American Pharmacists Month: Moments that have mattered in my career as a pharmacist

My friend and colleague Amy Christen recently shared a couple reflections of her career as a pharmacist. It got me thinking about the 20+ years I’ve spent as a pharmacist: About how proud I am to have followed in my dad’s footsteps … about how my pharmacist mindset has stuck with me, even as I’ve transitioned to roles with less clinical, less patient-facing work … about the impact our pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are making in patients’ lives.

Following Amy’s lead and in celebration of American Pharmacists Month, here a couple thoughts I’d love to share about the profession that has given so much to me.

Trust matters
My dad was my career role model when I was growing up, so I’m a second-generation pharmacist. Actually, if not for my dad’s sage advice, I might have majored in art in college rather than start on the pharmacist track. I spent a lot of time in and around pharmacies as a kid, and my dad would talk about how pharmacists were among the most trusted professionals because—at their best—pharmacists demonstrate a strong desire to help others and convey the right blend of empathy and expertise to do that. I thought about that a lot in my early days as a retail pharmacist. I still think about that a lot, even today.

Good pharmacists are masterful applied learners
I think that my time as a pharmacist wearing the “white coat” every day with patients was instrumental for preparing me for each subsequent next step in my career. My time in retail pharmacy taught me motivational interviewing and how to make a difference in patients’ health through communication. Working in long-term care, I learned how to analyze and optimize medication regimens for patients through deep-dives called medication regimen reviews (MRRs). Working in a large-scale mail order dispensing operation, I learned production metrics and processes to help deliver medications with reach and efficiency.  The patient-centered longitudinal care model we operate today at Stellus Rx uses all these learnings to change the way pharmacists can improve the health of patients.

Pharmacists’ greatest pride comes from improving patients’ health
I hope people know just how much pharmacists—both at Stellus Rx and in general—care about making a positive difference in people’s lives.  We’re deeply vested in being caring and compassionate resources for all patients, caregivers and families. This American Pharmacists Month, cheers and gratitude to all my pharmacist colleagues who strive each day to help people in their journeys to wellness.