Hello world!

Welcome to my little corner of Blogger.  As you could probably surmise from the name, I'm a retail pharmacist, and like many medical bloggers, decided to start writing as an outlet - crazy patients, corporate nonsense, and incredible stories that happen on a daily basis - because if you don't find a way to cope with the insanity, it'll get to you, and with a quickness.

Writing this is a bit of a new experience for me, as I've always been something of a lurker when it comes to blogs, forums, etc.  I always wanted to contribute and have my voice heard, but until I finally graduated and got settled into a work routine, there just wasn't time enough.  Three quick observations: first, there are few things more intimidating than a blank page (at least at first); second, I feel incredibly self-conscious about putting my words and thoughts out there, but I imagine that will lessen over time; finally, finding your voice is every bit as difficult as they say.  Hopefully it will also be as rewarding.

Some things you will find here:

• stories from the trenches of retail pharmacy - good, bad, hilarious, sad, and otherwise
• thoughts on the practice of pharmacy, particularly from a community perspective - what's happening in the news, what needs to happen to better the profession
• advocacy - for the patient, for the pharmacist as a medical professional, and for the practice of pharmacy as an integral part of the healthcare team
• general-interest content that I think is particularly well-written or interesting
• occasional self-analysis - annoying, I know, but I'm doing this for me.

Some things you will not find here:

• medical advice - ask your local pharmacist or physician.  Plain and simple.
• anything personal or identifiable about me, my practice, or my patients except as necessary to tell a story.  I take HIPAA seriously and I enjoy being employed. 

 I want to hear from you!  Email me, post comments, tweet at me.  I hope someday to have a following like Dr. Grumpy, The Angry Pharmacist, and DrugMonkey (and if you're not reading them, you should be!)