I completed 3 years of pre-requisite pharmacy coursework at the University of Illinois at Chicago and received my PharmD at Chicago State University College of Pharmacy. I worked as a receptionist at a hospital for 2 years where I shadowed one of the pharmacists there. I was intrigued by all the different medications and how the pharmacist played a big role in patient care. After that, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in pharmacy. One of my pharmacy school rotations consisted of working in a community setting and I continued working in a retail setting after graduation. Throughout my pharmacy career, I have been given the chance to be a preceptor to students and help the pharmacists of the future.

As a pharmacist in the retail/community setting, I ensure patients are receiving the correct medications and are aware of the uses and side effects of them. I am readily available to answer questions regarding OTC products and give my recommendations based off patients’ symptoms. I also make MTM calls to make sure patients are well-educated on their medications and to find any discrepancies in their drug regimen. Immunizations are also a big part of retail pharmacies, ensuring that patients are up to date on their vaccines.

During pharmacy school, I did a rotation in the retail setting. Furthermore, I was a technician at a retail pharmacy for 3 years during pharmacy school. I was able to get hired with the same company upon graduation and have been in the retail setting since then.

If you can work as a technician in the community setting it would definitely kickstart your career. You will be able to get first-hand experience of what it’s like working in a retail pharmacy as well as gain a tremendous about of knowledge working alongside a pharmacist everyday. If you are not able to work in a retail setting right away, you should try to shadow a pharmacist, in any discipline, so that you can ask any questions you want and see what they do on a daily basis.

Helping patients is hands down the best part of being a pharmacist in a community setting. As we are the most accessible healthcare workers, there is a sense of satisfaction when a patient can come in and ask a question and you are able to offer a solution. Pharmacists are one of the most trusted healthcare professionals, so to be able to make an impact in patients’ lives everyday is one of the most rewarding parts of being a community pharmacist.