In this episode of the Pharmacy View Podcast’s Rx to Riches stream, international host Michael Alexander, a Pharmacist, entrepreneur, digital health enthusiast, Co-Founder of Audirie, and the Regional Vice-President of Health Plans at Omada Health, interviews Anisha Patel, a Clinical Pharmacist and Senior Clinical Lecturer at King’s College (London). Anisha is also the Founder of the Pharmacist Diaries Podcast. Join us for the second half of this insightful episode as Anisha dives even deeper into the multifaceted canvas of a Pharmacist’s journey. Get ready for more revelations, inspirations, and a roadmap to crafting a thriving career in the dynamic world of Pharmacy!
Anisha reflects on the enriching experiences gained through hosting the podcast. They express surprise at the determination and dedication exhibited by Pharmacists worldwide in diverse roles, emphasizing the impactful contributions Pharmacists make to patient care. Anisha highlights the inspiring stories shared by guests, leading to newfound interests and connections. They emphasize the overwhelming willingness of Pharmacists to share their journeys, fostering a community of support, growth, and inspiration.
Anisha discusses the evolving landscape of Pharmacy education in the UK. Anisha anticipates a significant shift by 2026, where Pharmacy graduates will emerge not just as Pharmacists but as prescribers with the legal authority to prescribe any drug. To prepare students for this transition, the curriculum is adapting to include more clinical experiences, simulation labs, and placements in diverse healthcare settings, ensuring students gain hands-on experience in prescribing scenarios. Anisha expresses excitement about the upcoming change while acknowledging the need for thorough preparation to meet the challenges of this transformative shift.
Anisha shares their passion for connecting with people and delves into the roots of their curiosity and love for communication. Anisha emphasizes the importance of finding one’s passion and doing something that lights them up every day. They reflect on their upbringing, shaped by parents who instilled a love for connecting with diverse communities. Anisha highlights the joy they find in podcasting, transforming conversations into a source of genuine happiness, transcending the boundaries between work and personal fulfillment.
Anisha Patel reflects on the dual facets of their career journey, acknowledging the serendipity that led to significant opportunities in the early stages. They emphasize the importance of embracing chance and venturing beyond one’s comfort zone, citing their own experience of finding unexpected strengths in education, training, and pediatric care. Anisha advises listeners not only to follow their passions but also to explore new avenues, conduct gap analyses, and confront fears head-on for personal growth. As a podcaster, they share insights into overcoming communication apprehensions and the joy derived from the ongoing progress in their journey.
Topics Covered
- Pharmacist Diaries Podcast
- Pharmacy Education
- Passion for Connection and Communication
- Embracing Chance and Growth
- Podcasting as a Journey
Key Quotes (Time Stamps)
- “I also wanted to find a platform that supported my students to learn, feel inspired, be educated, and understand the variety of jobs that are available to them as Pharmacists once they graduate. And I wanted them to understand the fact that you can also transition from one role to another.” (4:28 – 4:51)
- “I’ve found some really unique opportunities working abroad that I’m in a good position to inspire and role model to young people that you can be whoever you want to be and you can work in whatever job that you want to pursue as long as you’re passionate and you work really hard and understand what skills are required for each position. You can work towards getting those goals. And a podcast came to mind immediately.” (5:05 – 5:33)
- “I mean, the list is endless in terms of the variety of things that you have to learn as a Pharmacy student. But where do they see themselves? Start visualizing themselves as a Pharmacist? And when you listen to podcasts, and you’ve got this voice coming in your earbuds, you truly tune in to it. And when you’re on a train, or you’re in a car, you don’t really have that much other distraction, do you? So, you have this ability to tune in to the story. And that’s also what I wanted to provide in terms of the podcast; it is not just factual information. I wanted people to know that Pharmacists are also humans. They also have lives outside of the Pharmacy. They also have passions. They might have kids and families. They might be supporting older parents. They may have a lot of things going on. And I wanted to share that journey and that story.” (6:35 – 7:31)
- “But what I think has surprised me is how determined we are as individuals and how much hard work and dedication that we put into our jobs in order to support patients. And even if you’re not in a patient-specific role, usually whatever you’re doing will end up impacting a patient in some way, shape, or form, most of the time. And it has genuinely surprised me how much Pharmacists get involved with so many things and how willing they are to be self-educated and continually learn and develop.” (8:40 – 9:15)
- “I’m very curious about what other people do, and I get really excited to see people flourishing and thriving in their own roles. And I get really excited to see what opportunities people have, why they’ve done what they’ve done, and how people are following their own passions and their own journeys within Pharmacy. (16:02 – 16:21)
- “It doesn’t feel like work. And when I know something doesn’t feel like work, I know I love it.” (18:59 – 19:05)
- “So, when it comes to advising other people, of course, follow your passions and follow what you’re interested in, but also try new things because you may find that you are good at something that you don’t expect and when you go out of your comfort zone, and you face your fears head-on, you’d be surprised what you learn about yourself.” (21:05 – 21:27)
- “So, part of the advice is not just about following your passions, but trying new things or doing a gap analysis and identifying, hey, I’m not very good at this skill; I don’t have much experience in the skill. Where can I find opportunities to hone in on it and improve on it?” (22:10 – 22:27)
- “One of my big goals is also to find an opportunity to work abroad because I am craving my next adventure, and I am looking into what that might look like at the moment. I am working on a grant application to work with potentially a country in Africa, hopefully, Uganda or Kenya, and working on a pediatric-specific project that allows me to utilize my skills. my experience and my clinical knowledge and help a third-world country effectively grow their clinical services and maybe education and training or support them with pediatric education and what they have to offer Pharmacy students or Pharmacists abroad.” (29:59 – 30:49)
Social Media Clips (Time Stamps)
- Anisha Patel: Shaping the Future of Pharmacy, One Podcast at a Time (1:57 – 7:50)
- Pharmacist Diaries: Anisha’s Unexpected Learnings from Pharmacy Pioneers (7:51 – 10:36)
- Prescribing Power: Anisha’s Prescription for the Future of Pharmacy Education (10:58 – 15:10)
- Unboxing Passion: Anisha Patel on Finding Joy Beyond Daily Challenges (15:13 – 19:05)
- Chance, Curiosity, and Careers: Anisha’s Recipe for Success (19:21 – 24:11)
- Dreams Beyond 9 to 5: Anisha’s Journey to Pharmapreneurship (24:19 – 30:49)
