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Karen Sillers, Pharmacist, Division of Veterinary Resources, Office of Research Services, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health
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1. I chose this career because....
2. My typical workday involves...
3. What I like best/least about my work...
4. My career goals...
5. When I'm not working, I like to...
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1. I chose this career because....
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Karen uses a mortar and pestle to crush tablets and mix oral suspensions.
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I chose to become a pharmacist because it combines my favorite subjects in the health sciences, biology and chemistry. I also wanted a degree with excellent job prospects. When I went to college, I wasn’t sure what specialty I wanted to do. I considered physical therapy as an option, but eventually chose pharmacy.
During the first two years of my 5-year degree program, I took a lot of biology and other science classes. It was the first time I ever took chemistry and I loved it. The subject was fun and the professor was the best teacher I ever had. When I was in high school, friends told me that the subject was too hard, so I listened to them and avoided taking it. I recommend not taking advice from your friends when they tell you to limit your class choices. They just don’t have enough knowledge and experience to give the best guidance. After graduating from pharmacy school, I took the board exam to get my license, and started my first job in a hospital pharmacy.
I was working at another pharmacy when I heard about an opening at the NIH Clinical Center Pharmacy. I knew it was an interesting place, because I did a clinical rotation at the NIH while I was in college. I applied for the opening, got the job, and have been here since then. I worked in the NIH Clinical Center for 12 years when I heard NIH was starting a new veterinary pharmacy. That was 15 years ago and I am still with the Division of Veterinary Resources. NIH is a unique place, where scientists are doing cutting edge research, so you can never get bored here.
College Education
Bachelor of Science, Pharmacy, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
Certification
Pharmacy License, Board of Pharmacy, Maryland
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2. My typical workday involves...
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Drug orders are processed in a room (as pictured) that is filled with shelves containing various drugs.
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My typical workday involves answering drug information questions and filling drug orders in a unique research environment.
My Major Tasks:
- Filling drug orders – I have a processing area, where I receive requests for medication. I read the orders that come in from NIH researchers, and decide how to fill them.
- Compounding orders – I have a compounding area where I make drug formulations, which are not commercially available. For example, a patient needs a drug, but it may not be available in the form required. So I could turn a tablet into a capsule that is at the right strength for the patient, or reformulate a capsule into an oral suspension.
- Answering questions about drugs - People call me to ask various questions about drugs such as dosing information for a specific medication, combining drugs, or the stability of a drug.
- Performing administrative work – I have an office, which is inside the pharmacy. I keep records of all processed orders, and how much service I provide (workload accounting). Daily data is recorded and once a year I prepare a summary report. Accounting for all narcotics and other controlled substances that are distributed from the pharmacy is very detailed work. I must make sure nothing slips through the cracks.
Current Research Projects:
- Nasal Spray - With animals, you can’t explain to them how to take a drug or why it is important. The challenge is getting them to take it voluntarily. This makes for interesting challenges in the compounding area of the pharmacy. Currently, I am working with researchers to formulate a nasal spray for a drug that is normally given by injection. The drug can be absorbed this way, and will be less painful when administered.
- One Capsule a Day – In another project, patients take 4 antibiotics a day in a long-term treatment regimen. I am working on a formulation that puts the 4 drugs into one capsule, allowing for one capsule to be given per day.
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3. What I like best/least about my work...
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Karen uses a drug reference book to look up dosing, side effects, and drug forms that are available.
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What I like best about my work is the team environment and working with different professionals. At the NIH, I work with veterinarians, physicians, facility managers, technicians, nurses, and Ph.D. researchers. I share a camaraderie with the veterinarians; even though we have different professions, we share similar goals. We want to enforce animal care regulations and advance the research. Researchers have a scientific question they want to answer, and we are helping them. I also enjoy solving problems like those that arise in a research environment.
What I like least about my work is the administrative tasks such as data entry. The work has already been done, but you still have to document everything.
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4. My career goals...
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Karen uses a manual capsule-making machine to make capsules in a drug dose that is not commercially available.
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My career goals are to continue to support the research at NIH and to contribute to my professional society. Recently, I took on a new responsibility as the secretary for the Society of Veterinary Hospital Pharmacists, an international organization. I have been a member of the group for about 15 years. I hope to contribute to the group’s education initiatives, promote the field, and demonstrate how the pharmacy and veterinary fields come together and cooperate.
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5. When I'm not working, I like to...
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Karen is pictured in a sea kayak on Lake Anna in Virginia, where she went on vacation.
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When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time outside. Hiking and biking are among my favorite activities. I love anything to do with water, including swimming, boating, kayaking and canoeing. I swim a mile three times a week. I even like to vacation by the water, near lakes, rivers or oceans. I also enjoy singing in the church choir.
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