Episode 98 - Catch Me If You Can - Pharmacy Edition
CPhT Connect The Podcast with Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv
Release Date: 04/01/2025
Episode 99 -Where Are You Going?
CPhT Connect The Podcast with Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv
Welcome to an insightful episode of CPhT Connect, the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith as they dive into the topic of career advancement and professional growth for pharmacy technicians. In this episode, Mike and Ashleigh explore key strategies and frameworks to help technicians take control of their careers, including the Career Vision Framework, Career Compass, SMART Goals, IKIGAI, and the Career Lattice. They discuss how aligning your career with your values, interests, and strengths can lead to a more fulfilling and impactful professional...
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Episode 98 - Catch Me If You Can - Pharmacy Edition
CPhT Connect The Podcast with Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv
Welcome to a gripping episode of CPhT Connect, the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith as they uncover the shocking case of Kim Thien Le, a pharmacy technician who successfully impersonated a licensed pharmacist for over 11 years at Walgreens. In this episode, Mike and Ashleigh break down how Le managed to fill over 745,000 prescriptions—including controlled substances—before being exposed in a routine California State Pharmacy Board audit. Walgreens faced intense scrutiny and ultimately settled with California authorities for $7.5 million, raising...
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Episode 97 - Exploring Career Paths with Lindsey Storm
CPhT Connect The Podcast with Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv
Welcome to an inspiring episode of CPhT Connect, the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith as they sit down with Lindsey Storm, a seasoned pharmacy technician with 17 years of experience, including 13 at Vanderbilt Medical Center. In this episode, Lindsey shares her unique career journey, from studying pre-law to discovering her passion for pharmacy. What started as a job quickly became a career fueled by her curiosity and drive to grow. Now, she leads Vanderbilt's workforce-based Pharmacy Technician Training Program, which transitioned from a...
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Episode 96 - Exploring Career Path Options with Robyn Dudley
CPhT Connect The Podcast with Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv
Welcome to another inspiring episode of CPhT Connect, the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join host Mike Johnston as he sits down with Robyn, a dedicated pharmacy technician and educator, to discuss her unique career journey—from working in both independent and chain pharmacies to becoming an instructor shaping the next generation of pharmacy professionals. In this episode, Robyn shares the stark differences between independent and large-chain pharmacy settings, emphasizing the importance of patient care over transactional interactions. She highlights the challenges of working in a small...
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Episode 95 - NPTA's 26th Anniversary Special
CPhT Connect The Podcast with Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv
Welcome to a special episode of CPhT Connect, celebrating the 26th anniversary of the National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA)! Join co-hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith as they take a deep dive into the origins and evolution of NPTA. In this episode, Mike steps into the guest seat as Ashleigh interviews him about the journey that led to the creation of NPTA. He shares how the idea first emerged from a pharmacy calculations seminar he hosted, where he saw a clear need for a dedicated voice for pharmacy technicians facing certification challenges. From overcoming early skepticism...
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Episode 94 - Exploring Career Path Options with Chance O'Neal
CPhT Connect The Podcast with Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv
Welcome to an inspiring episode of CPhT Connect, the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith as they sit down with Chance O'Neal, a certified pharmacy technician, to discuss his remarkable journey from a career in graphic design to the pharmacy profession during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, Chance shares how he transitioned into the field of pharmacy, starting with a role at a long-term care pharmacy call center before ultimately finding his passion at an independent pharmacy. He discusses the rewarding aspects of patient interaction in...
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Episode 93 - Unpacking PBMs with Benjamin Jolley, PharmD
CPhT Connect The Podcast with Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv
Welcome to an insightful episode of CPhT Connect, the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith as they engage in a compelling discussion with Dr. Benjamin Jolley about the complexities of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and their impact on independent pharmacies. In this episode, Dr. Jolley defends the existence of PBMs in managing insurance payments but critiques the inherent conflicts of interest when PBMs also operate as pharmacies. He explains how this dual role can lead to unethical practices, such as steering patients toward their affiliated...
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Episode 92 - Top 10 Pharmacy Stories of 2024 (Part 2)
CPhT Connect The Podcast with Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv
Welcome to a year-end special of CPhT Connect, the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith as they conclude the countdown of the Top 10 Pharmacy Stories of 2024, diving into the biggest headlines and their implications for the industry. #5 Compounding Pharmacy Lawsuits Over GLP-1 Medications Amid GLP-1 shortages, compounding pharmacies stepped in with affordable alternatives, sparking patent lawsuits from major manufacturers. The FDA’s shifting stance left patients and pharmacies caught in the chaos. #4 Independent Pharmacy Closures With five...
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Episode 91 - Top 10 Pharmacy Stories of 2024 (Part 1)
CPhT Connect The Podcast with Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv
Welcome to a special episode of CPhT Connect, the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith as they kick off part one of the Top 10 Pharmacy Stories of 2024. This engaging episode explores the major headlines, trends, and controversies shaping the pharmacy world this year. Top 10 Pharmacy Stories of 2024 (Part 1) 10. Pharmacists Gain Expanded Prescriptive Authority All 50 states and DC now allow pharmacists to prescribe medications such as birth control, smoking cessation aids, and vaccines. The hosts discuss the benefits for patient...
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Episode 90 - Exploring Career Path Options with Ariel Lewis
CPhT Connect The Podcast with Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv
Welcome to this episode of CPhT Connect, the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! In this inspiring installment, hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith sit down with Ariel to discuss her incredible career journey, resilience, and the lessons learned along the way. This episode delves into Ariel’s experiences navigating challenging work environments, feeling "stuck" in her career, and the steps she took to break into her dream role as a 340B audit and compliance analyst. Ariel shares her story of perseverance, describing how she used transferable skills from her pharmacy background to...
info_outlineWelcome to a gripping episode of CPhT Connect, the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith as they uncover the shocking case of Kim Thien Le, a pharmacy technician who successfully impersonated a licensed pharmacist for over 11 years at Walgreens.
In this episode, Mike and Ashleigh break down how Le managed to fill over 745,000 prescriptions—including controlled substances—before being exposed in a routine California State Pharmacy Board audit. Walgreens faced intense scrutiny and ultimately settled with California authorities for $7.5 million, raising serious concerns about oversight and accountability in the pharmacy industry.
Listeners will gain insight into the vulnerabilities in pharmacy regulation, the implications for technician roles, and the ongoing debate about expanding responsibilities with proper training and safeguards.
Don’t miss this eye-opening discussion on one of the most infamous cases of pharmacy fraud. Tune in now to explore what went wrong, how it could have been prevented, and what it means for the future of pharmacy technicians!