Director of Pharmacy, Community Hospital
What part of your job is most satisfying? Most challenging?
I like setting big goals for the future and meeting them. It is really awesome to get people to buy into the vision I set for the hospital. The most unexpected challenge is dealing with personnel. In school, I learned all of the information and skills needed to be a pharmacist, but didn’t realize how much I would have to work with others. People bring their personal issues into work and it is important to learn how to deal with people when there is conflict.
What advice would you give someone entering the field?
Find a mentor! I navigated my way blindly, but looking back, it would have helped to have someone in the field guide me. Networking is very important and a mentor would be able to put you in contact with people and resources and help answer your questions. People who have been in the field for a long time are a great resource.
Don’t rush into everything. You don’t need to rush to get a job after undergrad; more training isn’t a bad thing. My residency really served me well and helped my confidence in the job. And don’t worry, you don’t have to commit your life to something when you graduate. There are many options for people who go to pharmacy school. Some of my friends from pharmacy school went on to work in the pharmaceutical industry and some do medical writing. There are a lot of opportunities for people who work hard.