2016 Rising Star of the Year Finalists

2016 Rising Star of the Year Finalists

Capt. Kellie Zentz, chief of inpatient pharmacy in the US Air Force, was introduced to the world of pharmacy in high school when she worked at a physician’s office. Drug reps, who stopped by the office with information and products, piqued Zentz’s interest, and the physician encouraged her to consider pharmacy. “I am forever thankful to Dr. Dom because I love what I do!” she said.

GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS

I successfully set up a new pharmacy in the Middle East while deployed in 2015. I established a pharmacy in a tent that sat out in 120ºF temperatures during the summer.

SOURCE OF INSPIRATION

My faith is my largest source of inspiration, if not my only source. Scripture encourages us to serve others and work to glorify God, which, in my mind, means to always put forth our greatest effort.

PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY

Always work toward “yes.” I believe many people love to say “no” and unfortunately leave many opportunities undiscovered.

VISION FOR PHARMACY

My desire is to see pharmacists reach outside the 4 walls in clinical and business settings and to see more pharmacists in medical mission settings.

Henry Ford Pharmacy Advantage Specialty Pharmacy Troy, Michigan

Jonathan Mansour’s father had dreamed of becoming a pharmacist, and although life had other plans for him, he instilled in Jonathan several useful traits for being a pharmacist: confidence, accessibility, and respect for human beings as individuals.

GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS

My role is to recognize each patient’s integrity, values, needs, and fears. On a daily basis, I do my best to fulfill that role, and my greatest achievement occurs when my patient knows he or she is in good hands.

SOURCE OF INSPIRATION

My biggest source of inspiration, aside from my father, would be an independent pharmacist named Tom Rolands, who treated all patients as if they were his family.

PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY

Treat others the way I want to be treated. The patient always comes first because without the patients, there wouldn’t be pharmacists.

VISION FOR PHARMACY

The future of the pharmacy profession will include intimate involvement in genotherapy, which will aid patients through more targeted diagnoses and treatment plans.

Rx Clinic Pharmacy Charlotte, North Carolina

Olivia Bentley always knew she wanted to make a career out of helping others, and she enjoyed a fast-paced work environment. She began working as a pharmacy technician, then got her PharmD. Today, she is in pharmacy because she loves solving problems, empowering patients, and educating the community about medications.

GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS

I created a yellow fever—certified travel health and immunization clinic at an independent community pharmacy in Athens, Georgia.

SOURCE OF INSPIRATION

My biggest sources of inspiration are my faith and my family. Through both, I’ve learned that a creative person is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others.

PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY

Challenges are simply an opportunity. If you come up against a wall, you should be excited because if you can push through that wall, there’s a great reward on the other side.

VISION FOR PHARMACY

My vision for the profession is for pharmacists to be recognized for the value that we bring as health care providers and as irreplaceable team members in patient-centered care.