Periscope:Genesis

Hello, I'm a pharmacy student.

Yes. Pharmacists have to go to school. And it's all science, like medical school, and massively expensive, like medical school, and you earn a doctorate eventually, like medical school. However, we are eventually pooped out the other end hirable for a job that puts us immediately at the pinnacle of our earning power, usually around 100-120K per year. Medical doctors instead go into residencies or other education, and are paid half their worth for an additional 3-5 years.

Who am I? I'm a rocker, I'm a punk, an artist, a very opinionated and very willful 2nd year pharmacy student. I don't fit in my surroundings. I am outraged about the abuses that go unreported at pharmacy student internship rotations. I've been accused of being "unprofessional" when speaking out. I nurse my non-conformism. I am a lover of women.

I deplore middle management bullies, yet I work for the largest retail pharmacy chain in the country. In 3 short years in the pharmacy business, 1 of those as an intern, I've gotten a glimpse into who has been at the wheel of this pharmacy bus for so long: MBAs and lawyers. I see the surrendering of pharmacists in the retail setting, dealing with the load of condescending treatment and busy work bullshit piled on them daily. I also see how they make no remarks of protest over it, even though they are sought after due to their paucity in the market. I've seen a pharmacist accept $30,000 to stay with the company after complaining about not having enough tech coverage and putting patients at risk. The pharmacist took the money and nothing changed.

Right now, I don't know what a pharmacist is. Is a pharmacist a domesticated scientist? Drug manufacturer clerk? A respected practitioner who can take your blood pressure and skillfully switch your Zocor to simvastatin and save you a lot of money? Do pharmacists even consider themselves professionals?

Pharmacy is the most trusted profession, but far from the most respected.

I should disclaim that this blog has been long in the works. What has stopped me is the extreme, almost fascist negative reinforcement I have experienced people higher and sometimes even lower on the totem pole---showing any kind of resistance or hesitation to being abused raises corticosteroid levels of people responsible for crushing or shutting down your free will.

The fear of being discovered for who I am keeps me at bay, since I'm still budding and already fight an uphill battle due to opening my big mouth. In this profession, I have learned about the repercussions to be felt for bad-mouthing anybody, and how they can smite you down if they have any leverage or connections anywhere. I have learned how conservative the powers that be are: they don't care about your bright ideas nor about your hardships. I have learned from few examples that you have to bite your tongue, smile and prove yourself little by little. So I write this ready to go to distant lengths to protect my identity. I will respect HIPAA laws. I will be as honest and raw as possible without stooping to insults (I'll try).

Godspeed, and congratulations to myself on my new written baby.