Clinical Pharmacist
Allana M. Alexander, Pharm.D., M.S.
Meet our graduate, Allan M. Alexander. Read about her background as a clinical pharmacist and how the MTM program helped her further her career.
Background
I was born and raised about one hour east of Gainesville in Palatka, FL. I graduated from the University of Florida in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Nutritional Sciences. In 2014, I obtained my Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Samford University’s McWhorter School of Pharmacy. Currently, I am a managed care pharmacy practice resident with VIVA Health, Inc. in Birmingham, AL. Upon completion of residency training, I will continue employment at Viva Health, Inc. as a Health Home Clinical Pharmacist. I am a foodie and my hobbies include traveling, singing, swimming, cooking, running and teaching myself acoustic guitar. If something on my schedule gets cancelled, you’re likely to find me somewhere taking a nap.
Why did you choose the online Medication Therapy Management Master’s Degree Program?
Through my pharmacy school curriculum and extracurricular organization involvement, I developed a passion for providing clinical services. I soon realized medication therapy management (MTM) was the ideal platform to fulfill my desire. Upon completing pharmacy school, I aspired to provide the best MTM services to my patients. Even though I had already earned a MTM certificate through the American Pharmacists Association, I knew I needed something more. The Master’s Degree program provided an optimal opportunity to perfect my craft and strengthen my existing clinical skills and knowledge.
What surprised you most about the program?
I was pleasantly surprised by the wealth of information received not only through textbooks and program materials, but from professors and fellow students from varying professions. There were years of experience and expertise between the students and professors, and this provided innumerable opportunities to share clinical pearls of wisdom that cannot be taught in the classroom.
What was your favorite part of the online learning experience?
My favorite part of the online learning experience was the flexibility. When I started the program I was working and traveling on a full-time basis with community pharmacy, which presented a large amount of time barriers and constraints. Nonetheless, the flexibility of the program allowed me to listen to recorded lectures, work on assignments ahead of schedule and even catch up during my off days.
What has been the most useful takeaway that you have applied to your day-to-day responsibilities?
The most useful takeaway I’ve applied to my day-to-day responsibilities is to always keep patient care at the center of everything I do. This involves listening to and empathizing with my patients in order to keep the lines of communication open and to effectively navigate their health across the care continuum with other healthcare professionals.
How has furthering your medication therapy management education affected your current work?
Overall, I feel furthering my MTM education has made me a better clinical pharmacist. The skills and knowledge I obtained from the program allows me to provide more thorough care for my patients. I was recently afforded the opportunity to design and facilitate a MTM training course for our pharmacists and nurses at VIVA Health, Inc. Also, with the recent changes made by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), I’m also working with our pharmacy department to enhance our MTM metrics at VIVA Health from a quality of care perspective.