Author: Erica Teal

President & CEO
Advanced Pharmacy Solutions

Laguna Hills

I recently purchased a specialty pharmacy in December 2017 and was looking for ways improve how I manage employees and continue a culture of hard work, innovation, and a sense of family. At the time, I was a member of the CPHA Insurance Committee and CPHA-PAC and a close friend of the current President Vinson Lee, who mentioned LDI in passing. It didn’t stick then since I was busy dealing with a new business, but after being elected Chair-Elect for the Pharmacy Ownership Sig in March 2018, Katie Dahl, CPHA VP of Member Development, invited me to apply. Months after being thrust into a leadership role, I knew I was lacking so I jumped at this an opportunity to become a better boss. Continue reading “Samuel Lee, PharmD” →

Pharmacist in Charge
Aids Health Care Foundation

Las Vegas, NV

Cutting edge medication regardless of ability to pay. The mission statement of a company dedicated to fighting the disease known as HIV. After high school, I explored different careers in health care because both of my parents were nurses. I was inspired by their dedication and selflessness. Unfortunately, after a stint with shadowing my parents, I didn’t think I was cut out to be a nurse. I still had the passion to be in healthcare but I didn’t resonate with any field of medicine until I started work at CVS. As a pharmacy technician, I exposed myself to the world of medications, diseases states, insurances, and patient interaction. After 6 years, I applied to Roseman University of Health Sciences. I finished my pharmacy doctorate degree in 3 years and became the pharmacy manager for AHF Las Vegas. Continue reading “Paul Manabat PharmD, AAHIVP” →

Assistant Professor of Clinical Sciences
California Health Sciences University

Fresno

My journey into the Leadership Development Institute started off with a texted picture of my name on the interest slip by a fellow member of the local CPhA association. I debated the idea of submitting my application since I was still learning my roles and responsibilities of being a faculty member at a new institution. Little did I know how much I needed LDI at that time! Continue reading “Nicole Nielsen, PharmD, BCACP, APh” →

Director, Pharmacy Practice Residency Program in Primary Care
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy
USC School of Pharmacy

Los Angeles

I joined CPhA’s Leader Development Institute (LDI) to develop leadership skills that I constantly felt lacked of while taking a lead on a clinical pharmacy service project and to re-energize myself with new inspiration and motivation. With many barriers that came with launching this project, I realized that playing a victim was not making the project to advance and to grow. Continue reading “Michelle Chu, PharmD, BCACP” →

Clinical Pharmacist
Huntington Memorial Hospital

Los Angeles, CA

As a student pharmacist, I was very involved in our school’s student chapter of CPhA and served as chapter president. When I think back, I felt so connected to our profession and fulfilled with the health fairs, student development programs and other events that we organized and attended. While adjusting to life after pharmacy school and residency, I realized that I had fallen into a routine, a sort of plateau one would say, and missed the connection that fueled my passion for pharmacy. Continue reading “Maral Semerjian, PharmD” →

Centralized Services Inpatient Pharmacy Lead
Kaiser Permanente

Walnut Creek

After a couple years as a staff inpatient pharmacist, I felt my growth starting to stagnate. For some people in a similar stage, that might be the point when you cruise control for the rest of your life, but for me, continued growth is essential. Around that time I began to have those thoughts, I applied for a lead pharmacist position and coincidentally a friend recommended I apply for the LDI program. I was initially a bit wary of any benefits a program would provide for me but changed my opinion soon after starting the LDI program. Continue reading “John Chu, PharmD” →

Inpatient Oncology Pharmacist
Kaiser Permanente, Roseville Medical Center

Folsom

There are few pivotal moments in a life that can drastically influence the direction that one may take. These significant moments often include marriage, the birth of a child, or conquering a fear. A huge pivotal moment in my life was the graduation of pharmacy school and the start of my career. In that moment in time, I felt prepared and ready to take on the world. Ideas of entrepreneurship, clinical pharmacy, and in depth patient care, all filled my head. Excitement was an understatement. Continue reading “Jessica Sheffler, PharmD” →

Consultant Pharmacist/Intern Pharmacist
New Oakland Pharmacy

Oakland

I joined LDI because I felt that the leadership development program would help in being able to find my voice and a newfound inspiration for my career in a new state. I wasn’t sure what to expect. I thought we would sit in classroom style and go home on our merry way. However, this program was more than that. It taught us self-sufficiency and accountability on our part and skills to apply to not only our professional environment, but skills that carried to the improvement of our own lives and personal relationships. Continue reading “Jane Chung PharmD” →

Manager, Pharmacy
Santa Clara Family Health Plan

San Jose

California Pharmacist Association (CPhA) has played a fundamental role in my pharmacy experience. I had the opportunity as a pharmacy student to be apart of our local CPhA student chapter leadership board and experience an eye-opening rotation as a professional association IPPE student at CPhA’s headquarter.

Continue reading “Dang Huynh, PharmD” →

Assistant Professor of Clinical Sciences
Keck Graduate Institute School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Claremont

You know how you wish if only you were this, or if you only had that? Well for my entire life, I wished I could sing well. I come from a mom and dad who are far from perfect pitch. To my surprise, LDI made me a better singer.

Continue reading “Connie Kang, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP” →