance patient education. Tina evaluates pharmacy education programs for CCCEP and actively volunteers for CAPhO. She is the chair of the upcoming ISOPP CAPhO 2025 Symposium in Victoria, BC.

    25 min
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About

CAPhO Connections Podcast Series keeps the oncology pharmacy community informed on matters affecting you and updated on CAPhO’s news related to education, awards, advocacy and research. Whether it’s your morning commute to work, a walk in the park, or just relaxing at home, the CAPhO Connections Podcast will offer a convenient way to keep up to date with all things oncology pharmacy!

Information

  • Creator
    Canadian Association of Pharmacy in Oncology
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Canadian Association of Pharmacy in Oncology
  • Show Website
    CAPhO Connections Podcast