Highlight your Career Progression. In addition to your degree in pharmacy, have you obtained any certifications, or are you currently pursuing any that you would like to mention?
I began my career as a Community Pharmacist and continue to practise part-time in this role. Additionally, I served as a teaching assistant in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Ghana School of Pharmacy for a year. During this time, I taught lab sessions in Anatomy and Physiology and Introductory Pharmacology to first and second-year Doctor of Pharmacy and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students. Currently, I work as a Clinical Pharmacist in Emergency and Internal Medicine.
I am a certified Pharmacist Vaccinator and hold certification to provide family planning services, including administering depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate subcutaneously (DMPA-SC). Additionally, I am certified in Business Data Analytics and am currently working towards an MSc in International Relations.
What are you most passionate about in your Pharmacy practice?
I am deeply passionate about pharmaceutical care and strengthening primary healthcare systems, particularly in deprived and hard-to-reach areas. Without clinical pharmacists, gaps in pharmaceutical care are often overlooked, leading to unfavourable outcomes for patients. Issues such as non-adherence, drug interactions, medication selection, and administration require the expertise of a pharmacist. I am committed to applying my knowledge and skills to ensure the best possible outcomes for my patients.
Strong primary healthcare is essential to improving healthcare in Africa. It alleviates pressure on higher levels of care and can reduce the number of patients presenting to tertiary health facilities with complications of chronic conditions. I actively contribute through health screenings and outreach programs in underserved areas, and I am hopeful that, sooner rather than later, we will achieve Universal Health Coverage.
What do you love about being a Pharmacist?
Being a pharmacist offers the flexibility to choose between various fields, each requiring different skill sets, and the opportunity to practice in diverse areas of the profession. With dedication and application, a pharmacist can become highly versatile.
What do you consider the greatest achievement in your career as a pharmacist thus far? How has this achievement impacted your professional journey?
I still have a long way to go in my career as a young pharmacist, but I have already made significant contributions. I led an initiative that screened about 200 people for chronic diseases, identifying around 100 undiagnosed conditions. Achievements like this are important to me and make me proud.
Additionally, I developed an emergency protocol for hypertensive emergencies for my clinical pharmacy department after conducting thorough research. This accomplishment was particularly rewarding.
These experiences have boosted my confidence and motivated me to continue learning and improving the practice of pharmacy.
What has been your most challenging moment in the profession and what valuable lessons did you learn from it?
Choosing my path after school was a challenging journey. The uncertainty of where to go and whether the risks I was taking would lead to success or failure often weighed heavily on me. As a versatile individual, I believed I could excel in various fields of pharmacy, making the decision even more complex. Faced with numerous opportunities and life-changing choices, I often felt unsure.
However, the most valuable lesson I learned is to persist, regardless of the outcome. Never give up. Pursue what you love, and find an environment that brings you joy and allows you to fully utilise your skills. Embracing this mindset has been key to navigating my career and personal growth.
What keeps you going?
I believe in the power of helping those who truly need it and the profound impact I can have on their lives.
In addition to being a Pharmacist, what else do you enjoy doing?
I have a passion for travel and exploring new places. Nature, hiking, and observing wildlife bring me a deep sense of peace and connection. In addition to my outdoor interests, I also find joy in music, particularly playing the guitar.
What can you say to the young Pharmacist?
Advice is akin to medicine—what works for one may not work for another. Just as with medications, where one person may benefit, another may not, or even have adverse reactions. The key is self-awareness. Understand yourself deeply to discern what truly works and what doesn’t for you.