Episode 113: Pharmacy 50 Awards with Ellaine Sisomphou-Ramos
CPhT Connect The Podcast with Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv
Release Date: 03/03/2026
Episode 114: Exploring Career Paths with Bethea Schnuit, CPhT
CPhT Connect The Podcast with Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv
In this episode of CPhT Connect, host Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv, sits down with Bethea Schnuit, CPhT, to explore the many directions a pharmacy technician career can take—and how real-world experience can open doors you may not even realize exist. Since becoming certified in 2016, Bethea has built a diverse career across community pharmacy, long-term care, and hospital settings, developing a strong foundation in patient care and operational excellence. Her journey expanded into a more impactful role as a Senior Pharmacy Care Coordinator with Genoa Healthcare, where she partnered with mental...
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Episode 113: Pharmacy 50 Awards with Ellaine Sisomphou-Ramos
CPhT Connect The Podcast with Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv
In this inspiring episode of CPhT Connect, host Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv, sits down with Ellaine Sisomphou-Ramos, a nationally certified pharmacy technician whose career is a masterclass in professional growth and self-advocacy. Originally trained as a nurse in the Philippines, "Ella" shares her remarkable journey of transitioning to the U.S. pharmacy landscape, moving from high-volume retail to a specialized role in outpatient infusion and specialty pharmacy. Her dedication to clinical excellence recently earned her a nomination as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Leaders in Pharmacy, where...
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Episode 112: Leadership/Career Advancement With Lorraine K. Lee
CPhT Connect The Podcast with Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv
In this episode of CPhT Connect, host Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv, breaks new ground by welcoming the show's first-ever non-pharmacy guest. Joining us is Lorraine K. Lee, a best-selling author, LinkedIn Top Voice, and keynote speaker who has empowered leaders at global organizations like Zoom, Amazon, and McKinsey & Company. As the industry faces rapid changes—from restructuring to new technology—Lorraine shares her "Unforgettable Presence" framework to help pharmacy professionals master the art of influence and ensure their value is never overlooked. Listeners will hear about: Building...
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Episode 111 - Exploring Career Paths with Erika Anderson, CPhT, CSPT
CPhT Connect The Podcast with Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv
In this episode of CPhT Connect, host Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv, sits down with Erika Anderson, a nationally respected pharmacy technician leader whose passion for pharmaceutical compounding has shaped patient safety and compliance across an entire health system. With more than two decades of experience, Erika currently serves as the System Manager of Pharmacy Compounding for CommonSpirit Health, overseeing compounding standards, policies, and quality assurance for 142 hospitals. As the system’s subject matter expert, she leads regulatory compliance efforts, develops enterprise-wide...
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Episode 110 – RxInfluencers with Dr. Walter Oronsaye, PharmD, RPh, “Phit Pharmacist”
CPhT Connect The Podcast with Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv
In this episode of CPhT Connect, host Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv, BCNCPT, BCSCPT, kicks off a brand-new RxInfluencers series with a dynamic conversation featuring Dr. Walter Oronsaye, PharmD, RPh, widely known online as the Phit Pharmacist. Dr. Walter is redefining what it means to be a healthcare professional in the digital age. With a background spanning community pharmacy, public health education, and now medical school, he has built a powerful social media presence by doing one thing exceptionally well: making complex health information clear, accurate, and accessible—without talking down...
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Episode 109 - More Than Just a Tech With Mike Johnston
CPhT Connect The Podcast with Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv
In celebration of World Pharmacy Technician Day 2025, host Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv, delivers a powerful solo episode that gets to the heart of what it means to be a pharmacy technician today. In this special release of CPhT Connect, Mike shares a message of pride, professionalism, and purpose for every technician who has ever been told they are “just a tech.” He explores how language shapes identity, why invisible work deserves recognition, and how pharmacy technicians can confidently stand in their worth and advocate for their role in patient care. Listeners will hear about: The impact...
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Episode 108 - Exploring Career Paths With Alexander Carter
CPhT Connect The Podcast with Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv
In this episode of CPhT Connect, host Mike Johnston sits down with Alexander Carter, BCSCPT, CPhT, an Implementation Specialist at Pharmacy Stars, to explore how a career built on curiosity, persistence, and continual growth can open unexpected doors. From his start as an “accidental technician” to leading compliance implementations for hospitals across the U.S. and Canada, Alex shares how each career step, from sterile compounding and home infusion to automation and software, was driven by taking initiative and saying “yes” to opportunities before it felt comfortable. He opens up...
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Episode 107 - Exploring Career Paths With Carrie Stephens
CPhT Connect The Podcast with Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv
In this episode of CPhT Connect, host Mike Johnston welcomes Carrie Stephens, Advanced Certified Pharmacy Technician and co-owner of Hoagland Pharmacy, to share her remarkable journey from “Street Tech” to pharmacy owner. Carrie discusses the transition from employee to co-owner—leading a team of 70 across retail and long-term care—and how she and her partners explored ownership models, built trust with their staff, and balanced patient-first care with sustainable business operations. She opens up about the challenges of shifting perspective from technician to owner, the importance of...
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Episode 106 - Exploring Career Paths with Courtney Miller
CPhT Connect The Podcast with Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv
In this episode of CPhT Connect, hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith sit down with Courtney Miller, the powerhouse founder of Pharm Techs Only, to explore her remarkable 30-year journey in the pharmacy field. From her start at CVS in 1997 to roles in long-term care and even providing care within the complex environment of Rikers Island, Courtney shares the highs, lows, and hard lessons learned throughout her career. She opens up about the unique challenges of working in a correctional facility—navigating intense security protocols and serving a highly diverse patient population—and how...
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Episode 105 - Exploring Career Paths with Ranisha Mangle
CPhT Connect The Podcast with Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv
Welcome to a new episode of CPhT Connect, the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith as they explore the intersection of pharmacy and wellness with special guest Ranisha Mangle, CPhT. With over 20 years of experience and a degree in nutrition and wellness, Ranisha shares her inspiring journey from retail pharmacy to becoming a health educator and advocate for holistic care. In this episode, she dives into the benefits of vitamin D, the emerging “food as medicine” movement, and the role pharmacy technicians can play in promoting whole-person health....
info_outlineIn this inspiring episode of CPhT Connect, host Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv, sits down with Ellaine Sisomphou-Ramos, a nationally certified pharmacy technician whose career is a masterclass in professional growth and self-advocacy. Originally trained as a nurse in the Philippines, "Ella" shares her remarkable journey of transitioning to the U.S. pharmacy landscape, moving from high-volume retail to a specialized role in outpatient infusion and specialty pharmacy. Her dedication to clinical excellence recently earned her a nomination as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Leaders in Pharmacy, where she ranked in the Top 45—a powerful testament to the impact a technician can have on the entire profession.
Listeners will hear about:
- The Global Transition: Ella’s journey from nursing in the Philippines and working as a rehab aid in Hawaii to finding a new level of "fulfillment" in the U.S. pharmacy field.
- The Power of Negotiation: A candid look at how Ella successfully negotiated a higher starting salary at a major retail chain by confidently articulating her clinical value.
- Moving into Specialty Pharmacy: The shift from the "craziness" of retail during the pandemic to the technical and clinical demands of outpatient infusion therapy.
- The "Lifelong Student" Mindset: Why staying ahead of medical literature and constantly studying is the best way to ensure you never feel "stuck" in your career.
- Stepping Into the Spotlight: The story behind her influential leader nomination and why technicians must learn to be their own biggest advocates.
Whether you are navigating a career change or looking to level up your clinical expertise, Ella’s story provides a roadmap for turning technical skills into professional influence. This episode also features an exciting announcement regarding the launch of the NPTA Pharmacy Technician I.M.P.A.C.T. Awards, a new international program designed to spotlight the measurable contributions of technicians worldwide.
Key Takeaway: "Study, study, study. Don’t feel stuck. Find the right people to ask questions and always be your own advocate."
Resources from this episode:
- Connect with Ellaine Sisomphou-Ramos: LinkedIn Profile
- Nominate for the I.M.P.A.C.T. Awards: cpht.org/awards
- Learn more about NPTA: cpht.org