MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ,PharmD Lekisha Griffin
In fall of 1998, I was a senior at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York and my work-study fund- ing had run out. I needed a part-time job and saw a poster that the local Rite Aid was look- ing for a front-end cashier. I had never used a cash register before but figured if they trained me, I could do the job. I was inter- viewed by the store manager and he decided that based on my sci- ence and math background, he placed in the pharmacy depart- ment as a clerk and cashier. From this experience, I learned how to count tablets, label pre- scription vials, and use the cash register. I applied for veterinary school and was not accepted so I moved back home to Rochester. I was also able to transfer to a Rite Aid in Rochester and became a full-time pharmacy technician. In early 2000, a magazine arrived at the pharmacy called Today’s Technician from NPTA. I started reading it and was shocked! I had no idea that pharmacy technicians could be nation- ally certified and that they could do continuing education (CE)! They even advertised for review WHEN DID YOU FIRST BECOME INTERESTED IN BECOMING A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN?
Professional organizations matter! It is often professional organizations that can impact and argue on behalf of its members regarding scope of practice issues such as immunizations. “
manuals to help you prepare for the test. The phar- macists I worked with kept telling me that I should go to pharmacy school and become a pharmacist. I was not interested in becoming a pharmacist because my dream was to become a veterinarian. After receiv- ing my fifth rejection letter for veterinary school in the spring of 2000, I decided that I would pursue phar- macy technician certification. I purchased the review manuals from NPTA. If I did well on the certifica- tion exam, I would think about applying to pharmacy school. I took the PTCB exam in March 2001 and got a score of 831 out 900 points. I was so proud to be a CPhT and received a $1.05 raise because I was certified.
ABOUT LEKISHA GRIFFIN
I was born and raised in Rochester, New York. I am the oldest of 4 children. When I was 6 years old, my German Shepherd Mix dog named Blaze was killed by a drunk driver in a hit and run accident. She was severely injured and my family could not afford to take her to the vet. Animal control was called and she was euthanized. It was the saddest day in my life and I was determined that I would become a veterinar- ian to save animals like Blaze so that other children would not have to experience what I went through. I am also a mother to 11 year old fraternal twin boys.
CPhT CONNECT www.pharmacy technician.org 38
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