Hear from Concordia School of Pharmacy Alumni Stephanie Purcell, PharmD, RPh, Pharmacy Manager at Eannelli Pharmacy.
Q + A with recent pharmacy graduate Stephanie Purcell
Are you interested in healthcare and serving your community? Consider Stephanie Purcell’s story. Purcell shares with us why working as a pharmacist is a great way to serve others and do what you love. Read what she told us below.
Why did you want to become a pharmacist?
I knew I wanted to be in the healthcare field from a young age. I realized I loved pharmacodynamics. Plus, I wanted the opportunity to work directly with patients. Becoming a pharmacist checked all my boxes.
I specifically chose Concordia University’s School of Pharmacy after my interview process. Every person I interacted with showed so much care. I graduated from Concordia in 2018, and I’ve never once questioned my love for this profession.
Tell us about your current role as a pharmacy manager.
I originally was connected with Eannelli Pharmacy during a first-year IPPE rotation. After that week, the owner invited me back for a summer internship following my second year. I stayed in communication with the owner and before I graduated, I expressed interest in working for him and potentially taking over his business.
I love working in Prairie du Sac! Being a small town, I actually have the opportunity to know a majority of my patients. I’m able to make real connections and provide care that they can trust.
What does a pharmacy manager do?
I complete normal day-to-day pharmacist tasks like prescription verification, patient counseling, MTM, and compounding. Being a pharmacy manager expands my role to operational tasks such as hiring, policy and procedure set up, ensuring compliance with various state and federal laws, and daily bookkeeping.
Why did you choose independent pharmacy?
An independent pharmacy allows for personalized, one-on-one care for every single one of my patients in the way that I see fits. I started my career with two different large chains and was not able to practice how I wanted. Corporations tend to restrict the ability to go outside the box to provide care, which can be difficult when each patient is so unique.
What is the difference between independent pharmacy vs. chain pharmacy?
The big difference is the corporate “shadow” if you will. Chain pharmacies tend to have lots of policies and procedures on how to function on a daily basis. While clinical services are expanded, it is still a slow and restricted process. Plus, I never felt I had time to do everything, due to staffing restrictions. An independent pharmacy allows me to set the schedule, staffing, and policies to fit my location and patients.
What impact did Concordia’s program have on your growth as a pharmacist?
It was everything to my growth! They provided not only a great education and patient lab time but the opportunity to connect with so many pharmacies and pharmacists. The curriculum is second to none and the staff truly encourages and pushes you to your potential.
How are you able to embody servant leadership as a pharmacy manager?
My main daily goal is to provide quality care to my patients. That is why my career moves have led me to an independent pharmacy where I have the freedom to practice how I want.
Do you want to know more?
If you’re interested in learning more about Concordia University’s School of Pharmacy, you can visit us here.
—
If this story has inspired you, why not explore how you can help further Concordia's mission through giving.