Ciana Miles, '22
Population Health and Wellness Pharmacist
The Medicine Shoppe Boyertown
Briefly describe your position/opportunity
My role at the Medicine Shoppe is a fellowship position that has given me the training to implement new clinical opportunities at a nearby health center. I am able to work with patients at a Federally Qualified Health Center, doing direct patient care through Medicare services. My position allows me to work outside the box of community pharmacy and implement real change for patients by working along side their primary care providers on their medical team. I am involved with Medicare annual visits, chronic care management for a variety of disease states, and a newly implemented self monitored blood pressure program.
How did you first learn about or get connected to your current position/opportunity?
I was able to learn about this position from Scott Greene, Director of Experiential Programs at SJU. I had been in contact with him leading up to graduation and the months after and he knew that I was looking for a position. He told me about this opportunity and I immediately applied and was hired shortly after.
How did your SJU education impact your position or professional goals?
My time at PCP gave me the space to learn the fundamentals of pharmacy and become confident in my knowledge to go out on rotations and apply what I had learned. I am still learning in my currently position, but I really do think that through the didactic courses and reinforcement on IPPE and APPE rotations, I was ready to start my position with the knowledge I needed to be a good pharmacist.
Did you participate in any experiential learning activities (internship, co-op, study abroad, etc.) while at SJU?
When I was at PCP, I was able to go through many different experiential learning activities. These ranged from interprofessional activities with students from other universities and students from our own, in different programs. I also was able to go through IPPE and APPE experiences that let me explore the different avenues of pharmacy that ultimately led me to discover what I enjoy about pharmacy the most. I was able to find out which aspects I liked the best and then find a position that allowed me to do these. I knew that I enjoyed ambulatory care from my different rotations during my P4 year, and I especially enjoyed my academia rotation. Now at my current position, I am able to have the ambulatory care aspect of pharmacy with direct patient care, and I am able to precept students and work with interns.
