Category Archives: Personal

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The Next You

“I want to be the next you.”

Having a student say that they want to be like you is a simultaneously shocking and humbling thing. My summer student saying this to me made me realize we often go through our careers unaware of the impact we have on our colleagues.  I’d like to take a look at what makes a good mentor and why.

Demonstrate a positive attitude and be a positive role model.

I remember working as a 4th year pharmacy student in 2010 with a relief pharmacist and thinking “wow!  I’ve never seen anyone do that before” and “that’s how I want to practice.” I watched him first introduce himself to the patient, then tell the patient how nice it was to meet them before proceeding with the medication counsel.  As mentors we need to model the behaviors we want to see.

Exhibit enthusiasm for the profession 

Are you still enthusiastic about your career? Do your co-workers look up to you?  If you love what you do, it will be contagious. Not only can we have positive impacts on our customers, we have a strong influence on those with whom we work daily. We can make a difference!  I sat in a training room this week and listened as a pharmacist recounted stories about her practice.  It was evident that she loves her work and her enthusiasm was contagious!

Value ongoing learning and growth in the field

As mentors we must not become stagnant in our career. Staying up to date with changes in the profession and with new information will be noticed by the upcoming generation.

When I graduated from pharmacy school pharmacists were not immunizing or prescribing.  Both of these came shortly afterwards and while there was some hesitation at first, I completed the necessary training and sought out resources to prepare for this new opportunity.

Celebrate your career successes and milestones

Have you shared with your mentee how you started your career? This is often done by outlining the steps to take to become successful in a given field.  I started off as a pharmacy assistant and had a great mentor who encouraged me to follow my dream to pharmacy school. After graduation I worked as a relief pharmacist and in interim store pharmacy manager positions.  I set goals for myself and achieved them. You can too!

Be a good teacher / communicator

Effective teachers inspire rather than inform.

Great mentors push your thinking and help you grow in new ways.  I remember asking my preceptors specific questions and being told “to look it up”.  These words caused frustration at the time but I quickly realized it was a beneficial process.

Are you excited to share your knowledge with new people entering the field?  I challenge you to take your role seriously in teaching your knowledge to others.

As mentors we need to model the behaviors we’re looking for in our co-workers.  Don’t expect your team to comply with policies/procedures if you are not willing to comply with them yourself.  Be a leader in the profession.

Is it always easy? No, of course not. But these are some of the attributes a young student is looking for in a mentor and I can promise you it is a fabulous feeling when a young person chooses you as their mentor.

 

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Good Samaritans

There are some amazing people in this world, but they may not be famous or heralded in any way. Every day we wake up to our home and work routines, shuffle off to refill our coffees and catch up on the local morning news (or if you’re in the mood to get fired up, American morning news). There are life stresses to deal with: in naming a few, there may be kids getting bullied at school, finding ways to pay for home improvements, work deadlines that seem impossible to meet, and medical concerns to address. Our orbit often only extends as far as we can practically see, and we rely on others to keep us looped in when our lives may be impacted in some way.

I am certainly, and in some ways shamefully, guilty of taking things for granted and tunneling through life with a large set of blinders. After a surreal week, I am starting to notice little things a bit more. That lady that stops to help a senior pick up a bag of groceries that spilled all over the parking lot. A jogger that helps untangle a child that snagged themselves on a playground gate. A nurse that stops on the side of the road to offer support to an accident victim.

In pharmacy, our jobs are to help people when they’re frightened, or lost, or unaware of resources available. Most of us have a strong desire to apply our knowledge in ways that directly contribute to positive outcomes for our patients and their families. I’m comfortable in a pharmacy setting, and convicted in my approach to problems and their solutions. If you remove my lab coat and lead me out of the dispensary, I still want to help, but may be unsure how.  I would like to help that gentleman broken down in an intersection, but I know next to nothing about car mechanics. I want to aid a friend with financial hardships, but I have limited knowledge about debt consolidation. I want to be a shoulder for someone experiencing tragedy, but I’m not a trained counselor.

What I’ve learned that in the moment, a skill set doesn’t matter. Just knowing that someone is willing to give any part of themselves, even if it’s a reassuring word or simply making themselves available, is a huge help. Perhaps it’s the feeling that you’re not alone allows for a little extra boost of hope. A true empathetic response can really get someone through a dark time. To illustrate this, I’ve included below a brief talk from Dr. Brené Brown, a research professor at the University of Houston.

 

I’d never really thought about the stark difference between the two terms, where one explains the acknowledgement of a hardship, and the other describes what it’s like to personally relate to another’s struggles. To be in the healthcare profession, it can be tricky to be empathetic and remain objective in your decision-making. I feel that balance is what makes pharmacists one of the most trusted professions in the world.

The genuine desire to help can not be faked. Even those days that we’re not feeling at our best, when confronted with a patient-care issue, we always stand up to meet the challenge. Good deeds often go uncelebrated but rest assured, the person needing assistance will remember. If you put the good out into the world, it will come back to you when you need it the most.

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Choose Life

We bid farewell to a colleague the weekend before last. After a valiant fight against cancer that spanned the better part of 2 years, the body may have given all it could, but the spirit won the battle.

Kareen was our friend. She was a mom, a wife, and a child. She had an unbelievable love of life, with a smile that met everyone she encountered. Although the vast majority of our encounters were at the workplace, what always struck me was just how strong her family and friend support network is and has always been. They were one unit, sharing every adventure and life encounter as a group. Even during the darkest hours, she always chose life; to enjoy every moment, to never give up hope and planning for the future with uncertainty around every corner.

The last time I met her was a chance encounter at a retail store a few months back. Upon catching my attention, she looked vibrant with that huge disarming smile that revealed her delight. As she recounted her ordeal over the previous winter, her matter-of-fact delivery and realistic outlook on things was remarkable; I honestly felt that she could easily been talking about someone else. She was still planning to attend graduations, and visit another warm locale in the near future.  She was sincerely appreciative of all of her relationships, but during that 20 minute chat, she made sure that I knew she appreciated mine. All of her friends would say the same: when you were in Kareen’s presence, she was genuine and wanted you there with no pretense or expectation. Every day was a gift, and by choosing life, she shared those gifts with each of us.

 

May you rest in peace Kareen. You are beloved and we miss you.

http://www.capebretonpost.com/obituaries/jane-kareen-walker-5761/

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Interactive Reflections

While packing for a holiday recently, I found myself debating two choices of reading material for the plane. One was a pseudo-textbook on sociology. I only say ‘pseudo’ because it essentially contains the highlights of influential works and events through recorded history without going into too much detail. Figuring a sociology book would be way too much science and philosophy to cope with on vacation, I opted for my second selection, Sick in the Head: Conversations About Life and Comedy (2015) . This was a book by Judd Apatow, esteemed writer/director of such memorable Hollywood films such as “The 40 Year-Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up.”

At least, I thought it was a comedy book.

As it turns out, the actual content was a series of interviews Mr Apatow held with famous comedians dating to his high school days in radio prior to national acclaim. Some of these comedians were not house-hold names in the early ’80’s, and were just getting their start on the club circuit. As the interviewer progressed through the industry, he kept transcripts of these interactions in order to tell a fascinating story. Coming from a broken home, he decided at the age of 15 that he wanted a career in comedy, partly to escape the trauma of real life issues and partly to gain acceptance into the burgeoning comedy fraternity in Long Island.

The interviews have plenty of humorous parts depending on the interviewee. Be it Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, or Adam Sandler, their wry wit is unavoidable, as is their unique view of the world around them. However, the meat of the conversations is delving into the psyche of uber-successful talents. What got them started? What drives them? How do they produce material and be prolific? How do they deal with failure?

The last question there is telling, mainly because that theme is pervasive in almost every interview. The late-night bomb sessions. The hecklers. The sets that get no reaction one way or another. All could have given up at many points, but they managed to overcome to achieve commercial success. The really weird thing to me is how many of them still seek out dive bars with jaded audiences to perform unannounced. The point is to risk failing again whilst working out new material and just ‘playing’. They had reached a point of popularity where they weren’t sure if they were still actually funny, and needed a reality check every once and awhile.

Judd is extremely self-deprecating. He worked hard at his craft, but not with the thought of being the best; he never expected that he could hold a candle to the comics he interviewed, but wanted to feel like he wouldn’t be out of place in the same room with his heroes. In fact, the reason he interviewed Jerry Seinfeld in 1983 was the hope that Jerry would help teach him how to become a comedian.

SO…what does all of this have to do with a pharmacy blog?

Well, as I was reading these stories, it occurred to me that the pharmacy profession has blessed me in so many ways: the opportunities I’ve enjoyed, the projects to which I’ve contributed, and the challenges I’ve tackled have made for a satisfying career thus far. The root of my successes have always been, and will continue to be, my interactions with people. I learn so much about myself by living through others. Speaking with a mother who lost a son to an overdose before the age of 25. Hearing about the sheer joy from a pharmacist colleague when they resolved a life-altering drug-related problem. Having a mentor recount difficult business decisions they had to make early in their careers. A manager friend describes HR missteps and how they learned from them. The technician student describes being fearful of their entry to practice. In all cases, my life experiences are enhanced by those of the people in my life. There is a burning need to reflect and wonder how I would behave myself in similar situations. I often marvel at the behaviour of others and how their instincts seem much more appropriate and effective than mine. What would you do if a customer had a seizure in the front of the store? How would you react if someone falsely accused you of a breach of conduct? What changes would you make when work/life balance is taking a toll on your mental health? If it hasn’t happened yet, then the only way to prepare yourself is to rely on the experience of others.

Like reaching through a mirror, I grab that person in the reflection and put them in unfamiliar circumstances of joy, pain, pride, and failure. I can’t take for granted any of the meaningful interactions I have in my daily life. When someone asks me for advice, or simply wants to catch up, they may not realize they may be helping me a lot more than I am helping them.

 

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Drive for 5

Where were you on Mar 28, 2013? It was a Thursday. Here on the Atlantic coast, it was overcast with a midday high of 5 degrees Celsius.

A quick skim of notable events occurring in March of 2013 from http://www.onthisday.com may help send you back in time to when we were still mourning the loss of Stompin’ Tom Connors at age 77, and Cyprus was the recipient of a 10 billion Euro bailout deal that allowed their banks to reopen. Mars rover Curiosity found more evidence of water-bearing minerals and tensions were mounting between North and South Korea.

As for me? I was wrapping up a term position in a busy retail pharmacy and unsure what the future may bring.

I also happened to be pushing the publish button in the upper right-hand corner of this page for the very first time.

Every year around this time, I grow nostalgic for the places I have traveled and the people I have met through writing on these pages. I’ve shared a lot of my history, and my thoughts on current events. I’ve tried to celebrate wins big and small, and share experiences that have had profound impacts on me personally and professionally. My passion is as strong now as it ever was- to see my colleagues thrive, and feel in control of their individual contributions to the massive evolution of pharmacy makes me proud.

It’s been quite the journey since the blueprint of pharmacy was developed by the CPhA way back in 2005. I was rereading the portion on ‘The Vision of Pharmacy,’  developed in June 2008, almost 10 years ago. On page 5/16, the first page of the document body features a quote:

The demands on the health care system and the changes in the delivery of health care require pharmacists to focus more attention on patient-centred, outcomes-focused care to optimize the safe and effective use of medications.

I would welcome all pharmacists to reacquaint themselves with the Blueprint. It really was ahead of it’s time in the sense that the pieces we need to succeed were already recognized and outlined then. The five key areas of focus were:

  1. Pharmacy Human Resources
  2. Education and Continuing Professional Development 
  3. Information and Communication Technology
  4. Financial Viability and Sustainability
  5. Legislation, Regulation and Liability

For proper execution, coordinating all of these elements is vital to success. Not all 5 are completely in our control, but I feel we have made significant gains in the first three through advocacy activities and continue to work to align the last two to the needs of the healthcare system. That said, having all of the legislation, education and IT tools in the world won’t have an impact if there are no avenues to pay for these enhancements or the pharmacy teams needed to deliver the new services. Having balanced teams in place without proper training or education programs may lead to unnecessary trial and error causing disruption and uncertainty. Lastly, having excellent, highly-skilled people with robust education can not be effective if government legislation does not allow expanded scope activities. Differences between provinces may cause confusion for practitioners and members of the public.

So on the 5th anniversary of PharmAspire, it’s back to the Blueprint for inspiration and the 5 key strategic actions. Rekindle the conversation with your peers, reflect on those blueprints and how far we’ve come and how the environment has changed. There is still plenty of work to do, but we’re ready.

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Letter to a Lost Friend

Dear Dave,

It’s approaching Christmas time again. Those of us with younger children feel an additional rush of excitement as we watch them absorb the magic of the season through elves on shelves and letters to Santa. People are busy, but it’s mostly a good busy; wrapping presents, fighting with the tree, and wrestling with lights. It all seems worth it when the egg nog is poured and a light snow is dusting the lawn. We have a couple scented candles that alternate our evening mood, between a pine and a pumpkin spice scent. Most importantly, it’s a time to celebrate friends and family. As thankful as we are for those that are close to us, this year we’re missing someone.

It’s hard to believe that the morning of Dec 19 will mark one year since we became aware of your passing.

There have been few events in my life when the world has simultaneously come to a screeching halt yet time seems to be lost. Weeks and months were a bit of a blur, and motivation was extremely difficult to find. You were a teammate first, and due to your open demeanor and unflappable style, quickly became a respected friend. I’d known you for close to 9 years, but others could attest to decades of service to the practice of pharmacy in Newfoundland. Now that I think of it, you shared so much of yourself with so many people over the years, the fact that you were a pharmacist was just one small piece of the picture.

When I visited your territory in the spring, there was something ethereal about retracing the path on the west coast and opening the audits you had begun just weeks and months prior. Reading your comments was difficult, and discussing with your team the action plans you had created. For that week, I was away from my family and in a new part of the country. Although I had a job to do, it never felt like work. In fact, the tasks themselves merely served as a reason to engage pharmacy staff, and speak openly about how we were feeling. They painted a picture of someone so patient, so encouraging in every interaction. In every store, they were gracious and thanked me for my visit, even when the results were underwhelming.  I still keep in contact with some and plan to continue. I hope they all realize just how much they helped me overcome my sadness.

One year later, we’re stronger than ever. Change is inevitable, and you are a constant reminder that silver linings are always present on even the darkest of storm clouds.

So tonight the team…check that…your team, will be together once again from across the Atlantic provinces. We will raise a glass, not in mourning, but to honour your impact on each of us. I’m working on my best Neil Young and Bob Dylan impressions in case we happen to grab some guitars and sing along your some of your favourite 70’s folk rock.

We’ll do our best to celebrate to the fullest. We will cherish the times we have together and laugh about this crazy road we travel called life.

Rest easy my friend. Until we meet again,

-Dev

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.