Sarah Marie McCreight is the 2021 Best Pharmacy Intern because of her dedication to pharmacy even while she is taking classes to become a pharmacist. She works behind the scenes as a hazardous compounding intern, making custom dosages and strengths of medications that can be dangerous in large quantities, like hormone replacement therapies. In her free time, she takes extra shifts working the pharmacy counter at H-E-B or at vaccine clinics, so she can get the patient interaction she loves. With these two complementary experiences, she’s on her way to being a well-rounded pharmacist when she finishes school—well-versed in customer service and prescription chemistry.

What inspired you to go into pharmacy?

From the time I was 5 years old, I knew that I wanted to work in health care. From the moment I stepped foot into my first doctor’s appointment, I was fascinated by the office, the people working there, and the immense amount of knowledge that the adults in the white coats seemed to have. More importantly, I loved the idea that people went there when they were feeling sickly and left feeling better. I have always wanted to make people feel better after interacting with them. 

By becoming a pharmacist, I will be able to interact with people, make a positive impact, promote healthy lifestyles, and make a difference in my patients’ lives.

When I was in high school, I fell in love with science. I’m the first person in my family to go to college, a first-generation student, so choosing a career and a degree plan seemed almost impossible. Before starting college, I began to observe different healthcare providers to see their careers and lives. I was introduced to a pharmacist who works for H-E-B who suggested I get a job as a pharmacy technician to see if I enjoyed it. That, by far, has been the best advice. 

Since becoming a pharmacy technician and a pharmacy student, I’ve met some of the most incredible people—coworkers and patients alike. While working as an intern on my rotation this summer and running COVID-19 vaccination clinics, I’ve been able to interact with hundreds of people and be on the front lines of fighting the pandemic. Patients placing their faith in me during counseling sessions and opening up to me as a healthcare provider has shown me how much impact I can have on someone’s day. 

By becoming a pharmacist, I will be able to interact with people, make a positive impact, promote healthy lifestyles, and make a difference in my patients’ lives.

What is a day like as a hazardous compounding intern?

In the hazardous compounding pharmacy, we deal with drugs that can be carcinogenic in large quantities, like progesterone, testosterone, and lots of hormone replacement therapies. On a usual day, we compound hormones, antibiotics, and antifungals. We custom make dosages, forms, or quantities that normally aren’t carried in the regular pharmacy. I’m not dealing with customers, but making medications that are sent to H-E-B pharmacies for the patients who need them.

For example, if we have a patient who is unable to swallow pills, tablets, or capsules, we can make rapidly dissolving tablets, liquids, or suppository form. Custom medication is the best way to describe it. If a person needs a specific strength for a medication that the manufacturer doesn’t make, they would send it to us and we could go ahead and compound that specifically tailored to their dosing and their preferences.

I love patient interaction as well. I am really amazingly grateful that H-E-B has allowed me the opportunity to work in other stores and have that interaction, while dabbling in the compounding world and learning how medications are made for patients. I work a full week in the compounding pharmacy and also fill in at other stores and at vaccine clinics.

When you are working in stores, what do you enjoy about working customers?

Really taking the time to get to know your customers—even if it’s in short interactions—is the best part about my job and the best way to go above and beyond. In today’s world, people are going through a lot, and I can always be that positive influence on someone’s day. I’ve always gone into every shift like that. If I can have at least a few positive moments with someone that might be their only positive interaction that day. So, I like to ask people, “How are you doing?” “How have you been?” I’ve found that a lot of patients don’t have that many people to talk to, especially if they’re quarantining or isolating.

Being someone who my patients can trust is what motivates me.

They’re excited to have someone who genuinely cares about them. I love talking to my patients. That’s one reason I still work in retail on top of hazardous compounding. It’s so near and dear to my heart to have that interaction with people. I had one patient who was on such a long list of medications that she couldn’t keep them straight. I got some stickers and color-coded dots, and we got out her planner. We organized everything together, so she would call and say I need the red dot and the Mario sticker refilled. Patients have invited me to weddings, have told me about grandchildren born, have invited me to funerals—and it’s been so nice to just be that much a part of people’s lives. 

The pharmacist who inspired me to pharmacy has such a heart for customer service. He always said, “These are your people. You are their pharmacist. They’re going to trust you. They’re going to say things to you that they can’t trust with other people.” Making sure patients are aware of that means a lot to me because some people don’t know that their pharmacist, or their pharmacy technicians, care that much. Being someone who my patients can trust is what motivates me. It genuinely just makes me happy.

What drives you to go above and beyond?

I’m a first generation student. My grandparents were migrant workers and I’ve always gone with them to doctor’s appointments. I noticed growing up that there’s a lot of times that people are really shy, especially people who aren’t that strong in speaking English or people who don’t have a good understanding of how Western medicine works. Having that patience has always been something I’ve wanted to do. Seeing healthcare workers that take the time to understand my grandparents, people like them, and people who might have special needs has always been something that I am so incredibly passionate about. 

What should patients know about saving money?

I would tell patients to open up to their healthcare provider if cost is a concern. Then, a lot of doctor’s offices will look for a generic. Then, tell your pharmacist that you need a lower price. We will absolutely take the time to see if we can stack some coupons, to see if we can find a manufacturer coupon. I will sit there and I’ll try 15 coupons, if it’ll help save someone some money.

What does this nomination mean to you?

Pharmacy is often an overlooked field, especially in minority communities. Being a minority myself, being a first-generation student, and being recognized by this award will give more people in my community the opportunity to hear about it, give them a possible career option, or give them a way to introduce something that might save their family money.