CAPturing a pharmacy dream | School of Pharmacy | University of ��ݮ��Ƶ

Twins Marwa Al-Hammadi and Mawada Al-Hammadi share their journey to pharmacy school

Marwa Al-Hammadi (Rx2029) and Mawada Al-Hammadi (Rx2029) were both drawn to healthcare from a young age. They began their pharmacy journey together, volunteering and later working at a local pharmacy in Kitchener-��ݮ��Ƶ during their high-school years.

“When we first began volunteering at our local pharmacy, I was quite shy, but I found myself coming out of my shell while connecting with patients in a vulnerable time during the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Marwa. “After a day spent in the pharmacy, I felt fulfilled and knew this was a career that would satisfy me long-term.”

“We were thrilled to be a part of something that made such a huge impact on our community,” Mawada adds. “Seeing pharmacists connecting with patients and serving as an important bridge from doctor to patient and understanding the extent of how a pharmacy can help its community, drew me to the profession.”

After volunteering for a year, both Marwa and Mawada started working at the pharmacy as assistants, gaining experience and striving towards their dream of each becoming a pharmacist. Their conversations with current students on co-op at their pharmacy and hearing about their older sister’s stories of her time in the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ Faculty of Health Sciences, solidified their top pick for pharmacy school – ��ݮ��Ƶ.

As they gained pharmacy experience, the twins began researching pathways to become pharmacists and discovered the Conditional Admission to Pharmacy (CAP) program offered through ��ݮ��Ƶ’s Faculty of Science.

L-R: Mawada Al-Hammadi, Marwa Al-Hammadi

Marwa Al-Hammadi

Mawada Al-Hammadi

“There’s no other program like this out there!” Marwa says.“It streamlines all the courses necessary to build a foundation for you before applying to pharmacy school. It sets you up for eligibility for a PharmD interview, as long as your CAP requirements are met, and helps you build a network from the very beginning.”

“Being a CAP student is really special,” Mawada adds. “We were able to connect with the School, the advisors, upper year CAP and pharmacy students, while making memories, overcoming imposter syndrome and building experiences.”

While the CAP program offers many opportunities, it also comes with moments of personal growth where the twins each overcame different challenges. Marwa learned to keep herself accountable and how to meet the high expectations she set for herself, while Marwa overcame her imposter syndrome by learning to trust her own voice and not let others’ opinions sway her.

The program is structured with core courses that lay a foundation for pharmacy school, but there is also a lot of room for students to explore different interests they may have through electives of their choice.

“You still have the flexibility to shape your own Science degree. The core courses align with pharmacy pre-requisites, so you can earn both a Bachelor of Science and your Doctor of Pharmacy degree, all while exploring electives that spark your interest,” Mawada says.

“Some of our friends took music courses while others took language and philosophy courses. Both of us were curious about sociology and kinesiology, they were a change of pace and challenged our way of thinking,” adds Marwa.

Mawada also highlights the wide range of extracurricular activities available to CAP students. Both she and Marwa joined the Science ambassador team and volunteered at campus events, including Open House, where they shared their experiences with prospective students.

After completing two years in the CAP program, Marwa and Mawada have accepted their offers to join the School of Pharmacy in January 2026. While both are drawn to community pharmacy, they’re excited to carve their own unique paths as they continue exploring the diverse opportunities pharmacy has to offer.

“I’m so excited to start pharmacy school, to find a balance of being my true authentic self both personally and professionally, while allowing myself the room to grow and experience different pharmacy sectors. I’m especially interested in hospital pharmacy, to see the extent of their impact during one of my co-op work terms,” says Marwa.

She is also eager to explore pharmacy health-tech startups and innovative ventures led by ��ݮ��Ƶ Pharmacy faculty and alumni are involved in the pharmacy space. “It’s so inspiring to see how you can adapt your pharmacy degree from ��ݮ��Ƶ to fit your passions and interests beyond traditional paths,” she adds.

Mawada is interested in strengthening her skills in community pharmacy while exploring where her passions lie in the broader field of pharmacy.

“I’m so excited to connect all the medications memorized with their purpose, adding meaning and depth to everything I’ve been exposed to. There’s so much knowledge to unlock,” Mawada says.

Marwa and Mawada enjoy spending time together both academically and in their personal life. They love to bake for their family and friends and are both creative in different ways. Marwa loves to paint and explore different kinds of music – pairing it with whichever task she is doing. Mawada loves photography and turning her photos into collages to share with her family and friends. They are always up for a challenge and are currently avid tennis players.

“For any students considering the CAP program, the only way other people are going to believe in you is if you believe in yourself,” they say. “Be open to different opportunities that present themselves and trust in your plan and your own unique path.”