Sean Chantarapanont

Specialty

I currently serve as the Clinical Pharmacy Manager at Community Healthcare System- Community Hospital, and will serve as the PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Program Director for our hospitals new PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program starting in the 2015-2016 year.

Role

As the Clinical Pharmacy Manager at our institution, I am responsible for oversight of the clinical pharmacy services at our hospital and health care system. I collaborate and facilitate our department's collaboration with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers to develop policies, procedures and workflows to provide the best care to our patients. I will also serve as the PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program Director for our institution, which will be starting its inaugural class for the 2015- 2016 residency year. As program director, I have the privilege of instructing, modeling, coaching and facilitating residents that will be the future of our profession.

How He Got There

The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Pharmacy provided me with abundant opportunities to explore various pharmacy practice settings and among other skills, provided me with strong clinical pharmacy training and experience. During my time at UIC, I was fortunate enough to be able to work and learn as a pharmacy extern in their ambulatory care pharmacies which greatly complemented my didactic coursework, in addition to exposing me to great pharmacist, technician and management staff of whom I still reflect on today. My interest for Pharmacy Administration was sparked during one of my advanced pharmacy practice experience administrative electives in pharmacy school. That was the experience that really helped me understand the impact that a pharmacist could make on a system level. Following graduation, I continued my professional development with NorthShore University HealthSystem where I completed a PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency and a PGY-2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration Residency. During my first year of residency, I was further exposed to the multitude of therapeutic areas available to pharmacists and was encouraged to sharpen my clinical skills. During my second year of residency, I was able to truly learn and understand the tools, skills and relationships necessary to manage, coach, facilitate, and mentor successfully. The technicians, pharmacists, preceptors and program directors in the program offered me inspiring and meaningful experiences that culminated to develop me personally and professionally. Since residency, I obtained my current position as the Clinical Pharmacy Manager at Community Healthcare System-Community Hospital.

Other Professional Activities

I currently serve on the New Practitioners Forum (NPF) Communications Advisory Group within ASHP. I have previously served on the ASHP NPF Leadership and Career Development Advisory Group and for a marketing and communications committee for the Illinois Council of Health System Pharmacists. I also currently serve as an active reviewer for AJHP and am a board certified pharmacotherapy specialist.

Advanced Training

After graduating from pharmacy school, I completed a PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at NorthShore University HealthSystem – Highland Park Hospital, followed by a PGY-2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration Residency at NorthShore University HealthSystem – Evanston Hospital.

Advice

A motto I learned from a previous preceptor has resonated with me for years. “Scare yourself every day”. I often see students, technicians, and pharmacists sell themselves short by not taking on larger tasks and pushing themselves to their limits because they fear the unknown. I know it is scary to go into this realm, outside of your comfort zone, where you have never been before. I know first-hand because I was (and sometimes still am) guilty of this. Believe in yourself, your abilities, and those around you and don’t be afraid. Even when the unknown takes a turn for the worst, you will learn, and likely be surprised in what you find out about yourself and others when handling these situations. Push yourself every day and “scare” yourself, because that is the only way we truly learn and grow.