Pharmacy technician training program seeing success in its inaugural year

In July, the Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences launched its Pharmacy Technician Training Program. Anyone in the Binghamton region with a high school diploma can take the five-month hybrid class.

Now, the program is preparing to graduate its first class of learners who are eager to start their journeys as certified technicians at local pharmacy locations.

Katie Sasina, an instructional support associate, has helped to teach the learners throughout the summer and fall. With almost 13 years of experience as a certified pharmacy technician at local hospitals and community pharmacies, she says hands-on learning is one of the most important aspects of the program.

"Our pharmacy technician learners have worked in almost every aspect of pharmacy, from collecting patients' insurance information and reading/entering prescriptions to learning how to compound sterile IV solutions and administer vaccinations," Sasina said. "They have shown excellence in all that they have learned, and they rotated through local hospital and community pharmacies as well to gain further experience and knowledge."

Kenneth McCall, the program's director and SOPPS's clinical professor and chair of pharmacy practice, said the agreements with local hospitals and pharmacies allow participants to gain valuable experience in a real-world setting before entering the workforce.

"The trainees in our inaugural class of the pharmacy technician program are now at the practice sites for hands-on training," he said. "These real-world experiences, including preparing medications for both inpatient and outpatient settings, are essential for them to be practice-ready for their healthcare careers. We look forward to hearing feedback from our preceptors so that we can continue to strengthen the program."

With the first class graduating on Nov. 22, program participants shared their thoughts about the experience.

"This program has given me so much more knowledge about the medical field and it's all so interesting to learn about," said Jada Williams, a recent high school graduate. "Being able to have hands-on training to make medications was an incredible experience, and it's amazing to me how we can learn about all of it in such a short period of time. I appreciate the school allowing me to learn about it all."

Cheryl Mullens, a non-traditional student, saw the program advertised in the spring and decided to jump at the opportunity. It was all she was hoping for and more.

"The pharmacy technician program far exceeded my expectations," she said. "The flexibility of being a hybrid program is what pushed me to leap into a new career path, as well as the continuous support I received from my professors and classmates. This experience has taught me invaluable skills, knowledge and confidence to prepare me for the world of pharmacy. I would highly recommend the pharmacy technician program to anyone who's ready to make a change and try something new."

Sharavia Weathers has already had a career in the healthcare field but was ready for something new. She says this program gave her the new experience she was looking for.

"With my eight years of experience already in healthcare, I was confident and beyond ready to take a new path within the field," she said. "The professors running the program are hands-down amazing. They make you feel comfortable with so much help, guidance and a lot of reassurance. I feel confident with pharmacy technician being my new career choice because of all the positive feedback and knowledge I obtained. I would wholeheartedly recommend this program to anyone looking for a career change or just wanting to try something new."

National Pharmacy Technician Day is Tuesday, Oct. 15, so McCall and Sasina will be traveling to the local rotation sites and delivering a small token of appreciation to the preceptors and pharmacy technicians who have been helping the program's learners.

"Pharmacy technicians are essential members of the healthcare team," McCall said. "Nearly every medication administered in the hospital or dispensed for use at home has been prepared by a pharmacy technician while assisting the pharmacist. And yet, the dedication and skills of pharmacy technicians often go under-recognized. We will be delivering bagels to our program learners and preceptors on Oct. 15 to celebrate the contributions of pharmacy technicians to patient care."