The new way pharmacists are finding balance and career growth

After nearly 20 years working in Walgreens retail pharmacies, pharmacist Mariana Endeley-Matute left the company to focus on her health during a bout with breast cancer. When she received a clean bill of health, she was ready to get back to taking care of patients but wanted more flexibility in where and how she worked.

Then she heard about the first-of-its-kind Hybrid Pharmacist role at Walgreens, which would let her split her week between working at the traditional community pharmacy some days and working from her own centralized pharmacy desk other days.

“I was looking for something that would allow me to continue the patient care that I enjoyed but also have a place to focus primarily on clinical work without interruption,” says Endeley-Matute. “The hybrid position came up and was perfect for me.”

Offering pharmacists flexibility and variety

The Hybrid Pharmacist role at Walgreens offers predictable schedules, varied pharmacy practice settings and can expand pharmacy career pathways without leaving direct patient care behind. For Endeley-Matute, maintaining the connection with patients was key.

“I love to take care of people—I’m a people person and I enjoy when I make a difference,” she says. “My dad was a pharmacist, so I’m one of those who just knew I was going to be a pharmacist from the time I was born.”

On the days she is not working face-to-face with patients at a store in Little Rock, Arkansas, she works from the nearby centralized services location alongside other pharmacists. In this setting, they review prescriptions, provide clinical support and consult with patients and providers over phone and email. By handling tasks like these at a central site, they free up pharmacists at stores to spend more time supporting patients in person.

For some Hybrid Pharmacists, they may be able to do this part of the role from their own home, depending on state regulations. Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy also employs pharmacists in hybrid roles during peak periods to provide the support its most clinically sensitive patients need.

Strengthening pharmacist expertise and pharmacy operations

Endeley-Matute was surprised to find that the knowledge she gained working at the centralized services location helped her do her job at the pharmacy counter better, and vice versa. Being able to be part of the behind-the-scenes operations gave her a better understanding of how the pieces fit together.

“I can see how what we do in centralized services affects the stores, and when I’m at the store, I’m able to explain how they’re supporting us,” she says. “I feel like an ambassador in both places, for the other perspective.”

For Endeley-Matute, the balance she finds in the Hybrid Pharmacist role has made the return to work pleasant.

“You get time away from the store, and time away from the desk, so when you come back to either, it feels fresh again,” she says. “It’s actually the best of both worlds, like having your cake and eating it, too.”  

Learn more and apply on the Walgreens Careers site.