Becoming a pharmacist was the best medicine for me

By Marie DeBerry-Butler, PharmD


Pharmacy Resident, AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center

I grew up thinking of the pharmacist as the person who provided the medications I needed when I was sick. Little did I know that one day, I would be that person – and so much more.

Eight years ago, I started the journey that led me to being a pharmacist.

It began in high school when I first learned about pharmacy. The idea that I could help so many people, in such an important way, immediately attracted me. Once I knew this was what I wanted to do, I decided to earn my pharmacy technician certification. Soon after, I began working as a pharmacy technician. By 2013, I was working as a tech at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center (ARMC) Mainland Campus.

AtlantiCare is where the world of pharmacy really opened up to me.

Yes, I was filling prescriptions, but I was doing so much more. By preparing IVs for the NICU, I helped ensure that a premature baby had a safe dose of antibiotics. I was also able to assure that a patient in the critical care unit received medications in a timely manner. I did all this and more while being a part of an interprofessional team.

I soon realized that, with additional education and training, there was a whole field of pharmacy career possibilities I could explore and pursue!

When I graduated from Atlantic Cape Community College (ACCC), it was a rewarding experience. In May of this year, I graduated from Creighton University with my PharmD, and became the first in my family to earn a doctoral degree. Now, I am proud and grateful to share that I am in AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center’s Pharmacy Residency Program. My residency supervisor, Joseph Reilly, PharmD, director, AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center Pharmacy Residency Program, has been so supportive throughout my time at AtlantiCare. He and others continue to encourage me to explore exciting paths I can take once I complete my residency. This program is further preparing me to provide the highest quality and most compassionate care.

I share my personal story because of what I know now. Pharmacists are much more than individuals behind a counter who dispense prescriptions. We promote public health through providing medication counseling to our patients and administering immunizations. We create and execute research that leads to enhancements in care and patient safety. We help people avoid and manage chronic conditions. When members of our community are sick, we contribute to their healing. We offer a wide range of support for healthcare providers and patients.

I am fortunate AtlantiCare is where I am expanding my career. Getting to where I envisioned required time, money, and energy. As a mother of three, these requirements posed some challenges, for sure. I also needed courage, encouragement and support to reach my goal of becoming a pharmacist. I had plenty at AtlantiCare.

From day one, my family and work family encouraged me to challenge myself to take the path I had set my sights on. The support I received from my children and husband at home made it possible to pursue my goal. Many work colleagues mentored me. AtlantiCare supported me financially, too. AtlantiCare tuition reimbursement funds helped me pay for my prerequisite courses at ACCC. I also benefited from two scholarships – the Scott E. Monk, D.O. Scholarship Fund for AtlantiCare employees and dependents of employees, and the AtlantiCare Legacy ERG Scholarship Fund.

I was able to work part time at ARMC, gaining real-life pharmacy and additional healthcare experience while going to school. AtlantiCare understood my challenge of having to find time to be a mom, student, and pharmacy tech. My pharmacy team allowed me to adjust my schedule so I could manage it all.

Now my rewards come from knowing that my education has opened a world of opportunities for me to help the people of our community.

I’m so grateful that AtlantiCare encourages and actively becomes involved in the growth of employees.

ARMC is a community-based teaching hospital. I have personally experienced the organization’s commitment to providing the highest quality graduate medical education . Being part of its GME program is such a privilege. Having the opportunity to do rotations with Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Psychiatry residents has been especially rewarding. As we share our experiences and knowledge, we inspire each other.

Certainly, my family was my main motivating factor, but what really nudged me was encouragement from my fellow AtlantiCare staff. They helped me know what to expect and they gave advice. They shared insights about pharmacy as a science and a career. All along the way, they told me that they could see me moving forward. I believed them—and I went for it!

I have so much to be grateful for, thanks to the people and programs that have and are supporting my career journey. I look forward to providing others with the same type of mentorship and encouragement that has made such a difference for me. The trust patients place in our team as we care for them humbles me. Whether we are behind the pharmacy counter, at the bedside, or in the community, we work with our fellow care providers and our patients to create a healthier world.

To learn more about AtlantiCare’s Pharmacy Residency program click here.