A Few Minutes with Mary
Meet our multi-faceted pharmacist Mary...
She is a generalist pharmacist, interested in the whole patient and from a professional perspective, all aspects of pharmacy.
As patients who consult with her have experienced, Mary enjoys the challenge of multi-layered questions and she is a great listener. She puts care and attention into figuring out the best options for each patient's situation, taking into account their lifestyle, health conditions, supplements, and of course, prescriptions. Along with her pharmacist colleagues, Mary conducts Medication Therapy Management (MTM)* reviews, which is a thorough review of a person's medications with the objective of ensuring optimal outcomes.
How did you get into pharmacy?
My parents are both pharmacists, as is my sister, so it "runs in the family". I initially wanted to go to law school, but then I got a job as a Pharmacy Technician while in college, and liked it so much that I changed majors.
What is a common misconception about your profession?
The most common misconception about pharmacy is that we just fill prescriptions.
We are able to do so much more now, such as make decisions about what vaccines a patient is eligible for and administer them, consult on and prescribe oral birth control, we can write prescriptions for over the counter medications so that, in some cases, insurance will pay for them, as well as being an easily accessible source for questions about drug interactions, supplements, and even the best insurance options for patients!
The thing I like best about being in retail pharmacy is getting to work with so many different patient populations! We fill prescriptions for people in nursing facilities, new born babies, and even pets (I love getting to see all the different pet names)! Since I recently went through the newborn phase with my own child, I feel a newfound sense of camaraderie with parents dealing with ear infections and diaper rash.
Congratulations on being a new mom! What is a superpower that you would wish for your daughter?
Thank you! It is harder and better than I thought it would be! It's fun to see her learn new skills and discover the world. It also makes me think about the future more and what her life will be like.
I wish for my daughter to have super confidence, in a nice way. So that she can hold her head high, feel secure in who she is and what she can do, always ready to challenge herself to the next level. Super confidence would also give her healthy trust and respect for herself and others, the ability to build positive relationships, engage in life-long learning, and the list goes on.
What interests do you have outside of pharmacy and being a new mom?
I love to spend time with family and our new baby brings us together.
My husband and I love to do DIY projects, in particular with houses, although we haven't had much time for that these days!
I also like to bake and my colleagues love the banana pudding, brownies, and tres leches cakes that I've brought in to share.
If you could have dinner with someone famous, who would it be?
It would be Conan O’Brien! I started watching Late Night in high school and his dry sense of humor has always made me laugh!
Here's what some of Mary's colleagues have commented about working with her:
"Working with Mary is like coming up for a breath of fresh air. Her quirkiness and amazing sense of style only touches the beginning of what an amazing person she is. Having a pharmacist who not only listens to you but teaches you and doesn't make you feel like you're asking too much of her makes the time at work that much more enjoyable. She always has the right words to say to both staff and patients when we're all having a hard time dealing with certain things. She thoroughly explains everything with an understanding that not everyone speaks medicine and doesn't treat us any less. Mary is an impeccable pharmacist and an even better teacher. Let's also not forget that she's a rockstar Mom!"
- Sophy, Pharmacy Technician
"Mary is one of those rare people who can troubleshoot even the toughest issues and find a solution that works for everyone involved. Our patients and staff really appreciate her for that. What we love most is her steady, positive attitude—she's always upbeat, ready to help, and I've never heard her say, 'I'm too busy' or 'I can't help right now.' She's never too busy for anyone, and her willingness and capability shine through every day."
- Jenny, Pharmacist-in-Charge
* To note, Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Reviews are covered by Medicare and generally by other insurance plans as well. Please call us to check your plan or to make an MTM appointment for you or a loved one.
