(upbeat music) - Welcome to the ASHP official podcast, your guide to issues related to medication use, public health, and the profession of pharmacy. - Thank you for joining us for this episode of Technician Topics. This podcast provides an opportunity to share ideas and best practices focused on professional development, clinical and innovative practices, and other topics important to pharmacy technicians. My name is Becky Ormond. I am a pharmacy technician specialist at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital in Lake Forest, Illinois. I will be your host for today's episode. With me today is Kelly Johnson, Senior Program Manager, Pharmacy Technician Education and Clinical Services at Credina Health, which is part of Providence Health System. She's also a member of the ASHP Pharmacy Technician Forum Executive Committee. Thanks for joining us today, Kelly. Let's get started talking about today's topic, embracing leadership, nurturing confidence and professional advancement in associations. So Kelly, for our listeners who may not know you, could you share a little bit about your background and pharmacy technician journey? Of course, I started in retail pharmacy in 1999 as an assistant just by chance. Then I was asked to complete a technician and training program there, and that was with Bright Aid. I moved into hospital pharmacy about eight years after being in retail. My first position was as a med history technician at Seattle's Children's Hospital. I then moved into the outpatient pharmacy within Children's Hospital. And when I was there, I was asked to learn how to do hazardous compounding and IDs. And so I then assisted and did that as well. And I moved into a billing and purchasing position after that. I was with Children's for about seven years, and then I moved into a behavioral health hospital. And then finally into a supervisor position with the specialty pharmacy at Credina Health was Providence, my current role as a senior program manager. And I oversee technician education, which is our tech and training program, any clinical services and initiatives that can be provided by technicians like immunizations and point of care testing. And then I do this advancement for technicians within five states, within Providence. - That's excellent. You have a lot of experience as a pharmacy tech. As do I, I've been a tech for 21 years. So we seem to be on the same path. Can you share your personal journey of getting involved in a professional association such as ASHP and the pharmacy technician forum? And what impact has it had on your career? - Well, I knew about ASHP and mostly because of mid-year and the directors that I'd worked with in the past that would go for matching in the residency programs with PharmD student. And then I started learning and reading more about technician advocacy and wanting to, you know, explore going to mid-year myself and seeing what involvement there was for pharmacy technicians. And my leader is highly supportive of my participation in ASHP. And then I'm also a part of OSHP, which is the local affiliate in Oregon. And she really inspired me to get more involved. And so I do think, you know, being in health system pharmacy, especially being active within a professional organization really shows your leadership abilities. And it really makes it a little bit more available for you to see what's out there and then get into higher level positions. - Yes, I totally agree with that. And I saw that you recently won an award from OSHP. Can you take just a couple of seconds to elaborate on that? - Yes, thank you. I actually am really honored and grateful that I received this award. I was given the award of Distinguished Service by OSHP. And I'm actually the first pharmacy technician to receive this award. So, you know, it's a really great recognition from OSHP regarding my involvement both with their board and with ASHP. - That is excellent. And a good testament to what technicians can do within professional organizations. I also was the first technician to win the president's award for my local affiliate of ICHP this past fall also. - Oh, that's amazing, congratulations. - Thank you. I don't wanna take anything away from you, but I wanted to highlight that we're both with ASHP, we're both with our local affiliates and we both are the first technicians within those affiliates to win awards. So I wanted to highlight that a little bit. - From your perspective, how does active participation in associations contribute to both personal and professional development? - So I started really just engaging on Connect and that's where I learned about form opportunities. And then I actually, you know, started in the forum as a member and then I was a chair and now, you know, I'm on the executive committee. With OSHP with my local affiliate, you know, they, I'm one of the first, I'm actually the first pharmacy technician to be a technician board member for the technician chapter. So that was another, you know, amazing to do too, but it's been a really wonderful way for me to learn from others, share ideas and really be, you know, a better advocate for my profession. It also really allows you to, you know, build friendships and networking with other pharmacy technicians across the entire country. So it's really great to foster those relationships on so many different levels. Can you kind of elaborate on some of the friendships you've built with the technicians across the country? How often do you talk? Do you utilize them for professional outreach? How has those friendships helped you along in both your professional and your personal career? - Oh yeah, of course. I think there are people, you know, that I have become friends with at mid-year before I've been on a board with and, you know, we've just kind of really had a connection on a professional and a personal level. And, you know, I do have like a friend of mine, Starlet, who is in Boston, came to Portland and, you know, we spent time together and, you know, we kind of give each other tips about different positions we might see, but, you know, we think the other one would be interested in, you know, of course, you and I know each other as well. And so it's nice to get to see everyone when you, you know, go to mid-year or you go to summer meeting and then you can reconnect and talk about what, you know, you've been doing both on a personal and a professional level. So yeah, I think it's just, there's certain people you mean and you just connect with them. And, you know, obviously stay in touch. I think LinkedIn is another way that we all kind of stay connected to. That's really the only social media I have. So it's another way, you know, that we keep connected on a professional level, but also a personal level to you. - I totally couldn't agree more with that. And I'm actually looking forward to coming and seeing your hometown in Portland in a month or so. - Yeah, I'm excited. - Yeah. Can you tell us about a skill or lesson you've learned throughout your involvement in ASHP and the pharmacy technician forum that's proven valuable in your career? - So I would have to say for me, one of the things that was really hard for me, even when I became a supervisor, we had to have stand up safety hurdles every day. And I was not very good at, you know, speaking in front of groups and in front of people. And so I think, you know, the more I push myself to do presentations or speaking in larger groups, you know, has really helped me eliminate that fear. It really has taken down that barrier because sometimes, you know, there are people that I know in the audience or people at the round table with me. And it, you know, makes it a little bit easier to get past that fear. And that's actually, you know, I've been able to build on that. And, you know, now I don't have the butterflies in my stomach. Like I used to, you know, speaking in front of people. And I think that has been a huge asset to me, you know, since joining ASHP and getting more involved and putting myself out there to present or, you know, it's just really helped for me a lot in that way for sure. - I agree with that. I can totally feel that sentiment as well because when I first started presenting with ICHP, I was a nervous wreck. And now I just get out there and just do it. Like I have fun with it. I paste the room and, you know, just involve everyone in the group. So how can a professional association such as ASHP and now TPS contribute to influencing policy or shaping the direction of pharmacy? - So I think primarily, you know, with the work that ASHP does as far as helping and put legislation out there around pharmacy technician practice and the advancement of pharmacy technician practice is amazing, you know, just being a voice and an advocate for technicians to get better wages, for technicians to have more recognition of their abilities, you know, that allows them to be in a higher position or give them opportunity for advancement, certain positions that would, you know, in the past have been something that is, you know, they look at only for pharmacists to do if it's something that doesn't, you know, require clinical judgment, you know, allowing technicians to be able to do this. And then there's also, you know, a lot of local states advancements with skill-based certifications that many states are allowing technicians to do immunizations, point of care testing, doing the MPM workups. One of the other things I've been doing a lot of research around is like, you know, 340B analysts, all of those things are advanced rules for pharmacy technicians. And I think with ASHT and, you know, now TPTS, the advocacy for technicians and getting that to legislation is, you know, a huge thing. - I agree with you on that. And since both of us really started in pharmacy before there were any formal technician training programs as there are now schools and such, have you seen a lot more involvement in since you're an educator? What has been your experience from the time you started to like, maybe now you're training and educating the next generation of pharmacy texts? How have you seen that? Like, what could you have used in 1999 that you have now to advance your career? - I think if there would have been, if there could have been the same, you know, even a forum, I think with other technicians, there perhaps was one that I didn't know about, but just to hear about what other people are doing, I think that's something that's really valuable because you might miss something that's out there and so having the opportunity to talk to others that are, you know, also educators or people that are doing a similar thing as you, having that input from other people can help you kind of, you know, push your ideas forward too. So I think, you know, just having that ability to speak to other people and what they're doing is a huge advantage now. Did I answer your question? - You did. I put you on the spot, I'm sorry. - Are there, do you find that there's any common misconceptions about involvement in associations that you'd like to address? - So I think that the only thing as far as, you know, misconception is I think that some folks find it to be intimidating, which, you know, where I understand and I know where people are coming from, but I think it's just, you know, having yourself kind of get past that and actually getting involved to be able to see what it's like. When you come to, you know, if when you become part of the forum, when you come up part of ASHP or now we're moving over to TPS, it's really, you know, you're there to be able to ask for help and then other people are there to provide help. So it's more of, I would look at it as your community of pharmacy technicians, you know, because everything that you bring to the table is valuable. It doesn't matter if, you know, you're in community pharmacy. If you're a technician that, you know, your primary focus is, you know, still compounding, you know, there's people like myself that are more on the administrative and management and doing, you know, like education. So it's technicians from all walks of life, all backgrounds coming together, you know, trying to contribute to the group and really advocate for technicians. - What are, so what are some tips that you can give technicians who aren't involved in associations or, you know, have fear about getting into associations or going to meetings about getting their leadership involved? Do you have any tips on how to engage leadership to encourage involvement? - Yeah, I would say, you know, as far as your local leadership, usually if you're working in a health system, almost everyone that works in a health system will have some idea about ASHP. I think from a local organization or a local affiliate, I think one of the best things to do is find out who your local affiliate is. They all are going to have a social media or a LinkedIn page or something of that nature, even on their website and find out when they have events. A lot of times the most local affiliates will have some type of a social or, you know, something that you can come to in order to learn a little bit more about the organization and those things are always free. So that's what I would suggest to do. And a lot of organizations actually, I know our organization will actually, you know, reimburse you for professional organization membership as well as going to conferences. So I think if you work for a larger health system or any health system, find out if they have any type of, you know, membership reimbursement and then just utilize that and get involved. - I agree and that's what I tell people who wanna, who may be apprehensive about getting involved in associations. So those who may be introverted or even a little shy, how can they effectively navigate and contribute to leadership roles in professional organizations? - Yeah, so I think I may be, you know, bounced on that a little bit in my last answer, but I think, you know, just honestly getting involved because it really is a community and people are there to just support you. And so it's okay to ask for help. A lot of organizations also do have mentoring programs or mentorship, you know, types of programs that they do. So just remembering, you know, everyone in your group is a technician. Everyone else there that you're, you know, going to speak with and going to socials with. And if you're on a forum, everyone is a technician. So they're all just there to help you. So I think just asking for help if you have questions and then, you know, working with other people that you're on the, you know, association with and letting them know like, "Hey, I'm a little bit shy." Is there like, maybe do a Pearl, which is like five minutes or something at a presentation and to help them. So there's a lot of opportunity. It's just really, you know, asking for help because everyone's there just to support you. - I agree with you on that as well. Kind of just to bounce off the last question but go into a different question. For anyone who's feeling nervous about taking on a leadership role, what advice do you have for overcoming that initial hesitation? - Honestly, I think just try it. When you think about like, from a leadership role, as far as within a professional organization, we're just there to support each other. I myself on a professional level can be a little bit not as going as I am in my personal life. And that's just, you know, something I actively work on all of the time. You know, it's really important to get outside of your comfort zone and kind of disrupt things and try something new 'cause that's how you're going to grow. And just, you'll see a huge support within the professional organization, even if you're, you know, dealing with something, you know, work if you want to like put it on the forum and ask people about their feedback or how they handle a situation. I think that's, you know, a great, a great thing to do. As far as, you know, your initial hesitation, like I said before, I had a little bit of a fear of talking in front of people. And so I just kind of broke that down with doing small presentations until I got to, you know, a bigger one. And that's really just facing that fear is something that will really allow you to get past that and kind of flourish in your profession and also in life. - I like that. And then lastly, my last question for you, is there anything else that you'd like to share with others about getting involved in professional associations such as ASHP and the New Tech Mission Society, TPS? - So you will never know unless you try. So just give it a shot, see what it's like. And, you know, you're probably really find out that you'll enjoy it, you'll continue to be involved and become actively, you know, engaged in an organization. You'll meet new people. You know, these are our people that are in the same profession as you. They're going through very similar things as you. And so it's, you know, it's a connection on that level. And then that's, you know, someone that you can confide in, that someone that becomes a friend. And that's, there's a huge amount of those people that are part of TPS. And so I just think that that's the best way to get involved and just keep an open mind. And, you know, you'll make a bunch of colleagues, friends throughout the country. - Like me and you. - Exactly. - Thank you, Kelly. That is all the question I had for you. And listeners, if you haven't before, I encourage you to all check out the Pharmacy Technician Society, or TPS, which is the new membership home for pharmacy technicians. Pharmacy Technician Resources can be found at www.farmtechsociety.org. Members, exclusive offerings, included advanced pharmacy technician toolkits, resume and CV resources, monthly technician newsletters and forums, such as the TPS Connect community, where you can exchange ideas and post questions with your peers. Thanks again for tuning in for this episode of Technician Topics. And be sure to subscribe to the ASHP official podcast for more episodes. - Thank you for listening to ASHP official, the voice of pharmacist advancing healthcare. Be sure to visit ashp.org/podcast to discover more great episodes, access show notes and download the episode transcript. If you loved the episode and wanna hear more, be sure to subscribe, great or leave a review. Join us next time on ASHP official. (upbeat music) [MUSIC PLAYING]
