Navigating Full-Scope Pharmacy: Teamwork, Mentorship, and Self-Awareness

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In this episode of Pharmacy View Podcast’s Full Scope Pharmacy Leadership stream, host, Chantelle Turner, a Pharmacist Leadership and Business Coach at TURN Pharmacy Leadership, speaks with Curtis Ruhnau, Pharmacist, a partner at Emerton Pharmacy and President of the Pharmacists’ Support Service (PSS). Curtis reflects on their journey into the pharmacy profession, driven by a passion for chronic care management and a commitment to supporting both patients and fellow Pharmacists. They share insights into Emerton Pharmacy’s recent dual recognition in 2024, winning Excellence in Community Engagement and Excellence in Harm Minimisation, demonstrating their dedication to patient care and public health.

Pharmacy View Podcast · EP 104 -Pharmacy View Podcast -Navigating Full-Scope Pharmacy:Teamwork, Mentorship, & Self-Awareness

Curtis discusses the increasing importance of mental health and self-awareness within the Pharmacy profession, particularly post-COVID, where many Pharmacists face stress, uncertainty, and isolation. Drawing from their experience teaching medical students about self-awareness, Curtis highlights the need for greater advocacy around mental well-being in Pharmacy. They address how these challenges manifest in the evolving landscape of full-scope Pharmacy practice and emphasise the value of honest communication and proactive strategies for maintaining mental health.

Curtis shares personal insights into managing stress, emphasising the importance of acknowledging imposter syndrome and viewing it as a prompt for continuous learning. They describe their own approach to upskilling and self-care, sharing personal practices like reflection and stress management techniques. Curtis further underscores the role of mentorship, community, and teamwork in professional success, acknowledging that leadership often involves collective effort and support.

The episode concludes with a powerful discussion on the value of “listening with intention” in leadership. Curtis recounts lessons learned from Indigenous elders about the significance of deep listening and emotional intelligence in building empathetic and supportive teams. They highlight how small, intentional actions can strengthen the pharmacy community and foster a culture of care, reinforcing that empathy and active listening are essential for effective leadership and long-term growth in the profession.

Topics Covered

Curtis’ Journey into Pharmacy
Mental Health Advocacy
Team Communication
Proactive Self-Care
Listening with Intention

Key Quotes (Time Stamps)

“For those of you who haven’t heard, I live and breathe and bleed Community Pharmacy. I’ve never really wanted to be anything else.” (4:07 – 4:16)

“And while I appreciate that there are a lot of people out there doing jobs that I can’t do, I really love where we are and what we do as Community Pharmacists.” (5:07 – 5:18)

“What I really love to do is help people and what I really get to do is get to help other Pharmacists, which I suppose is, for me it’s the ultimate of helping other people is, helping other Pharmacists who then get to be able to help other people as well.” (6:18 – 6:33)

“So, we don’t know what that’s going to look like. And so, what we’ve done with our team is say this is what we know, this is what we don’t know, and let’s just have a discussion.” (13:18 – 13:30)

“And so not knowing where that end point is not necessarily a big problem. It’s knowing that there’s a starting point that you need to acknowledge and just not be afraid and start moving from there.” (17:52 – 17:59)

“But for us, it’s always been a case of that old maxim—I’ve never seen a need without trying to do something about it. And that doesn’t mean that you’re going to have the answers to what that something is. But it just means that you can identify that there’s a need. And I’ve seen that there’s a need. And so, who better than me to make a start?” (19:22- 19:48)

“So, our team in the Pharmacy is very culturally diverse and we find that for us that’s a wonderful strength. I know that I haven’t always thought that would be the case, but it certainly is a strength for us. And I think that brings that realisation that there’s far more that unites us than divides us.” (28:45 – 29:09)

“I think the biggest thing is understanding when you need support and being able to ask for that support; but also, being able to reach out and say that somebody else needs support and realising that by reaching out to somebody else you’re actually going to get a nice little endorphin boost out of that as well.” (32:02 – 32:28)

“We listen with our ears and we listen and feel what it is that that person is trying to convey. So, it would be listening with intention.” (44:43 – 44:22)

Important Time Stamps

From Mad Scientist Dreams to Chronic Care Specialist: Curtis Ruhnau’s Pharmacy Journey (2:24 – 6:33)
Curtis Ruhnau on the New Era of Full-Scope Pharmacy and Its Challenges (6:50 – 11:47)
Self-Awareness in Leadership: The Power of Small Steps in Big Changes (11:48 – 18:45)
Proactive Pharmacy Leadership: Curtis on Tackling Challenges Head-On (18:47 – 22:00)
Pharmacy Leadership Insights: The Strength of Diversity and Community (22:01 – 29:41)
Small Gestures, Big Impact: Building Belonging in Teams (30:06 – 38:24)
Personal Growth Fuels Business Success: Curtis Ruhnau on Leadership (38:34 – 42:22)
The Power of Listening: Curtis Ruhnau’s Ultimate Leadership Tool (42:29 – 46:20)