Speaker: Briana Wukovich, Professional Development & Continuing Education Coordinator, OPA
How did you get started as pharmacy tech?
Briana Wukovich: Well, like many people in our profession, I kind of fell into pharmacy. I started working, I was working at Kroger in the customer service desk at the time when an opening of pharmacy came up, and I was really interested, so I applied for a transfer, and then the rest is pretty much history there. I really enjoyed working in pharmacy. So I really wanted to learn as much as I could. And I moved up at Kroger to a level 3 technician, which at that time was the highest that they had available. And in my state they didn't require a certification, they still don't for community pharmacy generally. But I knew that I had an interest in hospital pharmacy like after, studying for the certification exam and learning about sterile compounding, it really piqued my interest. So I started working at my local hospital and then I've held a lot of roles throughout that, health, health system. I was part of a huge health system. So I've worked in outpatient infusion or making chemo meds. And that's something I really enjoyed. I have been a USP 797 designated person helping with all the sterile compounding competencies and training. I've also been a technology specialist and a controlled substance diversion prevention specialist at my most, previous role. Before starting an association management and continuing education at the Ohio Pharmacists Association where I am now.
What has helped you advance into your current role?
Briana Wukovich: I think what really helped me advance into my current role is just being my love of learning, honestly. So I've pursued multiple different certifications that have helped advance my knowledge of pharmacy, and we have the sterile compounding, hazardous drugs, controlled substance diversion prevention, I've also presented, continue, written and presented continuing education for the National Pharmacy Technician Association before I started my role, and I feel like that really helped because I was able to submit like a sample of continuing education that I've written and worked on to help demonstrate that I was ready to take on The role of being a CPE administrator.
What advice would you give to someone entering the pharmacy technician field?
Briana Wukovich: The advice I would give someone entering the technician field is to really explore your options. There's multiple different pathways for you to, work up to. So just really kind of explore what interests you the most. There's always new opportunities, opening for technicians almost every day, especially now, it's evolving faster than ever before, so. Definitely just do your research, join associations, talk to other technicians, see what's possible, see what's out there. That's definitely my best advice for you.
