During my freshman year in high school, my science teacher assigned us to interview people in the community about how they use science in their careers. Although I don’t remember most of the people I spoke with, I can tell you that I spent meaningful time with a local community pharmacist who changed my life.
What I saw was a man who loved his career and truly cared for his patients. In an instant, I knew that I wanted to become a pharmacist, and I never wavered from that goal throughout high school.
Knowing what you want to be when you grow up at age 14 is unusual, but it is very liberating. I simply had to work backwards to figure out how to achieve my goal of becoming a pharmacist.
After high school, I chose to attend Ohio Northern University (ONU) because it had a unique pharmacy program. Rather than attending college for 2 years and then applying to the pharmacy program, ONU students were admitted to the College of Pharmacy from day one.
Although it was expensive, being in pharmacy school from day one and avoiding the risk of rejection made it worthwhile for me.
In college, I spent a lot of time in the library. Although the classwork was difficult, I did well with one exception: organic chemistry.
I did fail organic chemistry—a notorious “weed out” course—but I successfully retook the class over the summer and graduated on time with the rest of my classmates. Failing a course is a difficult stumbling block, but I stood strong and persevered.
Today, I’m thankful for the wonderful pharmacy profession for so many reasons.
First, I’m thankful that community pharmacists are the health care professionals most accessible to the public. If my local pharmacist wasn’t accessible to me, then I likely would have taken a different career path.
Second, I’m proud of the work we pharmacists do, the diversity of our career options, and the relationships we share with our patients and fellow health care providers.
Pharmacy is a profession that makes a real difference in people’s lives. It certainly has made all the difference in mine.
Denmark, Dentist, Extra Stupid, Food & Drink, Parents/Guardians | Healthy | January 24, 2018
(My dad’s a dentist and I am at his office to pick him up after work because his car is in the shop. His last patient for the day is a little boy of about seven, and the moment I get in I can hear the parents yelling at him.)
Mother: “What do you mean his teeth are rotten?! They can’t be!”
My Dad: “Madam, your son has an extreme case of tooth decay, which is why he’s been having terrible tooth pains. I can possibly mend some of them, but he’ll probably have to have the majority of them pulled.”
Mother: “I can’t believe this. How could this happen?”
My Dad: “Well, does he eat a lot of candy?”
Mother: “He doesn’t eat sugar.”
My Dad: “Do you give him anything at night?”
Mother: “Yes, we give him honey.”
(They got super angry with my dad when he told them that was why their kid had bad teeth.)
Arizona, Pets & Animals, Revolting, Tucson, USA, Vet | Healthy | January 24, 2018
(We have just finished working with a cat who was so scared of being at the vet that she soiled herself, and then got it everywhere. I have finished cleaning the treatment area but have yet to wash my hands. As with all health fields, it’s common knowledge that anything on your hands will eventually end up in your mouth if you don’t wash them.)
Vet: “Would you like to look at her ear slide?”
Me: “Sure. Let me just wash my hands first.”
Vet: *jokingly* “You mean you don’t want to end up eating poop?”
(I start giggling.)
Me: “It’s not that I don’t want to ingest poop; I just don’t want to smell it on my hands!”
Arizona, Pets & Animals, Revolting, Tucson, USA, Vet | Healthy | January 24, 2018
(We have just finished working with a cat who was so scared of being at the vet that she soiled herself, and then got it everywhere. I have finished cleaning the treatment area but have yet to wash my hands. As with all health fields, it’s common knowledge that anything on your hands will eventually end up in your mouth if you don’t wash them.)
Vet: “Would you like to look at her ear slide?”
Me: “Sure. Let me just wash my hands first.”
Vet: *jokingly* “You mean you don’t want to end up eating poop?”
(I start giggling.)
Me: “It’s not that I don’t want to ingest poop; I just don’t want to smell it on my hands!”
At Least It’s Still Just A Penny For Your Thoughts
Money, Overheard, Pennsylvania, Pharmacy, USA | Healthy | January 24, 2018
(I am in line waiting to pick up a prescription. The customer at the register is taking longer than usual. The worker tells him to step to the side while they try to sort out the problem. I overhear this between the man who is picking up the prescription and his friend.)
Friend: “It’s only three dollars.”
Man: “I ain’t got that kind of money. Do you know anybody with that kind of money? These is crazy times we live in.”
Children, Dentist, France, Jerk, Lazy/Unhelpful, Parents/Guardians | Healthy | January 23, 2018
(I’m a dentistry student. At my university, we work in different services every half-day. Thursday morning is when I work with kids. A dad comes in with his two-year-old. The kid starts crying the moment he sees the dentist chair, and I know I’m not going to be able to do anything on him, because putting rotating metal things in the mouth of an uncooperative and squirmy two-year-old is dangerous for both him and me. In the patient’s file, I see that the dad was supposed to have taken an appointment with a teacher to have his kid sedated. He obviously hasn’t done so, because I’m the one taking care of him. I can’t even get a good look at the kid’s teeth, because he won’t open his mouth and he keeps crying. I tell the dad that he absolutely needs an appointment with sedation, or else we won’t be able to take care of his kid.)
Dad: “But they’re only baby teeth; it doesn’t matter if they have cavities!”
Me: “If the infection gets out of hand, the adult teeth could get infected, as well, and come out black and rotten. Not to mention that the bone could be eaten away by the bacteria.”
Dad: “So, what should I do?”
Me: “I can’t do anything right now with him in this state, but with sedation we could try it. He needs to be on an empty stomach, though.”
Dad: “Why?”
Me: “Because if not, he could throw up and drown himself.”
Dad: “Sure, but I come from [City not even 15 minutes away]; I don’t have time for this!”
(I call my professor to examine the child, and together we manage to put a temporary solution on the kid’s teeth. It involves a lot of crying and screaming, with an uncooperative dad that doesn’t want to hold his child, and keeps interrupting us to “go for a walk in the hallway” with his kid.)
Me: “Well, that should slow the cavities down, but keep brushing his teeth regularly.”
Dad: “Oh, he doesn’t brush his teeth.”
Me: “I know. He’s two; you’re supposed to do it.”
Dad: “Well, I don’t.”
Me: “You’re supposed to. I don’t suppose he dresses himself yet, either, but still, he’s not naked now. Same thing: you’re the one who made him, so you’re the one who should brush his teeth until he’s old enough to do it himself.”
Crazy Requests, Ignoring & Inattentive, Jerk, Office, Oregon, Portland, USA | Healthy | January 22, 2018
(Our office occupies the bottom two floors of the building. There is a medical office on the fourth floor which is accessed by an elevator in the main lobby. Recently, there has been construction in front of the building’s main door, but pedestrians can still access the door. I am in a meeting when I am called to one of our side entrances to deal with an irate couple, a man and a woman.)
Me: “Can I help you?”
(I see that the woman is walking with a cane.)
Woman: “I want you to let me in so I can get to the elevator. I have an appointment!”
Me: “I’m sorry, ma’am, but this is not [Medical Facility]. We can’t let you in because this area is restricted. If you want, I can walk you over to the main entrance and you can use the elevators there.”
Woman: “I can’t walk that far!”
(A coworker arrives at this time.)
Coworker: “It’s the same distance, either way. We can’t let you in.”
Man: “Well, we can’t go that way because of the construction! Unless you want to carry her, or you have a wheelchair, we need to get in this way!”
Me: “I’m sorry, but we can’t do that. You can get around the construction; I promise.”
(This goes on for several minutes. After a while, the woman goes to use a phone that’s near the door.)
Woman: “Give me the number for [Doctor]!”
Coworker: “Ma’am, that phone connects to the office I just came from. We aren’t [Medical Facility]. We don’t have the number.”
Man: “Do you have any wheelchairs?”
Me: “No, we don’t.”
(The two finally leave, but not before…)
Woman: “You need to figure out how to handle cases like this better!”
Me: “You have my deepest apologies, ma’am.”
Woman: “What good’s that going to do me?!”
(They walk outside, leaving my coworker and me behind.)
Me: “They seriously want us to stock wheelchairs for people who can’t be bothered to use the main entrance?”
Colorado, Doctor/Physician, Ignoring & Inattentive, Medical Office, USA | Healthy | January 22, 2018
(After a change in my insurance, I have to switch doctors. On my first exam, he stares long and hard at a small patch of pink skin on my stomach that my previous doctor dismissed as nothing.)
Doctor: “How long have you had that bright pink spot on your stomach?”
Me: “Three or four years.”
Doctor: “Have you ever had a dermatologist examine it?”
Me: “No, I didn’t think it was anything serious. My GP said it was probably nothing.”
Doctor: “Well, I think it’s probably a basal cell carcinoma. That’s a slow-growing cancer, but if it’s been left alone for years, we need to remove it ASAP. Let me call our dermatologist.”
(The dermatologist confirmed his suspicions, and a growth the size of an apple was cut out of my stomach later that week. It hadn’t spread anywhere, thankfully. Good thing for me I had to change doctors!)
Doctor, Ignoring & Inattentive, Medical Office, North Carolina, USA | Healthy | January 21, 2018
(My mother has a really bad needle phobia. She’s tried therapy for it, but still has panic attacks and worse reactions when she needs shots or blood draws. The people at our old clinic knew about it, but when we move, she has to see a new doctor, and needs her tetanus booster shot.)
Mom: “I have a pretty bad needle phobia.”
Doctor: “That’s fine; lots of people do.”
Mom: “No, I mean really bad. When I see the needle, I’m going to pass out. I’m going to jerk around; one doctor said it looked like I had a seizure. I need you to listen to me. Give me the shot while I’m unconscious. If you need me to sign something giving permission, I’ll do that, but you need to give me that the first time I pass out, because I really don’t want to have to do it twice.”
Doctor: “I’m sure it will be fine. Just don’t look at the needle.”
Mom: “No, that doesn’t work. Just knowing that I’m going to get a shot is enough to trigger a reaction. My doctor said she left a note in my file. Can you look? I’m serious; this is going to be a severe reaction.”
Doctor: “Okay, okay, I hear you.”
Mom: “All right.”
(He pulls out the needle, my mom passes out, and she comes to a few minutes later, with the doctor and a nurse standing over her, trying to bring her around. She tries to sit up.)
Doctor: “Don’t move; you had a seizure!”
Mom: “No, no, I told you: that’s just part of my reaction. I didn’t actually have a seizure.”
Doctor: “You passed out! You were having a seizure!”
Mom: “No, I wasn’t! I told you: this is what happens when I get shots. I’ll be fine in a minute.”
(She starts to move, then notices that there’s no bandage on her arm.)
Mom: “Did you give me the shot?”
Doctor: “No! You were having a seizure! I can’t give you a shot while you’re unconscious!”
Mom: “But I told you to!”
Doctor: “Look, I think we should run some tests to make sure you’re okay. If you are, I’ll give you the shot then.”
Mom: “You know, I think I’ll take my chances with the tetanus.”
(She went to another doctor, who not only listened to her, but gave her a mild sedative, and has since provided her with one whenever she needs blood-work or shots.)
Doctor, Emergency Room, Hospital, Nurse, Seattle, Silly, USA, Washington | Healthy | January 20, 2018
(Several years ago, I had an accident that required a skin graft on a knuckle. Present day: I hit my hand while working, causing the skin graft to split open, meaning I need stitches. I get to the hospital at about 4:30 pm, and it is PACKED. It is almost 2:00 in the morning before the doctor can even have a look at me.)
Doctor: “Yeah, you will need stitches, so I’m going to give you some novocaine to numb your finger up. We’ll give it 15 minutes to take effect, and get started.”
Me: “Don’t worry about that. It is a skin graft. You would need to poke me where I can feel it, to numb me up where I already can’t feel anything. Just sew it up, please.”
(The doctor agrees, gets a nurse to bring in the kit and hand him stuff, and starts stitching. I can’t feel a thing. After a few minutes, the nurse leans over and asks
Nurse: “So, is the novocaine still working?”
(In my defence, I am tired and incredibly bored, so I just look up with a horrified expression and say
Me: “I NEVER GOT ANY!”
(The nurse’s eyes almost pop out, and she is ready to flip out. The doctor just looks up at me and says
Doctor: “Oh, shut up, you baby.”
(Sorry, nurse, but the doc and I got a good laugh, at least.)
Bad Behavior, Extra Stupid, Jerk, Maine, Medical Office, Reception, USA | Healthy | January 19, 2018
(I am waiting at a doctor’s office. I have heard some crazy things at this place, but this is pretty nuts, even by their standards. A man is sitting in the waiting room, talking to the receptionist. He’s in his twenties.)
Man: “Can you give me some birth control?”
Receptionist: *looks at him a bit strangely* “Okay.”
Man: “Like, the copper thingy?”
Me: “That’s for girls.”
Man: “Jesus! Why are you so f****** sexist? You dumb b****! I can get it, too, if I want it!”
Hospital, Ignoring & Inattentive, LGBTQ, Minnesota, Nurse, USA | Healthy | January 19, 2018
(I’m in the ER with a dislocated shoulder.)
Nurse: “Are you on any medication?”
Me: “Synthroid, and I have an IUD.”
Nurse: “Any major surgeries?”
Me: “Appendix when I was 16, I had my thyroid removed last year due to cancer, and a few months ago I had a tumor removed from my foot.”
Nurse: “Any history of thyroid issues?”
Me: “Thyroid cancer, yes, last year.”
Nurse: “Any history of cancer?”
Me: “Thyroid. Cancer. Last. Year.”
Nurse: “Any chance you’re pregnant?”
Me: “No.”
Nurse: “You’re married. Are you sexually active?”
Me: “Yes, my wife and I are active.”
Nurse: “Are you sure you’re not pregnant?”
Me: “No, I’m married to a woman.”
Nurse: “When was your last period?”
Me: “When I got my IUD put in last year. I haven’t had one since.”
Nurse: *disbelieving look* “So, you haven’t had a period in several months, but you’re not pregnant?”
My Wife: “Oh, my. We are sexually active. We are married. Lesbians!“
(The nurse left. A few minutes later, a male nurse apologetically came in and asked for my history again. He was much better and joked that lesbianisim was the best birth control
Medical Office | OK, USA | Working | December 14, 2016
(I’m not the best at keeping track of things on the calendar. I realize that I have not booked an appointment to get my daughter’s follow up vaccines, so I call one morning.)
Me: “Hi, my daughter needs to get her booster shots. I’m afraid I’ve put this off by two months.”
Receptionist: “No problem. You can bring her in this morning.”
Me: “Oh! Perfect! Thanks! We’ll be in soon.”
(She takes my daughter’s name and info. I hung up and began to gather what we’d need for our time out of the house. Just as I reach the front door with diaper bag, book, and baby, the phone rings.)
Me: “Hello?”
Receptionist: “Hi. This is [Receptionist] from [Doctor’s Office].”
Me: “Yes?”
Receptionist: “I’m afraid your daughter won’t be able to get her booster shots on a walk-in basis today as she is two months past schedule.”
Me: “Oh, yes, I know we’re late. What should I do then?”
Receptionist: “You’ll have to call for an appointment.”
Me: “Can I make the appointment now?”
Receptionist: “No. You’ll have to call to make an appointment.”
Me: “Okay.”
(I hang up, look up the number (this was before caller ID), and call the doctor’s office.)
Receptionist: *same voice as before* “Hello, [Doctor’s Office]. [Receptionist] speaking. How can I help you?”
Me: “Yeah, I’m calling to make an appointment for my daughter to get her booster shots.”
Receptionist: “Oh, you don’t need to call for that. She can get them as a walk in.”
Me: “No, I’ve put it off too long. I was told we’ll need an appointment.”
Receptionist: “No, you can just walk in.”
Me: “I was told by you that we’d need an appointment.”
Receptionist: “No, you can just walk in.”
Me: “You called me not three minutes ago saying we’d need an appointment.”
Receptionist: “No, you can just walk in.”
Me: “Okay, instead, I’ll be picking up my daughter’s medical records. We’ll be changing doctors. How soon can I get those?”
Receptionist: “Changing doctors? Why?”
Me: “Just please get the records together. I’ll pick them up in an hour.”
(We did change doctors. Sad, because I liked that one. But dealing with the receptionist was more than I could take
Bosses & Owners, Jerk, Lazy/Unhelpful, Office, Spouses & Partners, UK | Working | November 27, 2017
Receptionist: “Hello, [Business].”
Me: “Hi. Could I please speak to [Manager], please?”
Receptionist: *click*
(I phone again, thinking I was just disconnected by accident.)
Receptionist: “Hello, [Business].”
Me: “Hi, I think—”
Receptionist: *click*
(Knowing she actually cut me off this time, I phone back again.)
Receptionist: “Hello, [Business].”
Me: “Why do you keep cutting me off?!”
Receptionist: “Because this is a cold call, and I’m told to hang up on them.”
Me: “Actually, I’m [Manager]’s husband, and I’d like to speak to him.”
Receptionist: “Yeah, right!” *laughing* “I’ve met his wife.” *click*
(Having had enough, I decide to just drive down.)
Receptionist: *smiling brightly* “Hello, welcome to [Business]. How can I help you?”
Me: “I’d like to speak to [Manager].”
Receptionist: “What reason do you have to speak to him? Do you have an appointment?”
Me: “I’m his husband, and no.”
(She realises who I am and sneers.)
Receptionist: *sarcastically* “Really? You’re that desperate?”
(Coincidently, my husband happens to walk by.)
Husband: “[My Name]? What are you doing here?”
Receptionist: “You know this degenerate?” *smugly* “I was just about to have him removed.”
Husband: “What? Why? He’s my husband!”
(The receptionist blushes and we stand in awkward silence for a few seconds.)
Me: *to the receptionist* “You want to explain?”
(The receptionist stammered through her explanation, with me inserting her claim that he had a wife after she neglected to mention it. My husband actually found it hilarious. She isn’t allowed near the phones anymore, though.)
Market Research | Canada | Working | April 21, 2017
(I work at a market research firm. Part of my job involves calling the manufacturers of high-tech devices to interview them. Some of the companies I call are very large, and others are quite small family firms. Some of the smaller companies have local radio stations on instead of hold music. Usually these are country music stations with ads about farm equipment. One time though
Me: “Hello, this is [My Name] calling from [Company]. Could I be connected with [Project Manager], please?”
Receptionist: “Sure thing. Please hold.”
Me: “Okay.”
Hold Music: *really loud gangsta rap* “MY MONEY AND MY HOES!”
(I started laughing so hard I had to hang up and call back again.)
Canada, Lazy/Unhelpful, Medical Office, Quebec, Reception | Healthy | January 18, 2018
(There is a small medical clinic where I live. Usually, for walk-in patients, you get to the door very early, wait until they open it, then head for the desk, where you are assigned an appointment time for the day depending on the order of arrival. Usually, people behave and do not jump forward. Rarely, but sometimes, the clinic isn’t full, and going in mid-morning, you might still get a spot. It’s about 11, and I feel I might have a feminine infection. I stop by the clinic to see if there’s room.)
Secretary: “I’m sorry. There’s a new phone system in place. Now you have to call in the morning and leave your name and phone number. Someone will call you back with the time of your appointment.”
Me: “Well, I’m right here. Can’t you just give me a time?”
Secretary: “No, you have to call.”
Me: “Okay, fine.”
(I make two steps to the side, pick up my cellphone, take the card she gave me with the phone number, and start dialing. The secretary looks at me.)
Secretary: “What are you doing?”
Me: “Calling for an appointment. You said I absolutely had to call.”
Secretary: “Ugh… Okay, I’ll give you one.”
(I believe she suddenly realized that I would have left my info on the answering machine, that she would have listen to it, then call me back with the time, all while I was standing in front of her.)
Her Hearing Is Going But Her Eyes Are Sharp As A Hawk’s
Bizarre, Golden Years, Health & Body, home, UK | Healthy | January 17, 2018
(I work in a local doctor’s surgery, running a clinic fixing hearing aids. I’m at home with my family when the doorbell rings. An elderly lady is standing outside.)
Elderly Lady: “Hello, are you the hearing aid lady?”
Me: “Yes…”
Elderly Lady: *hands me a small package* “The hospital posted me a new hearing aid mould, but I don’t know how to fit it. I didn’t want to wait for the clinic.”
Me: “How did you find me?”
Elderly Lady: “I saw you going home and I recognised you. Can you put my hearing aid together?”
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