Zainab Cheema

Sterile compounding and cleanroom production specialist with over 20 years of pharmacy technician experience, including 8+ years in aseptic IV compounding and cleanroom leadership. Skilled in USP 797 sterile compounding, environmental monitoring, batch prioritization, and staff coaching. Proven track record managing cleanroom operations, ensuring regulatory compliance, and mentoring technicians on aseptic techniques. Holds a Master of Health Sciences in Clinical Research Administration.

Pharmacy Technician / Acting Production Specialist - Baxter

(2018-01)

• Perform routine sanitization of hoods, workstations, scales, and pumps to open the cleanroom for daily operation.
• Clean and deactivate non-viable devices, active air, VHP and LIRA Equipments.
• Manage cleanroom technicians, prioritize batches, and maintain ancillary supplies and MFUs to meet daily requirements.
• Precisely log all equipment readings from environmental monitoring.
• Coach and mentor cleanroom technicians on aseptic practice, controlled movement, and airflow disruption.
• Collaborate with staff and supervisors on process improvement and efficiency; report deviations to management.
• Compound, reconcile, pick, prepare, and label finished products.

Lead Technician / Compounder - Apolab ULC

(2015-01 - 2018-12)

• Hired, scheduled, and trained IV technicians manage daily cleanroom operations.
• Prepared and managed daily hospital batch orders, prioritizing by quarantine and delivery date.
• Compounded IV antibiotics, TPN, narcotics, infusers, cassettes, syringes, and sterile/non-sterile injectables (epidural, epinephrine, lidocaine).
• Performed calculations, maintained mixture breakdown records, and conducted daily/monthly cleanroom sampling.
• Pre-checked admixtures for accuracy and completeness against worksheets.
• Ensured cleanroom supplies and equipment were sterilized using depyrogenation oven and autoclave.

Lead Infusion Technician - Marchese Healthcare

(2012-01 - 2015-12)

• Prepared IV medications (antibiotics, TPN, chemotherapy, syringes), maintaining the cleanroom suite to USP 797 requirements.
• Performed sterile-to-sterile withdrawal, reconstitution, and manipulation of powders/liquids into bags and syringes, including neonatal TPN via advanced compounder.
• Prepared, packaged, and labelled medications with drug name, strength, route, quantity, and administration time.
• Managed reorder logs and coordinated proper disposal of IV-related items.

Pharmacy Technician (Long-Term Care) - Shoppers Drug Mart

(2006-01 - 2012-12)

• Supported nurses and physicians in applying policies to ensure patient safety, rights, and comfort.
• Managed daily orders from nursing stations and physicians, ensuring timely delivery to resident homes.
• Performed data entry into HealthWatch, third-party adjudication/billing, and accurate prescription dispensing.
• Maintained pharmacy stock through inventory control; reconciled packing slips and invoices with vendors.

Pharmacy Technician - Guardian Pharmacy

(2002-01 - 2006-12)

• Supported pharmacists with prescription dispensing and extemporaneous compounding using the Nexxsys system.
• Maintained high standards of client relations and performed technical duties per job classification.

Pharmacy Technician - Peel Memorial Hospital

(2000-01 - 2002-12)

• Deciphered physician orders, filled prescriptions, stocked ward cupboards and unit-dose systems.
• Prepared intravenous admixtures, including chemotherapy and TPN, and pre-packaged solid/liquid unit doses.
• Managed distribution and control of narcotic and controlled drugs and related inventory.

Master of Health Sciences - Clinical Research Administration - George Washington University (2011-12)

Honours Bachelor of Science - York University (2004-12)

Pharmacy Technician Certificate - Sheridan College of Science & Technology (1999-12)