Tripler Army Medical Center –
Meet Bonnie Bennett, who currently serves as a clinical pharmacist at TAMC.
Learn more about Bonnie Bennett in the Q&A below!
Q: Tell us about yourself?
I enjoy being in the ocean, swimming or scuba diving. I also enjoy traveling and learning from other cultures.
Q: What inspired you to work in pharmacy?
The summer before my junior year of high school, I took the first responder course as a requirement for Milwaukee County lifeguard training. While working at the waterpark, I was involved in rescues and medical emergencies. This sparked my interest in helping others via a medical career. My best subject in school was chemistry, and pharmacy seemed like the best fit.
Q: What are the some reasons you enjoy being a pharmacist at Tripler?
- The patients: I am privileged to have clinic appointments with patients to help them reach their health goals.
- Continuity: I have been caring for most of my patients since I started seven years ago. I can care for them during rough times and share in their successes.
- Autonomy: I can prescribe as a credentialed pharmacist, which allows the ability to combine my pharmacy knowledge with the patient needs to create the best medication regimen to reach their goals.
- Multidisciplinary team: In the clinic, I can collaborate daily with the physicians, nurse practitioners, residents, nurses, and MSAs (Medical support assistants/front desk) to ensure our patients are getting the best care. I also get great support from our pharmacy technicians and pharmacist colleagues.
- Leadership: I have supportive supervisors in both the pharmacy and clinic who help ensure I can do my job effectively in a safe and supportive environment.
Q. What advice would you give to a student interested in becoming a pharmacist?
Take advantage of as many real-life learning experiences as you are able. Outreach, school programs, work, and rotations will all give you more experience and learning opportunities.
Q. How do you inspire future pharmacists?
You can truly improve patient care in every pharmacy practice area. From retail, inpatient, clinic, to specialty areas (ER, oncology, anticoagulation, ICU, NICU, pediatrics, etc.) by preventing errors, providing positive patient counseling, and ensuring medications are correct for the patient at that time. Every area of pharmacy has a huge impact, find the one that is the best fit for you.