How long have you been a pharmacist?

My pharmacy career started over 15 years ago when Ana McClure, a pharmacy manager at CVS in Charleston, South Carolina, hired me as a pharmacy technician. She taught me all the fundamentals of pharmacy and guided me until I graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) College of Pharmacy and became licensed in 2009. 

Every day that I worked with Ana I was shown how to make a difference in people’s lives. All of our customers trusted and adored her. Beyond that she showed me how to effectively run a pharmacy and how to be a manager who was both loved and respected. I wouldn’t be the pharmacist I am today without her and I’m thankful that she took a chance on me all those years ago—and set the example that’s made me strive to go above and beyond for my patients.

Why did you decide to become a pharmacist?

Growing up, my mom had lupus. She was always on a lot of medications. I remember her always showing me her prescriptions and teaching me about what they were for so I wouldn’t mistake them for candy. Pharmacists were always there for her. They were easy to get a hold of—it was during that period that I started to form the dream of becoming one, to provide a little bit of extra kindness or compassion for patients who needed it.

Being able to see and talk to patients when they need help is really important to me.

What does a day at work look like for you?

Being a pharmacist takes a lot of commitment and patience. You’re balancing a lot of things at once—immunizations, patient questions, medication adherence counseling, communicating with physicians. It’s busy. 

Empathy is the most important thing. I make an effort daily to try to get to know my customers, to help them solve their problems. Even if it’s something small, like working with the doctor’s office to switch one ear drop that’s out of stock—or too expensive—for an equivalent one. I try to make sure that customers leave with a medication instead of having to make a second trip. Then, I call them myself and follow-up. I just want my patients to know that someone is thinking of them and is there if they need anything.

Tyler Davis was my Pharmacy Supervisor at CVS in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, while I was managing a high-volume pharmacy. She was one of the people who inspired me to apply to CVS Foundation for Future Leadership (FFL) program at CVS. She helped me expand my vision of my career and grow new skills. 

What is your favorite moment as a pharmacist?

Once I had a young mother call, and she was inordinately upset about a medication she needed that wasn’t available. I knew there had to be something more going on to make her so emotional. I was able to give her a partial prescription by working with another patient who didn’t need the medication right away, and then I found out that this woman was going through a lot. She didn’t have the childcare help she needed at home and was undergoing cancer treatment. After I fixed the issue for her, I left a note on her bag just letting her know that we were there for her, we were sorry for what she was going through, and we cared for her. Being able to see and talk to patients when they need help is really important to me.

Another time, a patient came in to pick up a prescription, and he didn’t look well. I talked with him about his situation because I was really concerned about him. He took my advice to seek some medical attention, and he needed surgery. I was really proud that I was in tune enough with my patients to know when something wasn’t normal.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

It’s really rewarding just helping people take better care of themselves and understand why they’re on medication. I had a patient come in who needed HIV prophylaxis who didn’t have insurance. It was going to cost $6,000, and I was able to get the price to a still expensive, but much more attainable, $1,500. Patients don’t always know they have options when it comes to bringing the price down. There are copay cards and prescription savings cards that help a lot when people are between jobs or don’t have health insurance. Your pharmacist can always help you with that.

What does this award mean to you?

It’s a nice surprise to be honored by this award, and by the CVS Paragon Award I received previously. It means a lot that my customers and patients recognize that I care, and wanted to throw my name in the ring to win. It’s a much-needed highlight of a challenging year. Helping people is the biggest thing for me.