Tell us about your inspiration and career journey.

I became a pharmacy technician simply to learn more about the medications I would be taking as a newly diagnosed ulcerative colitis patient in 2008. From my schooling to my hospital and infusion clinic experience, I've become a good resource for other pharmacy technicians. Over the next three-to-five years, my goals are to continue climbing the technician ladder at the University of Louisville Hospital. My current role is extremely specialized, but there is more I can do with my pharmacy knowledge. Thankfully, my superiors also recognize that.

My current role is in controlled substance quality assurance. It entails total surveillance of all anesthesia providers' narcotic waste and our nursing unit's narcotic waste of large-volume drips, PCAs, epidurals, etc. I’m also responsible for looking into hospital-wide discrepancies when necessary. Implementing new policies has also been an ongoing part of my role, including communicating with nursing leadership and anesthesia leadership, along with handling pharmacy informatics to implement new controlled substance policies.

How have PTCB’s certificates helped you?

I would not be where I am without the credentials I've obtained. The first advanced credential I received was the CSPT certification and that alone helped tremendously in gaining the confidence of my new coworkers within the University of Louisville network of facilities. The continuously growing list of certificates we can obtain is crucial to growing the technician presence in areas of pharmacy that have traditionally only been held by pharmacists. If not for the advanced certificates, it would have been a much harder sell to be in the position I'm in today.

What advice would you give pharmacy technicians as they explore their career paths?

I would advise new technicians to always be inquisitive and never stop learning. The best technicians I've worked with have always had the desire to learn more about the why behind everything. Learn. Grow. Advance.

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