2019 Winners
Praise from customers
“Brooke drove over an hour to get a very important medication for me. Apparently the medication was very hard to find and could not be ordered. She called around and found it and drove to get it for my husband. We have never seen anyone go out of their way to help someone to this extent. She also saves us money by finding us copay cards! The pharmacy is always so busy, but she is always so nice and professional to everyone.”
“Brooke is always thorough and extremely pleasant. She always greets us with a smile and remembers us.”
“I’d forgotten what I was supposed to pick up at the pharmacy and didn’t have my phone. Brooke called my wife and kindly found out what I needed. She saved me time and kept me in my wife’s good graces!”
Notable achievements
Pharmacy Manager Emerging Leader with CVS
How long have you been a pharmacist?
I got my pharmacy degree at the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy. I’ve been a pharmacist for one year and three months.
I work at CVS in Bradenton, Florida. I’ve been at this location for about three months. I worked in Sarasota, Florida, before this. I’ve worked for CVS for over eight years: I was a pharmacy technician from 2011-2014, and a pharmacy intern from 2014-2018.
Why did you become a pharmacist?
I am the first pharmacist in my family. Some of my family members work in healthcare, but I didn’t want to be a nurse or a doctor. I knew I still wanted to help people, and I was interested in math and science, which there are a lot of in pharmacy.
My best friend Shannon Price, Pharm.D., has been a tremendous influence and mentor throughout my pharmacy education and career. She was my pharmacy manager throughout pharmacy school.
What does a day in the life of a pharmacist look like?
I get there early, before my shift begins, to get a head start on the day. Every day is a lot of juggling different things: verifying prescriptions with doctors, immunizations, and jumping between various tasks.
A lot of people think that a pharmacist’s job is just to fill the doctor’s prescriptions, that we can’t make decisions on our own. I wish people knew that pharmacists often know more about drugs than doctors who prescribe them do. Pharmacists can help you find the best drug.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
I love saving people money. Once I was able to save a customer over $1,000 by working with the doctor to adjust the duration of an expensive medication. What most people don’t know is that they don’t have to use their insurance. Sometimes it’s cheaper without it.
All customers have to do is ask their pharmacists if they can’t afford a prescription. CVS has a savings finder, that can compare savings based on insurance coverage. We also partner with SingleCare. I recommend savings cards, and let customers know that their pharmacist can help save them money.
It’s very rewarding to educate people about their medications. You’d be surprised how many people have been taking a medication for years, and I can still teach them something new. For example, a customer had been taking a thyroid medication for years, and I told her she should take it in the morning on an empty stomach, and she had no idea. She had been taking it midday with her other medications. I had another patient who was taking a medication at night. It was keeping him from sleeping because it was a stimulating medication. I suggested he try taking it in the morning, and it solved his sleeping problems.
What is your favorite moment as a pharmacist?
Winning this award!
Praise from customers
“Brooke drove over an hour to get a very important medication for me. Apparently the medication was very hard to find and could not be ordered. She called around and found it and drove to get it for my husband. We have never seen anyone go out of their way to help someone to this extent. She also saves us money by finding us copay cards! The pharmacy is always so busy, but she is always so nice and professional to everyone.”
“Brooke is always thorough and extremely pleasant. She always greets us with a smile and remembers us.”
“I’d forgotten what I was supposed to pick up at the pharmacy and didn’t have my phone. Brooke called my wife and kindly found out what I needed. She saved me time and kept me in my wife’s good graces!”
Notable achievements
Pharmacy Manager Emerging Leader with CVS
