Health & Wellness Director of the Year Helps Patients Stay Physically, Emotionally Fit

Walmart named Susan Creek as their Market Health & Wellness Director of the Year.

Word of mouth can be life-changing— just ask Susan Creek.

Creek, Walmart’s 2011 Market Health & Wellness Director of the Year, started her career at Walmart after hearing excellent things about the company from a good friend who was a long-time employee.

“He was always excited about the company and the services we offer,” Creek said. “His passion for Walmart attracted me to the company.”

Creek began working at Walmart on the Vision Center side in the Phoenix, Arizona, area. Creek was first exposed to pharmacy when the Vision Center and Pharmacy merged to create a new Health and Wellness Division.

Creek says of the merger, “It has been a tremendous learning opportunity. I love the industry and the opportunity I have to impact people’s lives.”

In her 3 years at Walmart, working first as an Optical District Manager and now as a Market Health and Wellness Director, Creek has improved the lives of patients and assisted the careers of numerous Walmart associates. Pharmacy Times asked Creek to share her perspective on Health and Wellness and the direction in which pharmacy is heading, as well as give some “real world” advice to young pharmacists.

Q: What does “Health and Wellness” mean to you?

A: Supporting “Health and Wellness” means helping people be the best they can be physically and mentally.

Q: What is the most rewarding part about being a Health and Wellness Director?

A: The most rewarding part of being a Health and Wellness Director is developing people. In my role, I can give associates opportunities to learn, grow, and stretch beyond what they think they can do.

Q: What do you think is the most important issue in pharmacy today?

A: Making health care and specifically prescriptions affordable, especially for the uninsured, is the most important issue pharmacy faces today.

Q: How do you see the future of pharmacy changing over the next 5 to 10 years?

A: I believe pharmacists will become an even more highly regarded health care professional. With more people having less access to the medical arena, patients will realize the valuable asset they have in their pharmacist and rely on them more heavily. In addition, as diabetes continues to rise, pharmacists will play a more major role in combating the disease. I also believe new technology will make obtaining prescriptions easier for the patient, and the way pharmacists communicate with patients will be expanded and become more virtual.

Q: What advice would you give a young pharmacist?

A: Always remember why you chose this profession. Do not lose your compassion for people. Treating people well is the only way to build a business, your reputation, and the ability to help more patients. Treat your technicians well, because they are the key to your success.