Rob Jaska was born and raised in Brandon, Manitoba and graduated from Neelin High School with a bilingual certificate. From there, he moved on to the University of Manitoba and after 2 years of study was accepted into the Faculty of Pharmacy. Rob was always an active participant in the academic, athletic and social aspects of the pharmacy student life and enjoyed being part of the group that bonded his classmates together.

Rob graduated with his Bachlors of Science in Pharmacy in 1996 and, unsure of his future plans, accepted a job with Super Thrifty at Medical Centre Pharmacy in Brandon. He didn’t know it then, but Rob had found his career path on the first try.  

After he settled in at Medical Centre, Rob found he was in an excellent place to make an impact in his community. He got involved right away with the Pharmaceutical Care pilot project through the University and MphA, and locally with the Council for Tobacco Free Manitoba, working towards smoke free public spaces in Brandon, with the Manitoba Lung Association, coordinating local CE efforts for the Professional Development Committee for MphA (now the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba) and providing drug information in numerous speaking engagements across the city.

Through his association with the Lung Association, Rob got involved in the AsthmaTrec program, becoming one of the province’s first pharmacist asthma educators and educator trainers.  He also served for several years along with Joss March, as the co-chair of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation’s Heel ‘n’ Wheel-a-thon Fundraiser event, for which Super Thrifty was honoured with the Mayor’s Volunteer Award.

As a more tumultuous time for pharmacy began to arise, Rob turned his passion for the profession toward serving the public, running for and being elected to the Council of the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba. Rob first served as a council member, then as Executive Treasurer for the Executive Committee of the Council. Rob was grateful for the opportunity to serve with outstanding members of his profession for whom he developed tremendous respect. During these terms, Rob also married his wife, Erin, and they started a family. Having small children at home, Rob ended his terms on Council, but continued to serve on advisory committees.

In 2010, Rob was given an opportunity to become a partner in Super Thrifty Drugs Canada and then in 2012 became the manager of Medical Pharmacy, stepping into the shoes of Tom Busch, who had been the store’s manager for nearly 45 years. Since 2012, Rob has become intimately involved in the management of both his store and the company, along with his tremendous partners, while still working toward lifelong learning, training in advanced practices such as injection administration, prescribing for self-limiting conditions and smoking cessation. He also continued to stay involved in other aspects of the profession, such as serving on the Janssen Esketamine Advisory Board.

Rob continues to live and work in Brandon with his wife Erin and their 3 children and enjoys being able to be a “decent sized fish” in a “medium sized pond”, where he can pursue his passion for patient care in an environment where he truly feels he can make a positive difference.