It turns out, while the world was speculating and spreading conspiracy theories, Kate Middleton was dealing with a cancer diagnosis. As a mother and a public figure she had to balance sharing this sensitive situation with her children, but also the world. While most patients don’t have to cope with a difficult diagnosis in the eyes of media, there are lessons that can be learned about how we can improve patient care for those who receive a similar diagnosis

Inbox overwhelm is a real thing. If you have ever stared at your inbox hoping all the emails would magically disappear, you understand what I'm talking about. I’ve been there. That’s why I wanted to share how I manage the 15,000 emails that come through my inbox each month as an investigational drug service pharmacist, as well as my organizational strategies to keep everything straight.

Through my 4.5-year journey with Happy Pharm Life, I've experienced incredible opportunities, from speaking at pharmacy conferences to going on a behind-the-scenes experience with NASA, thanks to my personal brand. So let’s explore why building your personal brand matters, even if you're not into social media.

The truth is, being a pharmacist is a difficult job. We hold a great responsibility to patient care that often conflicts the metrics and bottom line that the business side of the job is constantly tracking. So, when someone asks how we are doing, what if we said our typical “good” in passing but took that as an opportunity to reflect more. What if we took it a step further and asked, “How are you, really?”

Working in a pharmacy can often feel like navigating through a storm of prescriptions, inquiries, and time-sensitive tasks. Whether you're a pharmacist, a technician, an intern, or a resident, the demands of the job can quickly lead to stress and overwhelm. By incorporating these stress-relieving strategies into your rough shifts, you'll be better equipped to go through your workday with a sense of calm and control.

Burnout is multifactorial. We know that there are many causes of burnout that are all intertwined in a messy web. Some of these causes like staff shortages get a lot of attention, as they should, but that doesn't mean there aren't other factors that can increase your risk of burnout as well.

Let’s be honest for a second, pharmacy gets a bad wrap. The public thinks pharmacists count pills all day (we don’t). Some people don’t view pharmacists as healthcare professionals at all (we are). Our own professionals are leaving the profession due to some of the changes that have occurred since the pandemic began (this is true, I won’t deny it). However, I wanted to highlight the things I DO like about being a pharmacist.

Dive into the dynamic world of pharmacy careers, where plans can shift and unexpected doors open. I share my personal story of navigating through rejections and changes, ultimately finding a fulfilling path as a pharmacist.

I may be biased, but I think I have one of the coolest pharmacist jobs out there. As an investigational drug service pharmacist I get to see the latest medication advances before they even hit the market and have the opportunity to use my pharmacist knowledge in a unique way. In this video, I'll share what went down during my time off and how I tacked the mountain of emails waiting for me when I returned. I have a close out monitor visit at a satellite pharmacy location for a study we have been conducting. It's a crucial process for medication research, and you'll get a sneak peek into how it all works.

Being a new pharmacist isn’t easy…not only are you trying to pass your board exams, but you may be moving to a new city on top of learning how you want to show up as a pharmacist. Let’s not forget the fact that you will have more free time once those board exams are out of the way and you have to figure out what do to with it after putting your hobbies and passions outside of pharmacy on the back burner for the past several years. It wasn’t that long ago I was in the same position trying to navigate the world as a new pharmacy graduate so today, I thought I would share some of the things I would do differently if I were graduating today.

If there is one thing I have learned about pharmacists in my 12 years in the profession, it's that pharmacists are great at prioritizing patient needs over their own health.