Haylee Truelove, CPhT, wasn’t planning on a career in pharmacy when she was thrust into her current role as a technician at Walgreens #6899 in Valdosta, Georgia. But, it wasn’t long before Truelove realized she had an aptitude for the role. 

“I worked up front at Walgreens, and one day the pharmacy team said, ‘We have no tech. You’re our tech now,’” she explains. “I was just kind of thrown back there. But as I grew in the pharmacy, it grew on me.”

Truelove took on her technician role in October 2020, right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, and she threw herself into the new career. This drive to succeed is why we’ve honored Truelove with the 2022 Rising Star Award.

“After only a few short months of working in the pharmacy, I took my certification and passed,” she says. As well as being a certified pharmacy technician, Truelove is an immunizer and certified in first aid and CPR.

Discussing what her average workday looks like, Truelove explains: “I administer vaccines. I help patients call insurance, call doctors. We run a drive through. It’s very chaotic.” She continues, “It’s really rewarding that you’re helping patients every day to live to see another day.” 

Alongside her full-time work as a pharmacy technician, Truelove is a chemistry major at Valdosta State University. After graduation, she plans to apply to pharmacy school to become a pharmacist. Below, Truelove discusses more about her passion for customers and the industry.

How do you go above and beyond for your customers and your community? 

I always try to connect with customers, whether they’re having good days or bad. I try to understand, and I try to be friendly. I try to connect personally with them, wherever they need help. When we can’t get insurance to go through, I call the insurance company and call the doctor, trying to make sure everything goes smoothly for the patient.

I have epilepsy, so I know how important medication is. I want to make sure customers don’t have to go without having medication, no matter what the issue is. We are also pretty active with flu clinics and going out into the community and the nursing homes, and also in organizing COVID clinics. 

What makes you excel as a pharmacy technician? And why do you want to work in this field?

I like knowing that the work I’m doing is not only making people smile, but also saving people’s lives. I want to pursue this field because I enjoy the warm feeling of helping others, and I feel that I will excel in this career as a result.

What attributes do you think someone needs to be a really good pharmacy technician?

You’ve got to have leadership. You have to be good at customer service because you’re dealing with phone calls and customers. You’re always seeing someone. You’ve definitely got to have trust. You’ve got to pay good attention because you are counting and distributing people’s medication. You’ve got to have good attendance because if we’re one short, it affects us all as a whole. And you have to be driven. You’ve got to want to learn. Because if you just come in and slack off, you’re never going to learn anything. And when a patient asks you something, you’re just going to look at all of the other techs when you should have learned that on your second day.

I always try to connect with customers, whether they’re having good days or bad.

When did you know being a pharmacy technician was right for you?

After only being in pharmacy for three months and then going to take my certification exam and passing it on my first try! Success motivates me to do a good job. I enjoy knowing that all of my hard work will help me accomplish my goals in the future. 

What do you do to help customers save money on prescriptions?

Every patient we see, before we even dispense the medication, we always check for savings. Even if they tell us they’re a cash-paying customer, we look for a discount card, whether they have insurance or not—that way we can give them the best price possible.

What does this nomination mean to you?

It means a lot. It’s the next step in my pharmacy journey. I’m a chemistry major, so after I graduate from Valdosta State University as an undergrad, I plan to go to pharmacy school.

What’s your most memorable moment as a pharmacy technician?

I can’t choose one favorite customer story, but they all hold a special place in my heart! But one memorable moment had to be when we gave a vaccine, the child had a reaction to it. I knew what to do. I was there to comfort, not only the child, but the mother also. I could personally relate because I know what it’s like.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

The most rewarding part is seeing the customers happy and watching my teammates succeed. I love being able to see the impact my work has on helping improve other people’s lives.