“I started in outpatient case management, doing medication review, education, and cost savings as a single-touch pharmacist while nurses handled the rest. But as our team became more proactive in diabetes care and CGM use increased, my role naturally expanded from being the ‘drug guy’ to helping with technology, interpretation, and ongoing support for patients.

When other team members left, and the telephonic diabetes management program risked falling apart, I decided, best I could, to wear all the hats I could rather than let it collapse. Nearly two years later, it’s just myself and a consistent health coach managing adults in our health system who choose to engage with us. We’ve had great outcomes and so much attention that the health system is actively trying to duplicate the model and ‘have a Tyler in every office.’

I did it because I wanted to show my value. Pharmacists are often told we need to ‘prove’ our worth since we don’t typically generate revenue, and being an expert in a specialty adds another layer. I’m actively putting in the work to give more than just drug facts. I want to help the whole disease state and the person at the center—not just manage medications and stop there. It’s comprehensive care, and certifications like CDCES and BC-ADM allow me to be comprehensive on multiple fronts.” -Tyler Whitaker