Happy National Pharmacist Day!
Celebrating the vital contributions of pharmacists at UC Davis Health and beyond
January 12 is National Pharmacist Day, which allows us to acknowledge the unique and vital contributions of pharmacists at UC Davis Health within the Medical Center and across education and training programs in the School of Medicine and the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing.
The UC Davis Library team at Blaisdell Medical Library works to support pharmacists in their practice, education, and research through books, journals, and databases. We ensure they have the most up-to-date information, which includes reconciling medication, detecting drug interactions, checking laboratory tests… but we’re getting ahead of ourselves! Keep reading to learn about the roles and responsibilities of three UC Davis pharmacists and the library resources they rely on, and to access our curated list of drug information and primary literature databases, books and eBooks.
— Stevie Jepson, Lynn Kysh, Melane Poloff
Blaisdell Medical Library
Interviews with UC Davis Pharmacists
Brent A Hall, PharmD, BCPPS (he/him/his)
Pharmacy Specialist, Pediatrics
What does a pharmacist do?
Not what you may think. I work as a pediatric clinical pharmacist. What this means is that my responsibilities are not so much with the dispensing of medications but more so with their application. I work in tandem with the physicians, nurses and other allied health professionals to select agents, determine appropriate dosing and monitoring as well as educating both the staff, families and patients on the proper use of these medications. I am also a residency program director which allows me to train the next generation of pediatric pharmacists.
Why did you become a pharmacist?
My first love was biology, but I wanted to find a way to apply this outside of the laboratory. After investigating different professions within health care, I felt that pharmacy was the best fit. It allows me to work with patient care but at the same time, maintain a positive work/life balance.
What do you wish people knew about pharmacists/your job?
That the profession of pharmacy is so much more varied than what you see at the local community pharmacy or on TV. Pharmacists can work in hospitals, ambulatory clinics as providers as well as in industry to promote medication development, and that is only the tip of the iceberg.
What library resources could you not live without?
Tertiary literature (Lexicomp, Micromedex, UpToDate) and primary literature [from a database like PubMed] are vital to our practice. We have to keep abreast of the newest information as the practice of medicine is ever changing.
Margaret Lim, PharmD, BCPS (she/her/hers)
Senior Clinical Pharmacist, Transitions of Care & Population Health
What does a pharmacist do?
Pharmacists are leading experts on drugs, dedicated to ensuring safety throughout the entire medication process. They’re the ones meticulously checking for the right medication, the right dose, and potential interactions with other drugs. Some are working behind the scenes like reviewing patient charts for safety and effectiveness. Others are working directly with patients at the pharmacy counter, providing crucial drug information. Pharmacists work in a variety of settings such as your local pharmacy to hospitals, clinics, pharmaceutical companies and even regulatory agencies (such as FDA, CDC, etc). They play a vital role in ensuring everyone gets the most out of their medications, whether it’s by directly interacting with patients or collaborating closely with healthcare providers.
Why did you become a pharmacist?
Initially, I got into pharmacy because I was fascinated by how drugs work. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the drugs, how they function within the body, and how they interact with other drugs. Now, I get a lot of satisfaction from helping patients understand their medications and feel more confident in their healthcare decisions. There’s a ton of information out there about drugs, and it can be overwhelming. I enjoy connecting with patients and figuring out the best medication regimen for them.
What do you wish people knew about pharmacists/your job?
I am a transition of care pharmacist, and my role might not be as obvious to everyone. I make sure patients’ medications therapy are safe and accurate when they move between different levels of care, like from the hospital to a nursing home. You’d be surprised how frequently medications errors can happen during these transitions! I carefully review their medications to catch any mistakes and assist in maximizing their drug therapy. I collaborate closely with the healthcare team to make sure everything goes smoothly and the patient gets the right medications.
What library resources could you not live without?
UpToDate and PubMed.
Samson Lee, PharmD, BCACP (he/him/his)
Senior Pharmacist, Quality Improvement & Value-Based Care
What does a pharmacist do?
A pharmacist is a healthcare professional committed to ensuring the safe, effective, and appropriate use of medications. While there are a diverse number of settings and roles, common responsibilities include reviewing medication orders, optimizing treatment regimens, accurately dispensing prescriptions, counseling patients on proper medication use, and monitoring for potential drug interactions or adverse effects. They work closely with physicians and other healthcare providers to develop comprehensive treatment plans, address barriers to medication access, and prevent medication errors. As patient advocates, pharmacists play a crucial role in promoting health, safety, and overall well-being.
As a population health pharmacist, my role focuses on improving health outcomes for groups of individuals through data-driven strategies. This involves analyzing healthcare data to identify trends and addressing medication-related challenges with targeted interventions. I work to implement strategies that enhance medication adherence and ensure patients are on guideline-directed therapies. This often includes providing individualized patient counseling and collaborating with healthcare teams to achieve financially incentivized quality metrics and drive better overall care.
Why did you become a pharmacist?
My inspiration to become a pharmacist stemmed from witnessing my grandmother’s struggles with uncontrolled diabetes and the challenges she faced, including language barriers, financial limitations, and poor health literacy. Her difficulties in understanding and managing her medications motivated me to pursue a career dedicated to bridging these gaps for others. I aspired to become someone who empowers patients—especially those in underserved communities—to overcome obstacles and take charge of their health with confidence and support.
What do you wish people knew about pharmacists/your job?
I wish more people recognized the broad range of roles and responsibilities pharmacists hold beyond dispensing medications. For instance, some pharmacists specialize in integrating advanced technology into healthcare systems, while others focus on personalized medicine, tailoring treatment regimens based on a patient’s genetic profile. Additionally, pharmacists work in diverse fields such as transplant medicine, endocrinology, cardiology, immunology, and more, playing essential roles in optimizing patient care and advancing specialized treatments across a variety of medical disciplines.
What library resources could you not live without?
The essential library resources I regularly rely on include comprehensive drug information databases such as Lexicomp and UpToDate, as well as PubMed for accessing the latest evidence-based medical research.
Library Resources for Pharmacists
Drug Information Databases and Collections
Primary Literature Databases
Books and eBooks
- ASHP Injectable Drug Information
- Briggs Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation: a Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk
- DiPiro’s Pharmacotherapy: a Pathophysiologic Approach
- Goodman & Gilman’s the Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics
- The Harriet Lane Handbook of Pediatric Antimicrobial Therapy
- Merck Veterinary Manual