What does it actually take to become a Director of Pharmacy? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Byron Alston, a Director of Pharmacy who oversees pharmacy operations across three hospital facilities of a major health system — managing everything from drug budgets and regulatory compliance to team culture and strategic planning. He ascended from staff clinical pharmacist to Director of Pharmacy in under than a decade — and obtained his Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) along the way to sharpen his business acumen.

Dr. Alston deep dives into his Pharmacy Director role AND explains the strategy for how he got there. And how you can get there too. He also offers practical advice on how to transition from being a hands-on doer to an empowering delegator, the power of internal networking, emotional intelligence, overcoming imposter syndrome, and identifying when you're ready to shoot your shot for a promotion.

Whether you're a pharmacy student mapping out your career path or a pharmacist ready to step into leadership, this conversation covers the real skills, career development strategies, and mindset shifts that separate staff pharmacists from directors.

🔑 More Key Topics Covered:

1. What a Director of Pharmacy actually does day-to-day
2. Typical career pathways and the value of advanced degrees
3. What it takes to successfully manage multiple facilities and personalities
4. Measurable goals and outcomes that are fundamental to drive growth
5. The signs of when you're ready (or not) for your next promotion

Quick Links:

👉 Subscribe to Newsletter For Exclusive Episode Recaps

👉 Become a Guest, fill out the form

👉 Make requests, submit questions, or give feedback

👉 About Pharmacy Pathways Video (3 min watch time)

Digging this content?

• 🔔 Subscribe to the channel for more expert knowledge and pharmacy insights.
• 💬 Rate the show! Let us and others know what you think

Disclaimers & Disclosures: The views and content expressed in this video are personal to the speaker(s) only, and not representative of any corresponding organizations or institutions. The content in this video (including text, graphics, images, and information) is intended for informational purposes, and may not be applicable to individual circumstances, therefore, speakers are not held accountable for the result of any actions taken or decisions made as a result of the content viewed. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized medical advice or your career coach for professional advice.

Thinking about a specialty pharmacy career? In this video, Dr. Alicia Scott breaks down exactly what it’s really like working as a solid organ transplant pharmacist! Her primary organ is the liver, but as a board-certified transplant specialist, her expertise covers other major organs (kidney, heart, and lung) as well. We explore the day-to-day responsibilities, residency training, and career paths across different transplant specialties so you can decide if becoming a transplant pharmacist is the right path for you!

🔑 What We Cover in This Interview:

1. The Career Roadmap: Navigating PGY1/PGY2 residencies & BCTXP certification
2. Choosing Your Specialty: Kidney, liver, heart, and lung transplants compared
3. Day in the Life: Inpatient vs. outpatient care & multidisciplinary rounding
4. The Patient Reality: Managing complex meds, immunosuppression, and costs
5. Alternative Paths: Non-clinical pharmacy career options (industry, research, etc)
6. Career Longevity: Real-world advice for avoiding pharmacist burnout.

Watch the SNPhA Episode Mentioned: https://youtu.be/e8Ay8KNP7t8

Quick Links:

👉 Subscribe to Newsletter For Exclusive Episode Recaps

👉 Become a Guest, fill out the form

👉 Make requests, submit questions, or give feedback

👉 About Pharmacy Pathways Video (3 min watch time)

Digging this content?

• 🔔 Subscribe to the channel for more expert knowledge and pharmacy insights.
• 💬 Rate the show! Let us and others know what you think

Disclaimers & Disclosures: The views and content expressed in this video are personal to the speaker(s) only, and not representative of any corresponding organizations or institutions. The content in this video (including text, graphics, images, and information) is intended for informational purposes, and may not be applicable to individual circumstances, therefore, speakers are not held accountable for the result of any actions taken or decisions made as a result of the content viewed. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized medical advice or your career coach for professional advice.

Thinking about pharmacy ownership or buying an independent pharmacy in 2026? In this deep-dive interview, independent pharmacy owner Dr. Keiko Bury shares the REAL numbers, mistakes, and mindset behind successful independent pharmacy ownership – so you can decide if owning a pharmacy is truly right for you. Dr. Keiko started as an 18-year-old cashier writing $200,000 checks with shaking hands. Today, she’s one of the few independent pharmacy owners who not only survived the last 7 years — but actually grew while other pharmacies closed their doors.

In this raw, unfiltered conversation, she breaks down the money, operations, and mindset every future pharmacy owner and pharmacist entrepreneur needs to understand before jumping into pharmacy ownership.

💰 THE MONEY REALITY:

• Why she couldn't pay her drug bill in 2020 (and how she fixed it)
• The hidden fees that can bankrupt your independent pharmacy if you don't track them
• How she transformed her pharmacy's finances in 6 months

📋 THE OPERATIONAL BLUEPRINT:

• Her exact weekly schedule as pharmacy owner
• How she built a team that runs the pharmacy WITHOUT her
• The clinical services that changed everything financially

⚠️ THE HARD TRUTHS:

• Contract negotiations that can quietly make or break your pharmacy
• Why “helping everyone” is the fastest way to go out of business
• The personality traits you NEED to survive as a pharmacist entrepreneurs

🔗 CONNECT WITH DR. KEIKO BURY:

• Website: www.CarboroFamilyPharmacy.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/carrboro_family_pharmacy
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/CarrboroFP

Quick Links:

👉 Subscribe to Newsletter For Exclusive Episode Recaps

👉 Become a Guest, fill out the form

👉 Make requests, submit questions, or give feedback

👉 About Pharmacy Pathways Video (3 min watch time)

Digging this content?

• 🔔 Subscribe to the channel for more expert knowledge and pharmacy insights.
• 💬 Rate the show! Let us and others know what you think

Disclaimers & Disclosures: The views and content expressed in this video are personal to the speaker(s) only, and not representative of any corresponding organizations or institutions. The content in this video (including text, graphics, images, and information) is intended for informational purposes, and may not be applicable to individual circumstances, therefore, speakers are not held accountable for the result of any actions taken or decisions made as a result of the content viewed. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized medical advice or your career coach for professional advice.