Meet Dr. Sara Brandon ('17)
(July 29, 2020)—Meet Dr. Sara Brandon (’17), from Tullahoma, TN, who serves as director of clinical pharmacy services at Community Health Systems. She completed her PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Maury Regional Medical Center/Lipscomb College of Pharmacy in Columbia, Tennessee, and her PGY2 Health System Pharmacy Administration Residency at Community Health Systems in Franklin.
Describe your typical day:
SB: The best part about my job is that I don't have a typical day! My day is driven by the needs of the facilities and current projects. My general responsibilities involve development and update of clinical protocols and guidance based on current literature, participating in formulary management for the system, and preparing for and leading multidisciplinary advisory groups.
What do you love most about it?
SB: I love the variability of my job and constantly learning from the other members of our pharmacy team. Each day brings a question or project that is outside of my plan for the day, and that allows for research and growth on various topics in all areas of pharmacy and health system administration.
How do you make an impact as a pharmacist?
SB: In my role, I'm not participating in what looks like "traditional" patient care. I don't speak directly with patients and am not actively making decisions in the care of a specific patient. Instead, I am involved at a level that impacts care delivery to patients in a large number of hospitals. I am still doing what I love by serving our patients, just from a different perspective than being at their bedside.
How did Gatton COP prepare you for this job?
SB: The focus at Gatton on interdisciplinary patient care and communication has had a strong influence on how I fulfill the duties of my current role. Our team is consistently working with other clinical service lines to optimize patient care, and communication with others is constant via email and conference calls. Also, the mentoring by faculty while I was at Gatton (and even now as an alum!) on continual professional and personal development influenced the route I've taken so far within pharmacy to develop my strengths and be on a career path that allows me to enjoy going to work every day.
Describe your involvement at Gatton, as a student and currently?
SB: While I was at Gatton, I was involved in leadership within multiple organizations, including APhA-ASP and TSSP, and was an active member of Kappa Psi. I also served on the Admissions Committee. Now, I have had the opportunity to connect with current students through faculty to discuss my path and where I am now as they look at starting their careers.
What brought you to Gatton COP?
SB: While earning my undergraduate degree at ETSU, I worked as a pharmacy technician at Johnson City Medical Center. This gave me the opportunity to work with several faculty members/preceptors and engage in discussions about the college. Once I reached the point of interviewing for pharmacy school, my experience at Gatton stood out above the other places I visited. The investment in the community and area that I had started to call home and emphasis in serving rural patients is something I wanted to be part of. I also had a lasting impression of walking onto the porch and seeing Dean Emeritus Calhoun standing there smiling and holding the door as we arrived. I could just tell throughout the day that it was the right place for me.
What advice would you give your college self or to a current student?
SB: Keep an open mind for the opportunities available in our profession—and be willing to go after the ones that interest you. Sometimes the one you least expect, or even create for yourself, is the place you find you are best able to serve.
What do you do in your free time?
SB: I enjoy being outdoors, hanging out with my goldendoodle Callie, and running.
What’s a “weird” fact about yourself that many might not know?
SB: My undergraduate research was in paleobotany identifying a fossil out at the site in Gray, TN.