July 8, 2025 • 51 mins
Dr. Linda P. Chinn is a native of New London, CT who currently resides in Douglasville, GA. She fulfills her mission of uprooting and pulling down false belief systems in the lives of God's people to build them up by planting in them the incorruptible seed of the living Word through her various ministries. Dr. Chinn is an accomplished entrepreneur and the creator of Linda Chinn Ministries as well as the founder of Christian Women in Training Network.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Keeping It Real with Doctor Linda Chin. This
is the podcast where real life choices new phiblical truth
without the flock. Tune in every second and fourth Monday
at GWPM in Eastern Standard Time as doctor Chen shares
faith filled, practical insights to navigate everyday challenges. Get ready
(00:22):
for real talk, real life and real answers.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Good afternoon, Good afternoon, Good afternoon. Hope you guys had
a wonderful fourth of July. Welcome to the Keeping It
Real with Doctor Lindonton. I'm her co host and producer
Audrobel Current got a great show for you today. This
is a part of our Tech Week Women in Tech series,
and I'm happy that we're going to be here with
another woman in tech doing some amazing things, and doctor
(00:51):
Chin is going to be asking her some questions so
we can some insight into a into a space that's
really really important for a lot of us, and that's
the pharmaceutical space.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
So I'm happy to be here.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
And without further ado, let me bring this Alexis Leak
and doctor Linda Chen to the stage.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Yah yah, lady, listen, and.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
My technical problems are here.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
I tell you, boy, I tell you but the July
of July was great.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
But thank you. So I actually.
Speaker 5 (01:37):
So we're over there.
Speaker 6 (01:38):
I think there's a little delay mm hmm, okay, So
I just I want to thank Audrey. Listen, even in technology,
we we know that there can be issues, but we
have a wonderful producer. I thank god that Audrey. You
all have no idea what's going on backstage so many
times on the show, but she keeps bringing.
Speaker 5 (02:00):
Us up and she makes it work.
Speaker 6 (02:01):
So she figures it out and she doesn't panic or
freak out. And I just want to say thank you,
Audrey for who you are and what you do, and
how you help us in business and ministry and in
government and community, how you help us make things happen
in the tech world. Can we just give it up
for Audrey Bell Canny. Thank you, Thank you, Audrey, and
(02:26):
thank you. You're welcome you you deserve it. You deserve it.
And I want to welcome doctor Alexis Leak to our podcast.
And I'm so excited Audrey. This is the youngest guest
that we've ever had. She's our youngest guest. I'm not
going to ask your age of dot week, but I'm
(02:48):
just so glad that you're here today, and we've been
doing a STEM. We've been focusing on STEM these last
few weeks.
Speaker 5 (02:57):
I think Audrey the last six or seven weeks.
Speaker 6 (03:00):
Women in science and the technology and the engineering and
the math.
Speaker 5 (03:04):
And doctor Alexis I've.
Speaker 6 (03:06):
Heard, okay, and I'm going to tell too much, but
her grandmother has been my walking Marketer falls eight years now.
We've known each other forever. So welcome, doctor Alexis Leak,
and we're glad to have you. Ordree's gonna come back
on and she closes us out and she's gonna have
some questions and input for you, doctor Leek.
Speaker 5 (03:24):
Is that all right?
Speaker 4 (03:25):
That is all right with me? Thank you for having.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
Me, beautiful, You're welcome. You're welcome, ladies.
Speaker 4 (03:33):
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (03:35):
Tell us a little bit about yourself, doctor Leek.
Speaker 7 (03:38):
Okay, So, I was actually born in New York, Queens,
New York. I moved to Georgia when I was about
eight years old. I'm twenty six, I don't mind saying it.
I turned twenty seven in August when I moved to Georgia.
We grew up in Douglasville, so I went to Lathia
Springs High School. I ended up up graduating there with
(04:01):
a high school diploma and a STEM diploma actually in
biomedical science.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
Yeah, that was fun.
Speaker 7 (04:09):
I then proceeded to go to Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia.
I got an undergrad degree in chemistry actually there, and
then after that I ended up going to South University
School of Pharmacy in Savannah, Georgia, which I reside now,
and I ended up graduating actually last year I had
(04:32):
four time dean student, graduating with three point five.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
It was amazing. I am now a pharmacist, so yeah, awesome.
Speaker 6 (04:42):
Awesome, awesome, And you know, I've been a big supporter
of yours for years and I'm excited. So let's just
get started some of the things. Listen, got the league.
What inspired you to pursue a career in pharmacy.
Speaker 7 (04:55):
Well, I've actually wanted to be a pharmacist since I
was in the sixth grade moving here. When I was
a I got really really bad allergies, Like you know,
the trees in Georgia they are off the chain. So
I got allergies, really bad sinus infections all the time,
in and out the doctor's office with my mom actually,
(05:18):
and so it was actually the pharmacist who was African American.
My mom did an amazing job to exposing me to
African American women, African American men in healthcare field, just
to know that, like you know, we're getting the best
care by us. And so I also had an African American
pharmacists and she honestly was the one that helped my
(05:40):
allergies go away way better than the doctors did by
over the counter products, just telling us what to do
to help. Like so that inspired me because I am
not a blood person at all. That's not my thing.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
But I love scientific things.
Speaker 7 (05:58):
Like I said, I graduate with a chemistry degree even
though I don't use it like I enjoy science.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
So I knew that was the realm. I wanted to.
Speaker 6 (06:06):
Go, beautiful self, walk us through a typical day of
yours in this current climate.
Speaker 5 (06:15):
Now.
Speaker 6 (06:15):
So wait, so let's go back. So when I say
this current climate, now, I have to say with people
in fear of losing health care, which means you know,
co pays with medications and so forth. But even before then,
what was it like a typical day? And I'm going
(06:37):
this is keeping it real? The show is it real?
With doctor Chen, immigrants and illegal immigrants who would come
and try to get prescriptions filled. How do you deal
with that? How do you vet the ideas and ideas
and all of that, like tell us what a current
day really is.
Speaker 7 (06:58):
So I actually to float a lot, and floating is
like basically going into other stores being a retail pharmacist.
So retail is like working in Walmart publics. I work
at CBS. So doing that, I used to float to
a lot of stores and a lot of different stores
have I will say Hispanics or like immigrants and stuff,
(07:21):
and it's definitely I won't say it's a challenge. It
actually made me want to learn how to speak Spanish.
I will say I've been learning myself and having to
use my translate.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
That's really been a huge thing.
Speaker 7 (07:33):
But I will say, like on a day to day
getting their prescriptions and having to explain to them I
need someone's ID, that one is pretty hard. But the
ones that are just trying to get antibiotics, I do
the best I can by giving them discounts, like I
know our store has some when people don't have insurance,
I just automatically apply it and assume you don't have insurance,
(07:54):
and I'm gonna add it. I'm never gonna make somebody
pay for cash because the cash prices on medicaidations are insane,
and I don't think people realize that, like, there are
discounts that you can use, and I do think, being
my age, knowing that, I try my hardest to make sure,
even when you're not aware, to apply it because I
(08:17):
know I can't.
Speaker 6 (08:20):
So is that like an every day? Is that a
usual occurrence or is that kind of a every now
and again?
Speaker 4 (08:27):
I would say it's that every day. A lot of
them are getting smarter.
Speaker 7 (08:31):
I have some pamphlets to use, but it's a lot
harder with our president now, like so using coupons and
keeping it kind of off record, I would say it's
a little bit better.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
But they do have enough to go to the doctor.
Speaker 6 (08:48):
Like so, But those of you who are listening or
are regular listening of people on this podcast, I think
it's important that you share this with people so that
they know that are options out there for them. And
even if you don't have a pharmacist like doctor Leek,
that means you can ask the questions, do you have
(09:08):
any discounts? I have done it myself insured, even I
asked do you have any discounts, and inevitably, doctor Alexis,
they do have them and they will give them to you.
So I thank you for being in tune and compassionate
with people. So even before then, what challenges have you
(09:29):
faced as you were entering into this pharmaceutical profession and
so what challenges and how did you overcome them?
Speaker 5 (09:37):
Because you're fairly fairly new pharmacist.
Speaker 4 (09:40):
Correct, yes, just about a year.
Speaker 7 (09:43):
Yeah, yeah, I will say the biggest challenge I face
is insurance by far, like this year specifically, like I
don't know, deductibles are extremely high on medications people used
to get before. It's been a lot harder for people
to afford medications. It's been more expensive to explore medications
(10:07):
that used to be dirt cheap on in somebody's insurance.
They're being very technical now, So I would say insurance
is the biggest thing in having to learn the loops
and hoops that you basically have to go through with
doctors to get this at an affordable price for your patients.
And yeah, that would be the biggest thing, and communication
(10:31):
with doctors trying to make them understand you can't just
write tablets on a prescription because if I've running through
its tablets, it's going to be more expensive. You have
to write capsules I can't wow. Yeah, just small things
like that, and patients will be like, are you serious
the small difference. Tablets will cost two hundred dollars capsules
(10:52):
will cost five wow.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
Yeah. So you just have to pay attention.
Speaker 7 (10:57):
To that and honestly try to help patients and communicate.
Speaker 4 (11:02):
It's a little bit hard to do at a retail
setting because there's so many people you have to do
it for. So you just have to.
Speaker 7 (11:10):
Help people understand, like I'm trying to help you. So
it might take a little longer. Yes, I get it.
Some people they just want to pay. They'll say, hey,
I'll pay it, and I completely understand that too, but
trying to give you that option to get a cheaper deal.
Speaker 6 (11:23):
As always, So the topic today is what's growing on farm?
Speaker 5 (11:28):
What's growing on the farm. So what we learned.
Speaker 6 (11:30):
Today is capsules are less expensive than tampas and you really.
Speaker 4 (11:35):
Show all the time though it depends on the drug.
Speaker 5 (11:39):
Okay, but that's something we should look into.
Speaker 7 (11:42):
Yes, say very clarification, like if you're getting capsules and
you're paying three hundred dollars, is there a tablet option,
is the brand option cheaper?
Speaker 6 (11:53):
Like?
Speaker 4 (11:53):
You just need to ask questions.
Speaker 7 (11:54):
And I don't want to say ask the pharmacy all
the time, ask your insurance. I say, like, when drugs
aren't covered, call your insurance company and say, hey, my
doctor prescribed this. What is the equivalent that y'all will
pay for or what is the equivalent of that is
actually cheaper?
Speaker 4 (12:12):
And your insurance company will tell you might have.
Speaker 7 (12:14):
To wait on that hotline, like for a good minute,
and that part is annoying. I hate those waiting lines.
I hate getting through those animating systems. But I say
it's worth it because yeah, the doctor, you'll tell the doctor, hey,
I know you prescribe me this, but insurance say they'll
cover this, and the doctor.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
They'll do it.
Speaker 6 (12:32):
So the one thing you said something on the beginning
of the podcast, and it was one of the things
that inspired you to become a pharmacist because of the
allergies and so forth. And this is one thing that
I've learned, and you tell me what you think about this,
that oftentimes doctors, even though they have their your chart
(12:54):
right in front of them, they do not pay as
much attention to how the drugs interact even with supplements,
and so I've ended up asking the pharmacists, who will
give me more information that I wish my doctor had done.
Speaker 5 (13:11):
What do you think about that and what is your
experience with that?
Speaker 7 (13:14):
So I will say, doctors don't tell you all information
about your drugs, but that is literally what.
Speaker 4 (13:22):
The pharmacist is for.
Speaker 7 (13:24):
The pharmacist knows way more about drugs than the doctor
will ever know. The doctor studied how to fix you
and what will fix you the pharmacists need.
Speaker 4 (13:34):
I studied how the drugs are fixing you.
Speaker 7 (13:38):
Specifically, I can tell I won't say with all drugs,
but with majority drugs what they do and what they're for.
Speaker 4 (13:46):
So people be like, oh, yeah, I'm taking this from
my heart. I'm like, no, you're not. This helps you
go to.
Speaker 5 (13:50):
Sleep, oh man.
Speaker 7 (13:53):
So like a doctor will tell you the drug in
that time, in that frame.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
And so many people have so many different doctors. You
go to doctors for different things. You have one doctor
for your.
Speaker 7 (14:05):
Main doctor that's supposed to keep up with everything, to
make sure you're growing right, all that good things. But
then he's gonna send you off to a cardiologist for
your hearts. A nephrotologists for your kidneys like things like that,
so sometimes they're not communicating it kind of is the
pharmacist's job to tell you, Hey, you know, you're taking
(14:26):
kind of two of the same things. I don't think
your doctors know don't take both.
Speaker 5 (14:32):
Wow.
Speaker 6 (14:32):
So what I'm also hearing is you can there are
medications that actually treat multiple types of diseases or symptoms
or illnesses.
Speaker 7 (14:42):
For sure, and sometimes people don't realize that, and so
it's kind of hard as a pharmacist. They don't tell
you all of the time, all the times in a prescription,
this is for this, this is why I gave them this.
So it's just with my knowledge, I'm assuming it's for something,
not necessarily saying it's for that. Some people will be
(15:04):
taking a water pill for blood pressure and others will
be taking it for their acne. Like, it's not always
the same thing. There's used for different things, so it's
kind of hard for me to say like, oh, yeah, you.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
Have blood pressure issues, and then I'm like no.
Speaker 7 (15:23):
And that's also why it's important to pay attention to
what your doctor is saying, because I could be saying
it's for your blood pressure, but that's what I normally
see in my pharmacy. But in reality, you're going to
the dermatologists and this is what they're trying out for you.
Speaker 5 (15:37):
Interesting listen.
Speaker 6 (15:38):
So those people I had one blood pressure medication, I
actually thought that made my feet swell.
Speaker 5 (15:44):
It was one of the side effects was a demon right.
Speaker 6 (15:47):
So I just want to say to somebody who may
be taking it for acne, if there's feet is swelling,
you better look up the side effects of that.
Speaker 5 (15:53):
Money.
Speaker 7 (15:54):
Yeah, that is a huge thing I try to tell
people about. Some people will up it out and I'm like,
while that is so great that you think because your
blood pressure is down, you should feel like that. But
that is bad and you can get on something else.
I promise that will work and you don't have to
feel like that too.
Speaker 6 (16:15):
So how do you stay current on what's going on
in the pharmaceutical world? What actually do you do? Do
you have required certifications and trainings? Do you look up
things and classes and seminars for yourself?
Speaker 5 (16:28):
How does that work?
Speaker 7 (16:29):
So pharmacists are required to renew their licens every two years,
and we do have to have a certain amount of
hours that we log saying that we you know, did
something in that capacity to keep us current. So we
do have to do that, and I there's so many
seminars for pharmacy the pharmacy times, that's honestly open to anybody.
(16:53):
That's how I stay current. And funny wise too, social media. Now,
drug companies are getting very into social media, so they'll
tell you about drugs and things like that. In the
pharmacy realm, of course, pharmacy reps come to us all
the time and they'll inform us and give classes for
us and provide us education on drugs that we might
(17:14):
not know about. So those are the things that I
do to stay current. I won't say they're open to
the all public, but they're definitely successful to me.
Speaker 5 (17:23):
All Right, I'm gonna switch gears a little bit.
Speaker 6 (17:27):
Want to ask you how has your identity shaped? But
how do you feel your identity shape your experiences in
the pharmacy field.
Speaker 7 (17:39):
I definitely say I'm more empathetic to people and definitely
have more patience. Oh my goodness, to have patients with
a lot of them, like in the place I'm located now,
they're retired and a lot of them you realize after
a while they don't have anybody to talk to after
you see them every day, single day. You know there's
(18:01):
nothing ready. They know there's nothing ready. So people just
want to be talked to. A lot of people just
want kindness. So honestly, that's really what it taught me.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
Empathy. You never know what someone's going through.
Speaker 7 (18:15):
Like they look amazing, but they're taking a ton of pills.
They look like so happy on the way to the world,
but like the amount of depression pills that I know
I'm giving them is like this is I just hope
you have a good day. Like saying things like that,
remembering not necessarily remembering someone's birthday, but saying, oh, happy birthday.
Speaker 4 (18:36):
Your birthday was two days ago, Like people love that.
Speaker 7 (18:39):
Or they'll come in on my birthday and get a
vaccine and I'm like, you came in and got a
vaccine on your birthday and they're like, oh, I didn't
think you noticed, Like, yes, I noticed.
Speaker 4 (18:48):
I have to take me onto that. So things like that.
Speaker 7 (18:52):
It's just it's made me more compassionate to people and
understand people, like you really can't judge a book by
its cover.
Speaker 4 (18:59):
You never they're going through.
Speaker 5 (19:01):
So, oh my goodness, that is powerful.
Speaker 6 (19:05):
So to me, to me, I'm even getting a little
emotional as I think about it. That is so powerful
because to me as a minister of the gospel, and
you get a message to minister from God and evidence,
if you're in tune and you pray, then you'll know
that whatever message you're giving at that time, there's someone
(19:28):
there who needs it. So there's this thing in scripture
where Paul talks about it's this the marketplace ministry, and
I believe that's what you're doing and where you've been
placed there and why you've been placed there because you
do have compassion. Because not all pharmacists because they're behind
the counter, because they're not checking people's blood pressure and
(19:49):
looking in your ears and up your nose and all
of that stuff that you don't really have the hands
on that people do need because you're the one who
knows all these medications. Like you know, yeah, well, I'm
grateful for your compassion.
Speaker 5 (20:04):
How have people responded to your compassion?
Speaker 4 (20:09):
I will say people are some people.
Speaker 7 (20:12):
I mean they take it very well. They're very loving.
Like I got gifts before. Like I'm not supposed to
say gifts. I always tell them no, but you know,
I gotten gifts. People remember me, they'll remember my birthday,
they'll remember things about me. They're just honestly so sweet.
Or I'll talk about my family that asks about how
my family's doing. We'll just connect on a different level
(20:34):
because again, a lot of them just come in every
day just to chat.
Speaker 4 (20:38):
So people do take it really well.
Speaker 6 (20:44):
Nobody feels like you're getting in their business, like you're
being no.
Speaker 7 (20:48):
Now, you know, there's some of them that are always
like grumpy, just having a bad day. You can always tell,
and those are the ones I leave alone.
Speaker 4 (20:58):
Like you get them in and out just yeah, give.
Speaker 7 (21:00):
Them, give them their medication and let's go, let me explain.
And you have to do it as nextly as you can,
even though you don't want to. But yeah, those those
are the ones you could just always tell right away.
Speaker 6 (21:14):
So that compassion that you have, I believe brings a
level of healing to people because people need the human touch,
even if it's yes, we need physical touch every day,
but we need the human touch of someone who says, I.
Speaker 5 (21:27):
See you, I notice you.
Speaker 6 (21:29):
I understand that you're dealing with something that you may
not look like you're wearing, but you're doing it. So
you know this this whole thing about what's growing on
the farm.
Speaker 5 (21:38):
I think it's more important than what I thought it was.
Speaker 6 (21:41):
When you know, I asked you to be a guest
on the show because you have contact with people all
day every day, you know, unlike doctors. You go into
the evenings, right on the weekends and all of that.
Speaker 5 (21:58):
Holidays. I forgot to about that.
Speaker 6 (22:02):
What does representation and healthcare mean to you? How do
you see yourself influencing the next generation?
Speaker 7 (22:12):
Just like the passion oeration influences me, like telling people
things that you know can help. Sometimes doctors I want bashed.
Doctors I do. I know they're very important. Honestly, did
a doctor. A lot of people try to take advantage
of me and try to show me like, oh do
you think this is just like no, you need to
(22:34):
go to the doctor. The doctor can be what that is.
I am not that kind of doctor. I am just
a doctor of medicine.
Speaker 5 (22:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (22:40):
So, I honestly think a lot of times again communication
is broken, so they're not paying attention that they've tried
ten different things that honestly are I would say money grabs,
Like you'll go to the pharmacy and they'll tell you
it's like four hundred dollars excuse me, And I'll look
(23:02):
at the medication and be like they could have just
gave you this. Someone will go and tell the doctor
like can you just give me this, and they'll end
up paying five.
Speaker 4 (23:10):
Dollars off of that, you know what I mean.
Speaker 7 (23:13):
So it is kind of just sometimes me explaining to
people or even with side effects, like I said, like, hey,
there's some drugs that are out there that are hey,
they work for allergies really great, but a lot of
people don't know they cause suicidal thoughts, and so I
try to tell our community like, hey, if you start
(23:33):
feeling bad after a while, that's this medication and maybe
you should really stop that.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
Like that's not you that the drugs. Sometimes the drugs
do that.
Speaker 7 (23:43):
Actually there's a drug that causes gambling addiction to increase, and.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
People would never know that, Like I have no idea
why I'm doing that.
Speaker 7 (23:49):
Hey, that's kind of a medication actually, so if you
you to kind of stop, if you have addicting qualities,
you should kind of stop. Not even saying it's just
a drugs, just say anything. You should kind of stop
this medication. So I think it's forming especially our people,
because doctors will brush it off.
Speaker 4 (24:08):
They'll just tell you the easy things like you.
Speaker 7 (24:11):
May feel nauseous, you may feel like you have to
throw up, you may have to feel like you have
to go to the bathroom a lot like those are
the easy, simple ones that honestly are very common side
effects that people get. But there are abnormal side effects that.
Speaker 4 (24:25):
People do also get.
Speaker 5 (24:27):
Their psychotic side effects.
Speaker 6 (24:29):
It sounds like, so in terms of your generation, people
come up, how do you relate to people? Like so,
now you know, as wait for help me figure out
how to say this, Like really, so, how do you
say she has a doctor in pharmacy pharmaceutical How do
you say that?
Speaker 4 (24:48):
How do you say a doctorate of pharmacy degree.
Speaker 6 (24:52):
Doctor of pharmacy degree. So, how do you relate to
people your generation? Do they ask you questions? And do
you see a lot of people your age group or
within your age group who are medicated?
Speaker 5 (25:06):
Like have will take a lot of medications for things.
Speaker 7 (25:09):
I will say, and mental health is like one of
the biggest topics that I'm focusing on that is actually
the main one in my age range.
Speaker 4 (25:17):
That I get a lot of questions on.
Speaker 7 (25:20):
A lot of people actually in my age group are
on mental health medication or antidepressant medication, anti anxiety medication,
and people put a bad stigma on it.
Speaker 4 (25:31):
But I do think it's a good thing.
Speaker 7 (25:33):
If you're actually going to therapy, you're actually telling your doctor,
and your doctor thinks, hey, you're sad enough that you
kind of need this.
Speaker 4 (25:41):
We don't want to lose people.
Speaker 7 (25:43):
Especially African American people who lose their lives by suicide
all the time. So I love, not necessarily love, but
I do enjoy explaining to people, especially my age, things
about their medication, especially like side effects antidepression medication for
people my age do come with a lot of side
(26:04):
effects that they don't enjoy to do or that they
do enjoy to do too much, like gambling, I said,
or like not having a big sex drive. That's a
big part of what people my age don't like and
they think there's something that's wrong with them on that
aspect to like being married or had a guy asked
(26:26):
me about that and I was like, yeah, that's not you,
that's the drugs, like maybe you might want to switch,
or being up at night then sawnia or being too
active at night, like you know, things like that, So
it's just like having to explain to them that, yeah, so.
(26:48):
And also antidepressants they take a while. You're not just
going to take it for a day and feel like
you feel better.
Speaker 4 (26:55):
It really takes two to six weeks.
Speaker 7 (26:57):
To feel better off of antidepressant. You have to kind
of do the course. But if the side effects they're
in the course aren't good, you might need to say that.
And you can't go cold turkey because they're gonna cause
rebound side effects. They're gonna honestly make you feel like
you're going through a rehab program like you were addicted
to drugs or something like. So it's a lot of
(27:19):
things that you have to explain and sometimes doctors don't
explain that as well.
Speaker 6 (27:24):
Are there some areas or doors open for you to
mentor young people your age who are looking to go
into the pharmaceutical field.
Speaker 5 (27:35):
Do you share that with your generation at all at
any level?
Speaker 4 (27:38):
I do, like I do sometimes connect with people.
Speaker 7 (27:43):
My job will take on interns who went to the
same school I went to, so I will always tell
them my advice, how it was going into school, what
was a no no, what I did, what I think
would improve my experience.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
I can't say every experience.
Speaker 7 (28:00):
People study different, people do everything differently, people have different attitudes.
All I can tell them is how it helps me,
and maybe you could try too.
Speaker 4 (28:09):
And if it doesn't work, it doesn't work. But if
it works, that's a plus for me. So I do
give out my number.
Speaker 7 (28:15):
I do say I'll always help you, you know, anybody
that won't reach out, I still have my notes all
the things.
Speaker 5 (28:22):
Wo wow.
Speaker 6 (28:24):
I love that it's I feel like it's always portant
for us to give back whatever we go through. You know,
you know how rigorous the exams were, you probably picked
up some study habits that may help someone else. And
just one thing I know too, is that you come
from a family like your mom. I remember when you
were going to school and your mom had so much
(28:45):
information about how do you remember this?
Speaker 5 (28:48):
About how to.
Speaker 6 (28:49):
Get college applications and how to get money, and you know,
these students get these products. So I think you come
from that stock right, from that background that helped people
get the most that they can out of their experience.
So I love that you've picked that up. I think
that that's something that you caught and not necessarily something
(29:10):
that she taught you. But you saw her in action,
so keep doing that. The other thing is, so it
seems like you are well rounded in dealing with people
of different ages and cultures and backgrounds. So how do
you see the whole that fitting in with the whole
pharmacy world.
Speaker 5 (29:29):
Because everybody's on something, it seems like.
Speaker 7 (29:32):
Yeah, I will say, my family definitely taught me to
love everybody and to respect everybody, So that is always
my goal. Like you give respect, you get respect. So
I've always done that with every single person. I've always
been in chatty Kathy. I think it's because I'm an
only child. Being alone, I won't say it being alone
(29:55):
a lot, but you know, going to bed by myself,
just me and my mom, it's kind of like she
gets tired.
Speaker 4 (30:01):
Of talking to me.
Speaker 7 (30:01):
So I've always been talkative and talked to everybody. And
I will say also, going to like I said, I
used to float, So going to places like Savannah is
a very touristy area. We honestly a lot of people
from all over the country, all over the world, I
should say, Like it's not just Hispanics. There's French people,
(30:26):
there's Dutch, there's like all different type there's Asians.
Speaker 4 (30:29):
So it's like you really just get.
Speaker 7 (30:31):
Used to talking to all different types of people and
having to make them realize that.
Speaker 4 (30:37):
I mean, I don't know if people know, but over the.
Speaker 7 (30:39):
Country, I mean in other countries, you can get prescription
drugs that are here just over the counter, like a
maxicillin and antibiotic. You can get that in Mexico, Mexico
just over the counter by saying hey, I need some
I think I have your infection. But in here you
have to go see a doctor. You can't just grab
the shelfs. So trying to explain that to them, like, no, you're.
Speaker 5 (31:00):
Not going to see that on the that's interesting. How
interesting is that?
Speaker 4 (31:06):
Yeah? And so they'll ask you like, hey can I
get this? Where can I find this? And you're like, well,
you're not gonna find it.
Speaker 6 (31:14):
Yeah, I'm not your pusher man, Curtis Mayfield.
Speaker 4 (31:18):
Boy, I'm not that girl.
Speaker 6 (31:25):
So what advice would you give other young black females
considering pharmacy as being a pharmacist as a career.
Speaker 5 (31:35):
What advice would you give the other young black women?
Speaker 7 (31:38):
I would say, make sure you really want to be
a pharmacist, Like I understand pharmacy is not for everybody.
You honestly have to be really strict. Like now I'm
living the life that I'm enjoying, I'm traveling, I'm having
a great time. It looks like it was all great,
but during school, especially pharmacies school, it was really tough.
Speaker 4 (32:02):
I went to three year program, so.
Speaker 7 (32:05):
I was in school year round for three years straight
and summertimes had none things like that, like big things.
I felt like I was missing a lot up and
I felt like it was in a.
Speaker 4 (32:17):
Good portion of my twenties.
Speaker 7 (32:19):
So it's like I say, make sure you really want it,
and then when you really want it and you know
you're qualified for it, not just in a sense of
having empathy and sympathy for people. You really do have
to be smart. The book part is important. You have
to love science. You have to love math like you
have to enjoy that too, or you won't make it either.
(32:40):
And you have to kind of be strong in that.
You can't just think like, oh two divide away too,
that's great, Like no, I was doing all types of math.
Speaker 4 (32:49):
I did calculus. I had to do a lot.
Speaker 7 (32:52):
Yeah, just like yeah, you have to be kind of
into it completely, and then once you're into it, completely.
You really need to take the full dive into it
by getting to know people, you know, connecting not just
with the classmates but with your professors. I won't say,
if it's too much for you to do clubs, don't
(33:14):
do the clubs. But you just have to know yourself
and understand yourself and make sure you believe in yourself.
Speaker 4 (33:21):
That you no, you can do it.
Speaker 7 (33:23):
Like I won't say pharmacy is easy, but there is
an easy ending.
Speaker 4 (33:27):
And I do what I do.
Speaker 6 (33:30):
Yeah, I love it, And you look happy and you
look like you feel you look like like it was
all worth it, and I'm.
Speaker 5 (33:40):
So happy for you, and I'm proud of you.
Speaker 6 (33:43):
And you know that part where you said you got
to really know that that's what you want to do
because the math, the chemistry and all of that, and
you know, you got to stay focused so you can't
be out there partying every weekend out at the club
like you got to really be was on what you're doing.
Interesting story, little side story here is that's what my
(34:04):
husband wanted to be a pharmacist.
Speaker 5 (34:06):
Yes, but he's color blind.
Speaker 7 (34:09):
Right right, because you.
Speaker 5 (34:15):
Gotta know the green one from the reverend now. So
but I love it.
Speaker 6 (34:20):
Again, I still hear it in my gut that you
are in marketplace and ministry. This is more about how
you engage and show compassion and love with people more
so than it is the whole pharmaceutical part. That's your
that's where you're you're supposed to be.
Speaker 4 (34:37):
You're supposed to.
Speaker 5 (34:38):
Be in that field.
Speaker 6 (34:39):
And you know, not a lot of young people are
that compassionate and deal with, as you stated, people from
different cultural backgrounds and levels and areas.
Speaker 5 (34:50):
And so that's good advice to give young people.
Speaker 6 (34:54):
Don't go into it if that's not really something, if
you're not absolutely sure that that's what you want to do.
Speaker 5 (35:00):
You because as she stated that she was in.
Speaker 6 (35:02):
School all year round for three years, that would seem
like a lifetime, right, that seems like a lifetime. So
are there particular healthcare issues or community needs you're passionate
about that you addressed through your work. Have you gotten
any things that you become more passionate about now that
(35:24):
you're actually in the field.
Speaker 7 (35:27):
I will say right now, I'm not diving diving into
anything too deeply. The thing I am more passionate about
these days is mental health because I do see people
a lot my age that are having mental health issues.
Speaker 4 (35:44):
And I will.
Speaker 7 (35:45):
Say I know I was very driven, very hard working,
but I have to say that I also took.
Speaker 4 (35:51):
Time to have fun.
Speaker 7 (35:53):
And having fun doesn't necessarily mean going out, partying, drinking.
It can be any type of fun that is your fun.
Like I would travel. I would go ziplining in my travel.
I love books, so I discovered a new bookstore here,
Like you have to make your type of fun.
Speaker 4 (36:12):
I like to eat.
Speaker 7 (36:13):
I would go eat downtown, Like every once in a
while when I made time, or after I studied really
hard for that test and I made that a I
would take that small nap and I would go enjoy
myself at a restaurant. Like you have to create your
type of fun as well and mental health. I feel
like a lot of people our age are pretty hard
on ourselves on where we're at. And that's why I
(36:36):
always say, you have to know what you want to do,
because don't spend a year and a half halfway in debt,
a thousand hundred dollars in debt because pharmacy school it's
not cheap and debt and be like I don't want
to do this, Like be sure about what you want
to do that way you can set yourself up for
greatness so you can.
Speaker 5 (36:56):
Have a good time like awesome, awesome. I almost feel like.
Speaker 6 (37:02):
I need to do a podcast on mental health and
young people, because, as I hearing you say, these medications
that are prescribed for people who are living a life
where the side effects are impacting their lives, and they
don't really leave full lives, not just because of the
mental health issues, but because of the side effects of
(37:23):
the medication.
Speaker 7 (37:24):
Right, right.
Speaker 6 (37:26):
And so we're so engaged with the electronics that we
don't touch each other's hearts enough, and so we look
for love in all the technological places and there's no
love there. But I'm not gonna go there. I'm gonna
ask you another question and stay on and stay on topic.
Before we bring Audrey back, I would like for you
(37:50):
to think about this. Would you tell us something that
we should know that I may not have asked.
Speaker 7 (38:02):
I honestly don't think there's anything I can tell you differently.
I just always say with your health, ask questions. Don't
let your doctor come in there and talk to you
for fifteen minutes and leave, like if it doesn't make sense,
ask the question. I think people are too afraid to
ask the doctor. They get white coat syndrome where it's
(38:24):
like I'm the doctor, I know everything, Like actually, sometimes no,
you don't. You could have made a mistake. Actually, like
this isn't making me comfortable. You think it's working in
one way, but it's hurting me in another, and it's
becoming unbearable, like say the things. Don't just let him say, hey,
your blood pressure was high, so I got you on
this type of persons, your medication, and it's all good
(38:47):
to go, and you're at home feeling dizzy every time
you stand up, Like, speak about those things, and talk
about those things. And if you don't feel like you're
being hurt there, ask someone else.
Speaker 4 (38:59):
Talk to the pharmacists. The pharmacist is honestly there.
Speaker 7 (39:02):
I never fall people for trying to come up to
me and ask me like do I feel like I
have a temperature?
Speaker 4 (39:08):
Does it look like I'm having a stroke, Because it's
kind of like we're free health care for you now.
Granted I can't say, oh yeah, that's a stroke. I
can say, oh yeah, go to the doctor.
Speaker 5 (39:18):
Mm hmmm, that's one one.
Speaker 4 (39:22):
Right now, not necessarily saying hey, he's having a stroke.
Speaker 7 (39:26):
I'm just saying need help, Like I've had someone tell
me that, like, oh I feel like a seizure is
coming on.
Speaker 4 (39:32):
Okay, well you're gonna have a sea get some water
like you know it.
Speaker 7 (39:37):
We are free health care, so I understand you coming
up to ask the questions, but you need to ask
the questions.
Speaker 5 (39:44):
She said, we are free health care.
Speaker 4 (39:51):
But I can say, maybe you shut up right, yeah,
right right, right right now.
Speaker 5 (39:59):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's that's huge.
Speaker 6 (40:04):
Because you're not you don't have someone coming up as
for an appointment right after me, Like I can pick
up my medication and ask you questions and you're not
going to say, I got someone coming like five minutes
lady to pick up their medication. And so it's a
beautiful thing that people can engage with you. So I'm
glad that you're you have a humanitarian side of what
(40:28):
you do.
Speaker 5 (40:30):
Thank you.
Speaker 7 (40:31):
Some pharmacists say we'll give them a minute, and I
do want you to give them a minute. Sometimes things
are overwhelming. Yeah, but that is all grace.
Speaker 4 (40:41):
Grace is all we're going.
Speaker 6 (40:42):
Yeah, yeah, yes, Well, Audrey, I know you've been listening,
and I know some things came up in your spirit
as doctor Alexis was giving us some great insight.
Speaker 2 (40:54):
What do you think, Audrey, Well, I could tell you
that the first I do. I have a bunch of notes,
but I'm not gonna ask all those questions. I do
want to say, I have a question about knowing medication.
So so to give you a prime example, my husband.
My husband works in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Speaker 3 (41:12):
So he thinks he knows everything about anything medicine.
Speaker 2 (41:16):
Right, But a few years ago he had a reaction
to a medication he had been taken for a long time.
Speaker 3 (41:22):
So he comes in the house and his lip is swelling, and.
Speaker 2 (41:25):
Then a little bit a while later it's swelling straight across,
and then like another hour later like this.
Speaker 3 (41:30):
It was crazy. His lip got like like this big.
Speaker 2 (41:34):
So we walk into the urgent med and the first
thing they said was do you take Lacina prier And
he was like yeah. So the guy was like, oh lecenterpril.
He told us was that was a side effect for
black folk? How can people? How can people find out
for themselves if this is something that affects us as
a race people? Because I never heard that, I could
(41:55):
tell you when the doctor said it, I was taking
little center prill too. And guess what I did. I
took my own self off Immediately. I was like, well,
he's I'm not taking it there see, so immediately I
got off a little center prayer. But the doctor, and
we have a black doctor, she didn't know. So she
prescribed what she thought was the best medication. And my
poor husband was scared all night long, think his throat
(42:16):
is gonna close up, even after they gave him this
steroiois question, so, you know, how do we The question
is how do we find out? You know, how do
we what do we do to make sure that the
medication is good for us? I know, we hear all
of the side effects and things like that. What do
we do find that out?
Speaker 3 (42:34):
Because he didn't know that he had been taking it
for about three years at that point.
Speaker 4 (42:38):
Yeah, so I will say I immediately knew Astenergy says.
I said, he I begged you. He takes that lesson
a pril that is inhibito.
Speaker 7 (42:46):
But I as much as I want to say like,
oh that's bad, like that's a bad drug, it's honestly not.
That's honestly one of the most recommended for African Americans
who have high blood pressure.
Speaker 4 (42:58):
And it is the big side expecting African Americans. And
I can't say why. There really is no specific why.
Speaker 7 (43:06):
And I can't say, oh, like everybody will get it,
this will happen to every African American, because it doesn't
because I know so many people who are on it
and they're completely fine.
Speaker 4 (43:17):
It really is your.
Speaker 7 (43:19):
Body and how your body reacts, and as you get older,
your body reacts to a lot.
Speaker 4 (43:23):
Of things completely differently.
Speaker 7 (43:25):
And like you said, it was three years and his
body was like, yeah, no, I'm not feeling it anymore.
Like sometimes it does take a while to builds up,
but it is your body, and it is also trial
and error that unfortunately, and that's the sad party completely
sucks about drugs. And that's why it's like our job
to know, like, hey, this and this it's absolutely no go.
(43:48):
But you said that immediate thing that those are the
things I tell patients, like the first time they call, well,
call it in and say this is their first time
ever taking it.
Speaker 4 (43:57):
That's African American. I say, hey, if you're feeling funny,
your throat starts getting scratchy, you feel like you can't.
Speaker 7 (44:03):
Breathe, you need to go us to the hospital. Because
you're having an allergic reaction, and that's just what might happen. Now,
some people freak out, like you said, you was like,
I'm taking myself off too, like and it's like, hey,
you could do that too, because there's another thing you
could take. But at the same time, you just need
to be aware.
Speaker 2 (44:21):
And one last question for you. When someone comes to
the pharmacy and they need this medication and they just
cannot afford it, and your heart is saying, man, I
want to do something, but what do you do about that?
Because I know that happens to a lot of elderly people,
a lot of people on fixed income and things like that.
Speaker 6 (44:39):
Be careful how you respond because we know that you
work for a certain company, So be wise in your response.
Speaker 4 (44:44):
Yes, okay, because this is love. Yes okay, yes, so
honestly being very helpful.
Speaker 7 (44:52):
I will tell a lot of patients about like discounts
because a lot of them they will not have insurance,
and people with no insurance they don't realize a lot
of the drug companies actually.
Speaker 4 (45:04):
Have manufacturer coupons where you'll get the first month for you.
Speaker 7 (45:09):
A lot of time, doctors will only want you to
take it a month to even see how it works,
and if it doesn't work, you're off of it, or
if it does work, it was probably just needed for
that specific time. So I'll tell people like that again.
Discount cards, those are the hugest ones to do. And like, honestly,
if it's cheap enough, I will pay for it, like
(45:31):
there's nothing against that. Like I will pay for cheat medication.
Speaker 4 (45:35):
You can't. Sometimes my heart can't take you telling me
you're not going without insulin like that is too much
for me. So yeah, things like that, And there's a lot.
Speaker 7 (45:47):
Of pharmacists out there who do things like that, will
really try to go the extra mile. And then there's
some who are just trying to get through the day.
Speaker 4 (45:54):
So if you don't ask, then not I'm going to
tell you.
Speaker 7 (45:57):
And that's why I always say I ask the questions
because if you ask the questions, then you act like
you know, then they do their job.
Speaker 5 (46:04):
Audrey, that was a good, good, good question, So Audrey
do so for me.
Speaker 6 (46:11):
I heard her say that's what teachers do, like when
kids can't afford school supplies, they use their own money too, right,
And Audrey gives back too, so I know she knows
what I'm saying, Audrey gives a lot to community and
people in government agencies, and she just provides her skill
and her knowledge. So you two are two amazing women
(46:36):
who love people and take care of us, and I
love you all for it. I'm just so grateful. And
doctor Alexis, I'm thankful that you are as free. I'm
kind of glad that she's young, Audrey, because she was
just answering, not like we do you know what I'm saying, careful,
but I think we need to talk about we need
(47:00):
to have a segment on mental health, particularly in young people.
Speaker 5 (47:03):
What do you think, Audrey in doctor I.
Speaker 2 (47:06):
Agree about a week ago, there's I don't know if
you saw this story, doctor Chien, but my daughter was
going down seventy eight and not seventy eighty five, and
young men jumped off of the spaghetti junction, and yes,
at the answer is absolutely we do we do you with.
Speaker 5 (47:24):
Us, Doctor Leek?
Speaker 7 (47:25):
I am because a lot of people don't know schizophrenia
is very predominant in black people and very predominant in
the age between twenty two and twenty five.
Speaker 4 (47:37):
So it's like they think.
Speaker 7 (47:39):
These things and it's like it actually is very common
and it's things that can happen and you can't get
under control and you can't live a normal life.
Speaker 4 (47:50):
So I definitely agree, understand.
Speaker 3 (47:54):
I think you should have a panel.
Speaker 5 (47:56):
That's what I was thinking.
Speaker 6 (47:57):
I was thinking the same thing just now that we
need to have a few people on and let's just
do it and maybe we can do the show for
an hour if that's okay with you, Audrey. When we please,
you and I can get together. But I want to
thank doctor Phoenicia Armstrong and Christine Marker. They sponsored this show,
(48:18):
so Audrey always sends the show and ask people to
give it to support. So thank you for that, Audrey,
because you know people have responded well. And I'm so grateful.
So thank you to doctor Armstrong, thank you to Christine.
Thank you Audrey for being a champion and a cheerleader
of the Keeping It Real.
Speaker 5 (48:37):
With Doctor Chin podcast. Doctor Leek, I love you.
Speaker 7 (48:41):
I love you, thank you so much. She's one of
my prayer warriors. I am so grateful for her all
through school. I mean she's seen me do all eight years.
So yeah, and I am so appreciated.
Speaker 4 (48:55):
Thank you guys.
Speaker 3 (48:57):
That's doctor Tan.
Speaker 2 (48:59):
I just want to say thank thank you to you,
because I felt like all of the shows have been
great but for some reason, and when a doctor Lexis
was talking, I was like, this is really a great
segment because you have brought in all of these different
women from different industries to share stuff that I don't
think people just say, Hey, I'm gonna go and get
this one from this industry and that one from that
industry and put them all on the show.
Speaker 7 (49:20):
It was.
Speaker 2 (49:20):
It was truly an amazing series. And Doctor Lexis, when
I'm sitting here, when I tell you I got pages
of notes, I'm like, I know I can't ask all
the questions. I have pages of comments notes.
Speaker 3 (49:30):
So thank you doctor ten for even thinking.
Speaker 4 (49:32):
Well you always me. I tell everybody that you can
always ask me. I might I might give you a
little sigh.
Speaker 7 (49:40):
It's right before a meal, but I'm going answer your question.
I'm gonna be listening.
Speaker 2 (49:45):
Man, Well I got your emails. Well I know that,
so yes, doctor ten, thank you for putting this all together.
Speaker 3 (49:51):
This was really truly amazing. So listen, if you guys enjoyed.
Speaker 2 (49:55):
This and you found this helpful, and you know someone
who may be thinking about going to to school to
be a pharmacist, make sure to share this episode with
them and also be sure to support this show. You
can do that by going to lindachinministries dot com. Check
out all the things Doctor ten is offering it. Subscribe
to the show is free, Share with two friends is free,
and support the show. And thank you to the sponsors
(50:17):
of the show. We hope to get more sponsors on
the show so we can keep doing this work, keep
empowering and inspiring folks.
Speaker 3 (50:23):
So listen.
Speaker 2 (50:23):
We'll be back again two weeks, same place, same time
you guys. Stay safe out there and until next time,
make it a great day. Bye everybody, baby, see you soon,
See you soon.
Speaker 4 (50:38):
Yeah, you've been.
Speaker 1 (50:41):
Listening to Keeping It Real with Doctor Linda Chen. If
you enjoyed this episode and hit the light button and
then share it.
Speaker 4 (50:46):
With a friend.
Speaker 1 (50:47):
Be sure to support the show by going to Lindachinministries
dot com. Subscribe to the show so you never missed
an episode, and tune in again in two weeks at
two pm Eastern. Sanitizer until next time, the faith and
keep it Real.
Welcome to Keeping It Real with Doctor Linda Chin. This
is the podcast where real life choices new phiblical truth
without the flock. Tune in every second and fourth Monday
at GWPM in Eastern Standard Time as doctor Chen shares
faith filled, practical insights to navigate everyday challenges. Get ready
(00:22):
for real talk, real life and real answers.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Good afternoon, Good afternoon, Good afternoon. Hope you guys had
a wonderful fourth of July. Welcome to the Keeping It
Real with Doctor Lindonton. I'm her co host and producer
Audrobel Current got a great show for you today. This
is a part of our Tech Week Women in Tech series,
and I'm happy that we're going to be here with
another woman in tech doing some amazing things, and doctor
(00:51):
Chin is going to be asking her some questions so
we can some insight into a into a space that's
really really important for a lot of us, and that's
the pharmaceutical space.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
So I'm happy to be here.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
And without further ado, let me bring this Alexis Leak
and doctor Linda Chen to the stage.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Yah yah, lady, listen, and.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
My technical problems are here.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
I tell you, boy, I tell you but the July
of July was great.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
But thank you. So I actually.
Speaker 5 (01:37):
So we're over there.
Speaker 6 (01:38):
I think there's a little delay mm hmm, okay, So
I just I want to thank Audrey. Listen, even in technology,
we we know that there can be issues, but we
have a wonderful producer. I thank god that Audrey. You
all have no idea what's going on backstage so many
times on the show, but she keeps bringing.
Speaker 5 (02:00):
Us up and she makes it work.
Speaker 6 (02:01):
So she figures it out and she doesn't panic or
freak out. And I just want to say thank you,
Audrey for who you are and what you do, and
how you help us in business and ministry and in
government and community, how you help us make things happen
in the tech world. Can we just give it up
for Audrey Bell Canny. Thank you, Thank you, Audrey, and
(02:26):
thank you. You're welcome you you deserve it. You deserve it.
And I want to welcome doctor Alexis Leak to our podcast.
And I'm so excited Audrey. This is the youngest guest
that we've ever had. She's our youngest guest. I'm not
going to ask your age of dot week, but I'm
(02:48):
just so glad that you're here today, and we've been
doing a STEM. We've been focusing on STEM these last
few weeks.
Speaker 5 (02:57):
I think Audrey the last six or seven weeks.
Speaker 6 (03:00):
Women in science and the technology and the engineering and
the math.
Speaker 5 (03:04):
And doctor Alexis I've.
Speaker 6 (03:06):
Heard, okay, and I'm going to tell too much, but
her grandmother has been my walking Marketer falls eight years now.
We've known each other forever. So welcome, doctor Alexis Leak,
and we're glad to have you. Ordree's gonna come back
on and she closes us out and she's gonna have
some questions and input for you, doctor Leek.
Speaker 5 (03:24):
Is that all right?
Speaker 4 (03:25):
That is all right with me? Thank you for having.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
Me, beautiful, You're welcome. You're welcome, ladies.
Speaker 4 (03:33):
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (03:35):
Tell us a little bit about yourself, doctor Leek.
Speaker 7 (03:38):
Okay, So, I was actually born in New York, Queens,
New York. I moved to Georgia when I was about
eight years old. I'm twenty six, I don't mind saying it.
I turned twenty seven in August when I moved to Georgia.
We grew up in Douglasville, so I went to Lathia
Springs High School. I ended up up graduating there with
(04:01):
a high school diploma and a STEM diploma actually in
biomedical science.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
Yeah, that was fun.
Speaker 7 (04:09):
I then proceeded to go to Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia.
I got an undergrad degree in chemistry actually there, and
then after that I ended up going to South University
School of Pharmacy in Savannah, Georgia, which I reside now,
and I ended up graduating actually last year I had
(04:32):
four time dean student, graduating with three point five.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
It was amazing. I am now a pharmacist, so yeah, awesome.
Speaker 6 (04:42):
Awesome, awesome, And you know, I've been a big supporter
of yours for years and I'm excited. So let's just
get started some of the things. Listen, got the league.
What inspired you to pursue a career in pharmacy.
Speaker 7 (04:55):
Well, I've actually wanted to be a pharmacist since I
was in the sixth grade moving here. When I was
a I got really really bad allergies, Like you know,
the trees in Georgia they are off the chain. So
I got allergies, really bad sinus infections all the time,
in and out the doctor's office with my mom actually,
(05:18):
and so it was actually the pharmacist who was African American.
My mom did an amazing job to exposing me to
African American women, African American men in healthcare field, just
to know that, like you know, we're getting the best
care by us. And so I also had an African American
pharmacists and she honestly was the one that helped my
(05:40):
allergies go away way better than the doctors did by
over the counter products, just telling us what to do
to help. Like so that inspired me because I am
not a blood person at all. That's not my thing.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
But I love scientific things.
Speaker 7 (05:58):
Like I said, I graduate with a chemistry degree even
though I don't use it like I enjoy science.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
So I knew that was the realm. I wanted to.
Speaker 6 (06:06):
Go, beautiful self, walk us through a typical day of
yours in this current climate.
Speaker 5 (06:15):
Now.
Speaker 6 (06:15):
So wait, so let's go back. So when I say
this current climate, now, I have to say with people
in fear of losing health care, which means you know,
co pays with medications and so forth. But even before then,
what was it like a typical day? And I'm going
(06:37):
this is keeping it real? The show is it real?
With doctor Chen, immigrants and illegal immigrants who would come
and try to get prescriptions filled. How do you deal
with that? How do you vet the ideas and ideas
and all of that, like tell us what a current
day really is.
Speaker 7 (06:58):
So I actually to float a lot, and floating is
like basically going into other stores being a retail pharmacist.
So retail is like working in Walmart publics. I work
at CBS. So doing that, I used to float to
a lot of stores and a lot of different stores
have I will say Hispanics or like immigrants and stuff,
(07:21):
and it's definitely I won't say it's a challenge. It
actually made me want to learn how to speak Spanish.
I will say I've been learning myself and having to
use my translate.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
That's really been a huge thing.
Speaker 7 (07:33):
But I will say, like on a day to day
getting their prescriptions and having to explain to them I
need someone's ID, that one is pretty hard. But the
ones that are just trying to get antibiotics, I do
the best I can by giving them discounts, like I
know our store has some when people don't have insurance,
I just automatically apply it and assume you don't have insurance,
(07:54):
and I'm gonna add it. I'm never gonna make somebody
pay for cash because the cash prices on medicaidations are insane,
and I don't think people realize that, like, there are
discounts that you can use, and I do think, being
my age, knowing that, I try my hardest to make sure,
even when you're not aware, to apply it because I
(08:17):
know I can't.
Speaker 6 (08:20):
So is that like an every day? Is that a
usual occurrence or is that kind of a every now
and again?
Speaker 4 (08:27):
I would say it's that every day. A lot of
them are getting smarter.
Speaker 7 (08:31):
I have some pamphlets to use, but it's a lot
harder with our president now, like so using coupons and
keeping it kind of off record, I would say it's
a little bit better.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
But they do have enough to go to the doctor.
Speaker 6 (08:48):
Like so, But those of you who are listening or
are regular listening of people on this podcast, I think
it's important that you share this with people so that
they know that are options out there for them. And
even if you don't have a pharmacist like doctor Leek,
that means you can ask the questions, do you have
(09:08):
any discounts? I have done it myself insured, even I
asked do you have any discounts, and inevitably, doctor Alexis,
they do have them and they will give them to you.
So I thank you for being in tune and compassionate
with people. So even before then, what challenges have you
(09:29):
faced as you were entering into this pharmaceutical profession and
so what challenges and how did you overcome them?
Speaker 5 (09:37):
Because you're fairly fairly new pharmacist.
Speaker 4 (09:40):
Correct, yes, just about a year.
Speaker 7 (09:43):
Yeah, yeah, I will say the biggest challenge I face
is insurance by far, like this year specifically, like I
don't know, deductibles are extremely high on medications people used
to get before. It's been a lot harder for people
to afford medications. It's been more expensive to explore medications
(10:07):
that used to be dirt cheap on in somebody's insurance.
They're being very technical now, So I would say insurance
is the biggest thing in having to learn the loops
and hoops that you basically have to go through with
doctors to get this at an affordable price for your patients.
And yeah, that would be the biggest thing, and communication
(10:31):
with doctors trying to make them understand you can't just
write tablets on a prescription because if I've running through
its tablets, it's going to be more expensive. You have
to write capsules I can't wow. Yeah, just small things
like that, and patients will be like, are you serious
the small difference. Tablets will cost two hundred dollars capsules
(10:52):
will cost five wow.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
Yeah. So you just have to pay attention.
Speaker 7 (10:57):
To that and honestly try to help patients and communicate.
Speaker 4 (11:02):
It's a little bit hard to do at a retail
setting because there's so many people you have to do
it for. So you just have to.
Speaker 7 (11:10):
Help people understand, like I'm trying to help you. So
it might take a little longer. Yes, I get it.
Some people they just want to pay. They'll say, hey,
I'll pay it, and I completely understand that too, but
trying to give you that option to get a cheaper deal.
Speaker 6 (11:23):
As always, So the topic today is what's growing on farm?
Speaker 5 (11:28):
What's growing on the farm. So what we learned.
Speaker 6 (11:30):
Today is capsules are less expensive than tampas and you really.
Speaker 4 (11:35):
Show all the time though it depends on the drug.
Speaker 5 (11:39):
Okay, but that's something we should look into.
Speaker 7 (11:42):
Yes, say very clarification, like if you're getting capsules and
you're paying three hundred dollars, is there a tablet option,
is the brand option cheaper?
Speaker 6 (11:53):
Like?
Speaker 4 (11:53):
You just need to ask questions.
Speaker 7 (11:54):
And I don't want to say ask the pharmacy all
the time, ask your insurance. I say, like, when drugs
aren't covered, call your insurance company and say, hey, my
doctor prescribed this. What is the equivalent that y'all will
pay for or what is the equivalent of that is
actually cheaper?
Speaker 4 (12:12):
And your insurance company will tell you might have.
Speaker 7 (12:14):
To wait on that hotline, like for a good minute,
and that part is annoying. I hate those waiting lines.
I hate getting through those animating systems. But I say
it's worth it because yeah, the doctor, you'll tell the doctor, hey,
I know you prescribe me this, but insurance say they'll
cover this, and the doctor.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
They'll do it.
Speaker 6 (12:32):
So the one thing you said something on the beginning
of the podcast, and it was one of the things
that inspired you to become a pharmacist because of the
allergies and so forth. And this is one thing that
I've learned, and you tell me what you think about this,
that oftentimes doctors, even though they have their your chart
(12:54):
right in front of them, they do not pay as
much attention to how the drugs interact even with supplements,
and so I've ended up asking the pharmacists, who will
give me more information that I wish my doctor had done.
Speaker 5 (13:11):
What do you think about that and what is your
experience with that?
Speaker 7 (13:14):
So I will say, doctors don't tell you all information
about your drugs, but that is literally what.
Speaker 4 (13:22):
The pharmacist is for.
Speaker 7 (13:24):
The pharmacist knows way more about drugs than the doctor
will ever know. The doctor studied how to fix you
and what will fix you the pharmacists need.
Speaker 4 (13:34):
I studied how the drugs are fixing you.
Speaker 7 (13:38):
Specifically, I can tell I won't say with all drugs,
but with majority drugs what they do and what they're for.
Speaker 4 (13:46):
So people be like, oh, yeah, I'm taking this from
my heart. I'm like, no, you're not. This helps you
go to.
Speaker 5 (13:50):
Sleep, oh man.
Speaker 7 (13:53):
So like a doctor will tell you the drug in
that time, in that frame.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
And so many people have so many different doctors. You
go to doctors for different things. You have one doctor
for your.
Speaker 7 (14:05):
Main doctor that's supposed to keep up with everything, to
make sure you're growing right, all that good things. But
then he's gonna send you off to a cardiologist for
your hearts. A nephrotologists for your kidneys like things like that,
so sometimes they're not communicating it kind of is the
pharmacist's job to tell you, Hey, you know, you're taking
(14:26):
kind of two of the same things. I don't think
your doctors know don't take both.
Speaker 5 (14:32):
Wow.
Speaker 6 (14:32):
So what I'm also hearing is you can there are
medications that actually treat multiple types of diseases or symptoms
or illnesses.
Speaker 7 (14:42):
For sure, and sometimes people don't realize that, and so
it's kind of hard as a pharmacist. They don't tell
you all of the time, all the times in a prescription,
this is for this, this is why I gave them this.
So it's just with my knowledge, I'm assuming it's for something,
not necessarily saying it's for that. Some people will be
(15:04):
taking a water pill for blood pressure and others will
be taking it for their acne. Like, it's not always
the same thing. There's used for different things, so it's
kind of hard for me to say like, oh, yeah, you.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
Have blood pressure issues, and then I'm like no.
Speaker 7 (15:23):
And that's also why it's important to pay attention to
what your doctor is saying, because I could be saying
it's for your blood pressure, but that's what I normally
see in my pharmacy. But in reality, you're going to
the dermatologists and this is what they're trying out for you.
Speaker 5 (15:37):
Interesting listen.
Speaker 6 (15:38):
So those people I had one blood pressure medication, I
actually thought that made my feet swell.
Speaker 5 (15:44):
It was one of the side effects was a demon right.
Speaker 6 (15:47):
So I just want to say to somebody who may
be taking it for acne, if there's feet is swelling,
you better look up the side effects of that.
Speaker 5 (15:53):
Money.
Speaker 7 (15:54):
Yeah, that is a huge thing I try to tell
people about. Some people will up it out and I'm like,
while that is so great that you think because your
blood pressure is down, you should feel like that. But
that is bad and you can get on something else.
I promise that will work and you don't have to
feel like that too.
Speaker 6 (16:15):
So how do you stay current on what's going on
in the pharmaceutical world? What actually do you do? Do
you have required certifications and trainings? Do you look up
things and classes and seminars for yourself?
Speaker 5 (16:28):
How does that work?
Speaker 7 (16:29):
So pharmacists are required to renew their licens every two years,
and we do have to have a certain amount of
hours that we log saying that we you know, did
something in that capacity to keep us current. So we
do have to do that, and I there's so many
seminars for pharmacy the pharmacy times, that's honestly open to anybody.
(16:53):
That's how I stay current. And funny wise too, social media. Now,
drug companies are getting very into social media, so they'll
tell you about drugs and things like that. In the
pharmacy realm, of course, pharmacy reps come to us all
the time and they'll inform us and give classes for
us and provide us education on drugs that we might
(17:14):
not know about. So those are the things that I
do to stay current. I won't say they're open to
the all public, but they're definitely successful to me.
Speaker 5 (17:23):
All Right, I'm gonna switch gears a little bit.
Speaker 6 (17:27):
Want to ask you how has your identity shaped? But
how do you feel your identity shape your experiences in
the pharmacy field.
Speaker 7 (17:39):
I definitely say I'm more empathetic to people and definitely
have more patience. Oh my goodness, to have patients with
a lot of them, like in the place I'm located now,
they're retired and a lot of them you realize after
a while they don't have anybody to talk to after
you see them every day, single day. You know there's
(18:01):
nothing ready. They know there's nothing ready. So people just
want to be talked to. A lot of people just
want kindness. So honestly, that's really what it taught me.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
Empathy. You never know what someone's going through.
Speaker 7 (18:15):
Like they look amazing, but they're taking a ton of pills.
They look like so happy on the way to the world,
but like the amount of depression pills that I know
I'm giving them is like this is I just hope
you have a good day. Like saying things like that,
remembering not necessarily remembering someone's birthday, but saying, oh, happy birthday.
Speaker 4 (18:36):
Your birthday was two days ago, Like people love that.
Speaker 7 (18:39):
Or they'll come in on my birthday and get a
vaccine and I'm like, you came in and got a
vaccine on your birthday and they're like, oh, I didn't
think you noticed, Like, yes, I noticed.
Speaker 4 (18:48):
I have to take me onto that. So things like that.
Speaker 7 (18:52):
It's just it's made me more compassionate to people and
understand people, like you really can't judge a book by
its cover.
Speaker 4 (18:59):
You never they're going through.
Speaker 5 (19:01):
So, oh my goodness, that is powerful.
Speaker 6 (19:05):
So to me, to me, I'm even getting a little
emotional as I think about it. That is so powerful
because to me as a minister of the gospel, and
you get a message to minister from God and evidence,
if you're in tune and you pray, then you'll know
that whatever message you're giving at that time, there's someone
(19:28):
there who needs it. So there's this thing in scripture
where Paul talks about it's this the marketplace ministry, and
I believe that's what you're doing and where you've been
placed there and why you've been placed there because you
do have compassion. Because not all pharmacists because they're behind
the counter, because they're not checking people's blood pressure and
(19:49):
looking in your ears and up your nose and all
of that stuff that you don't really have the hands
on that people do need because you're the one who
knows all these medications. Like you know, yeah, well, I'm
grateful for your compassion.
Speaker 5 (20:04):
How have people responded to your compassion?
Speaker 4 (20:09):
I will say people are some people.
Speaker 7 (20:12):
I mean they take it very well. They're very loving.
Like I got gifts before. Like I'm not supposed to
say gifts. I always tell them no, but you know,
I gotten gifts. People remember me, they'll remember my birthday,
they'll remember things about me. They're just honestly so sweet.
Or I'll talk about my family that asks about how
my family's doing. We'll just connect on a different level
(20:34):
because again, a lot of them just come in every
day just to chat.
Speaker 4 (20:38):
So people do take it really well.
Speaker 6 (20:44):
Nobody feels like you're getting in their business, like you're
being no.
Speaker 7 (20:48):
Now, you know, there's some of them that are always
like grumpy, just having a bad day. You can always tell,
and those are the ones I leave alone.
Speaker 4 (20:58):
Like you get them in and out just yeah, give.
Speaker 7 (21:00):
Them, give them their medication and let's go, let me explain.
And you have to do it as nextly as you can,
even though you don't want to. But yeah, those those
are the ones you could just always tell right away.
Speaker 6 (21:14):
So that compassion that you have, I believe brings a
level of healing to people because people need the human touch,
even if it's yes, we need physical touch every day,
but we need the human touch of someone who says, I.
Speaker 5 (21:27):
See you, I notice you.
Speaker 6 (21:29):
I understand that you're dealing with something that you may
not look like you're wearing, but you're doing it. So
you know this this whole thing about what's growing on
the farm.
Speaker 5 (21:38):
I think it's more important than what I thought it was.
Speaker 6 (21:41):
When you know, I asked you to be a guest
on the show because you have contact with people all
day every day, you know, unlike doctors. You go into
the evenings, right on the weekends and all of that.
Speaker 5 (21:58):
Holidays. I forgot to about that.
Speaker 6 (22:02):
What does representation and healthcare mean to you? How do
you see yourself influencing the next generation?
Speaker 7 (22:12):
Just like the passion oeration influences me, like telling people
things that you know can help. Sometimes doctors I want bashed.
Doctors I do. I know they're very important. Honestly, did
a doctor. A lot of people try to take advantage
of me and try to show me like, oh do
you think this is just like no, you need to
(22:34):
go to the doctor. The doctor can be what that is.
I am not that kind of doctor. I am just
a doctor of medicine.
Speaker 5 (22:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (22:40):
So, I honestly think a lot of times again communication
is broken, so they're not paying attention that they've tried
ten different things that honestly are I would say money grabs,
Like you'll go to the pharmacy and they'll tell you
it's like four hundred dollars excuse me, And I'll look
(23:02):
at the medication and be like they could have just
gave you this. Someone will go and tell the doctor
like can you just give me this, and they'll end
up paying five.
Speaker 4 (23:10):
Dollars off of that, you know what I mean.
Speaker 7 (23:13):
So it is kind of just sometimes me explaining to
people or even with side effects, like I said, like, hey,
there's some drugs that are out there that are hey,
they work for allergies really great, but a lot of
people don't know they cause suicidal thoughts, and so I
try to tell our community like, hey, if you start
(23:33):
feeling bad after a while, that's this medication and maybe
you should really stop that.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
Like that's not you that the drugs. Sometimes the drugs
do that.
Speaker 7 (23:43):
Actually there's a drug that causes gambling addiction to increase, and.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
People would never know that, Like I have no idea
why I'm doing that.
Speaker 7 (23:49):
Hey, that's kind of a medication actually, so if you
you to kind of stop, if you have addicting qualities,
you should kind of stop. Not even saying it's just
a drugs, just say anything. You should kind of stop
this medication. So I think it's forming especially our people,
because doctors will brush it off.
Speaker 4 (24:08):
They'll just tell you the easy things like you.
Speaker 7 (24:11):
May feel nauseous, you may feel like you have to
throw up, you may have to feel like you have
to go to the bathroom a lot like those are
the easy, simple ones that honestly are very common side
effects that people get. But there are abnormal side effects that.
Speaker 4 (24:25):
People do also get.
Speaker 5 (24:27):
Their psychotic side effects.
Speaker 6 (24:29):
It sounds like, so in terms of your generation, people
come up, how do you relate to people? Like so,
now you know, as wait for help me figure out
how to say this, Like really, so, how do you
say she has a doctor in pharmacy pharmaceutical How do
you say that?
Speaker 4 (24:48):
How do you say a doctorate of pharmacy degree.
Speaker 6 (24:52):
Doctor of pharmacy degree. So, how do you relate to
people your generation? Do they ask you questions? And do
you see a lot of people your age group or
within your age group who are medicated?
Speaker 5 (25:06):
Like have will take a lot of medications for things.
Speaker 7 (25:09):
I will say, and mental health is like one of
the biggest topics that I'm focusing on that is actually
the main one in my age range.
Speaker 4 (25:17):
That I get a lot of questions on.
Speaker 7 (25:20):
A lot of people actually in my age group are
on mental health medication or antidepressant medication, anti anxiety medication,
and people put a bad stigma on it.
Speaker 4 (25:31):
But I do think it's a good thing.
Speaker 7 (25:33):
If you're actually going to therapy, you're actually telling your doctor,
and your doctor thinks, hey, you're sad enough that you
kind of need this.
Speaker 4 (25:41):
We don't want to lose people.
Speaker 7 (25:43):
Especially African American people who lose their lives by suicide
all the time. So I love, not necessarily love, but
I do enjoy explaining to people, especially my age, things
about their medication, especially like side effects antidepression medication for
people my age do come with a lot of side
(26:04):
effects that they don't enjoy to do or that they
do enjoy to do too much, like gambling, I said,
or like not having a big sex drive. That's a
big part of what people my age don't like and
they think there's something that's wrong with them on that
aspect to like being married or had a guy asked
(26:26):
me about that and I was like, yeah, that's not you,
that's the drugs, like maybe you might want to switch,
or being up at night then sawnia or being too
active at night, like you know, things like that, So
it's just like having to explain to them that, yeah, so.
(26:48):
And also antidepressants they take a while. You're not just
going to take it for a day and feel like
you feel better.
Speaker 4 (26:55):
It really takes two to six weeks.
Speaker 7 (26:57):
To feel better off of antidepressant. You have to kind
of do the course. But if the side effects they're
in the course aren't good, you might need to say that.
And you can't go cold turkey because they're gonna cause
rebound side effects. They're gonna honestly make you feel like
you're going through a rehab program like you were addicted
to drugs or something like. So it's a lot of
(27:19):
things that you have to explain and sometimes doctors don't
explain that as well.
Speaker 6 (27:24):
Are there some areas or doors open for you to
mentor young people your age who are looking to go
into the pharmaceutical field.
Speaker 5 (27:35):
Do you share that with your generation at all at
any level?
Speaker 4 (27:38):
I do, like I do sometimes connect with people.
Speaker 7 (27:43):
My job will take on interns who went to the
same school I went to, so I will always tell
them my advice, how it was going into school, what
was a no no, what I did, what I think
would improve my experience.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
I can't say every experience.
Speaker 7 (28:00):
People study different, people do everything differently, people have different attitudes.
All I can tell them is how it helps me,
and maybe you could try too.
Speaker 4 (28:09):
And if it doesn't work, it doesn't work. But if
it works, that's a plus for me. So I do
give out my number.
Speaker 7 (28:15):
I do say I'll always help you, you know, anybody
that won't reach out, I still have my notes all
the things.
Speaker 5 (28:22):
Wo wow.
Speaker 6 (28:24):
I love that it's I feel like it's always portant
for us to give back whatever we go through. You know,
you know how rigorous the exams were, you probably picked
up some study habits that may help someone else. And
just one thing I know too, is that you come
from a family like your mom. I remember when you
were going to school and your mom had so much
(28:45):
information about how do you remember this?
Speaker 5 (28:48):
About how to.
Speaker 6 (28:49):
Get college applications and how to get money, and you know,
these students get these products. So I think you come
from that stock right, from that background that helped people
get the most that they can out of their experience.
So I love that you've picked that up. I think
that that's something that you caught and not necessarily something
(29:10):
that she taught you. But you saw her in action,
so keep doing that. The other thing is, so it
seems like you are well rounded in dealing with people
of different ages and cultures and backgrounds. So how do
you see the whole that fitting in with the whole
pharmacy world.
Speaker 5 (29:29):
Because everybody's on something, it seems like.
Speaker 7 (29:32):
Yeah, I will say, my family definitely taught me to
love everybody and to respect everybody, So that is always
my goal. Like you give respect, you get respect. So
I've always done that with every single person. I've always
been in chatty Kathy. I think it's because I'm an
only child. Being alone, I won't say it being alone
(29:55):
a lot, but you know, going to bed by myself,
just me and my mom, it's kind of like she
gets tired.
Speaker 4 (30:01):
Of talking to me.
Speaker 7 (30:01):
So I've always been talkative and talked to everybody. And
I will say also, going to like I said, I
used to float, So going to places like Savannah is
a very touristy area. We honestly a lot of people
from all over the country, all over the world, I
should say, Like it's not just Hispanics. There's French people,
(30:26):
there's Dutch, there's like all different type there's Asians.
Speaker 4 (30:29):
So it's like you really just get.
Speaker 7 (30:31):
Used to talking to all different types of people and
having to make them realize that.
Speaker 4 (30:37):
I mean, I don't know if people know, but over the.
Speaker 7 (30:39):
Country, I mean in other countries, you can get prescription
drugs that are here just over the counter, like a
maxicillin and antibiotic. You can get that in Mexico, Mexico
just over the counter by saying hey, I need some
I think I have your infection. But in here you
have to go see a doctor. You can't just grab
the shelfs. So trying to explain that to them, like, no, you're.
Speaker 5 (31:00):
Not going to see that on the that's interesting. How
interesting is that?
Speaker 4 (31:06):
Yeah? And so they'll ask you like, hey can I
get this? Where can I find this? And you're like, well,
you're not gonna find it.
Speaker 6 (31:14):
Yeah, I'm not your pusher man, Curtis Mayfield.
Speaker 4 (31:18):
Boy, I'm not that girl.
Speaker 6 (31:25):
So what advice would you give other young black females
considering pharmacy as being a pharmacist as a career.
Speaker 5 (31:35):
What advice would you give the other young black women?
Speaker 7 (31:38):
I would say, make sure you really want to be
a pharmacist, Like I understand pharmacy is not for everybody.
You honestly have to be really strict. Like now I'm
living the life that I'm enjoying, I'm traveling, I'm having
a great time. It looks like it was all great,
but during school, especially pharmacies school, it was really tough.
Speaker 4 (32:02):
I went to three year program, so.
Speaker 7 (32:05):
I was in school year round for three years straight
and summertimes had none things like that, like big things.
I felt like I was missing a lot up and
I felt like it was in a.
Speaker 4 (32:17):
Good portion of my twenties.
Speaker 7 (32:19):
So it's like I say, make sure you really want it,
and then when you really want it and you know
you're qualified for it, not just in a sense of
having empathy and sympathy for people. You really do have
to be smart. The book part is important. You have
to love science. You have to love math like you
have to enjoy that too, or you won't make it either.
(32:40):
And you have to kind of be strong in that.
You can't just think like, oh two divide away too,
that's great, Like no, I was doing all types of math.
Speaker 4 (32:49):
I did calculus. I had to do a lot.
Speaker 7 (32:52):
Yeah, just like yeah, you have to be kind of
into it completely, and then once you're into it, completely.
You really need to take the full dive into it
by getting to know people, you know, connecting not just
with the classmates but with your professors. I won't say,
if it's too much for you to do clubs, don't
(33:14):
do the clubs. But you just have to know yourself
and understand yourself and make sure you believe in yourself.
Speaker 4 (33:21):
That you no, you can do it.
Speaker 7 (33:23):
Like I won't say pharmacy is easy, but there is
an easy ending.
Speaker 4 (33:27):
And I do what I do.
Speaker 6 (33:30):
Yeah, I love it, And you look happy and you
look like you feel you look like like it was
all worth it, and I'm.
Speaker 5 (33:40):
So happy for you, and I'm proud of you.
Speaker 6 (33:43):
And you know that part where you said you got
to really know that that's what you want to do
because the math, the chemistry and all of that, and
you know, you got to stay focused so you can't
be out there partying every weekend out at the club
like you got to really be was on what you're doing.
Interesting story, little side story here is that's what my
(34:04):
husband wanted to be a pharmacist.
Speaker 5 (34:06):
Yes, but he's color blind.
Speaker 7 (34:09):
Right right, because you.
Speaker 5 (34:15):
Gotta know the green one from the reverend now. So
but I love it.
Speaker 6 (34:20):
Again, I still hear it in my gut that you
are in marketplace and ministry. This is more about how
you engage and show compassion and love with people more
so than it is the whole pharmaceutical part. That's your
that's where you're you're supposed to be.
Speaker 4 (34:37):
You're supposed to.
Speaker 5 (34:38):
Be in that field.
Speaker 6 (34:39):
And you know, not a lot of young people are
that compassionate and deal with, as you stated, people from
different cultural backgrounds and levels and areas.
Speaker 5 (34:50):
And so that's good advice to give young people.
Speaker 6 (34:54):
Don't go into it if that's not really something, if
you're not absolutely sure that that's what you want to do.
Speaker 5 (35:00):
You because as she stated that she was in.
Speaker 6 (35:02):
School all year round for three years, that would seem
like a lifetime, right, that seems like a lifetime. So
are there particular healthcare issues or community needs you're passionate
about that you addressed through your work. Have you gotten
any things that you become more passionate about now that
(35:24):
you're actually in the field.
Speaker 7 (35:27):
I will say right now, I'm not diving diving into
anything too deeply. The thing I am more passionate about
these days is mental health because I do see people
a lot my age that are having mental health issues.
Speaker 4 (35:44):
And I will.
Speaker 7 (35:45):
Say I know I was very driven, very hard working,
but I have to say that I also took.
Speaker 4 (35:51):
Time to have fun.
Speaker 7 (35:53):
And having fun doesn't necessarily mean going out, partying, drinking.
It can be any type of fun that is your fun.
Like I would travel. I would go ziplining in my travel.
I love books, so I discovered a new bookstore here,
Like you have to make your type of fun.
Speaker 4 (36:12):
I like to eat.
Speaker 7 (36:13):
I would go eat downtown, Like every once in a
while when I made time, or after I studied really
hard for that test and I made that a I
would take that small nap and I would go enjoy
myself at a restaurant. Like you have to create your
type of fun as well and mental health. I feel
like a lot of people our age are pretty hard
on ourselves on where we're at. And that's why I
(36:36):
always say, you have to know what you want to do,
because don't spend a year and a half halfway in debt,
a thousand hundred dollars in debt because pharmacy school it's
not cheap and debt and be like I don't want
to do this, Like be sure about what you want
to do that way you can set yourself up for
greatness so you can.
Speaker 5 (36:56):
Have a good time like awesome, awesome. I almost feel like.
Speaker 6 (37:02):
I need to do a podcast on mental health and
young people, because, as I hearing you say, these medications
that are prescribed for people who are living a life
where the side effects are impacting their lives, and they
don't really leave full lives, not just because of the
mental health issues, but because of the side effects of
(37:23):
the medication.
Speaker 7 (37:24):
Right, right.
Speaker 6 (37:26):
And so we're so engaged with the electronics that we
don't touch each other's hearts enough, and so we look
for love in all the technological places and there's no
love there. But I'm not gonna go there. I'm gonna
ask you another question and stay on and stay on topic.
Before we bring Audrey back, I would like for you
(37:50):
to think about this. Would you tell us something that
we should know that I may not have asked.
Speaker 7 (38:02):
I honestly don't think there's anything I can tell you differently.
I just always say with your health, ask questions. Don't
let your doctor come in there and talk to you
for fifteen minutes and leave, like if it doesn't make sense,
ask the question. I think people are too afraid to
ask the doctor. They get white coat syndrome where it's
(38:24):
like I'm the doctor, I know everything, Like actually, sometimes no,
you don't. You could have made a mistake. Actually, like
this isn't making me comfortable. You think it's working in
one way, but it's hurting me in another, and it's
becoming unbearable, like say the things. Don't just let him say, hey,
your blood pressure was high, so I got you on
this type of persons, your medication, and it's all good
(38:47):
to go, and you're at home feeling dizzy every time
you stand up, Like, speak about those things, and talk
about those things. And if you don't feel like you're
being hurt there, ask someone else.
Speaker 4 (38:59):
Talk to the pharmacists. The pharmacist is honestly there.
Speaker 7 (39:02):
I never fall people for trying to come up to
me and ask me like do I feel like I
have a temperature?
Speaker 4 (39:08):
Does it look like I'm having a stroke, Because it's
kind of like we're free health care for you now.
Granted I can't say, oh yeah, that's a stroke. I
can say, oh yeah, go to the doctor.
Speaker 5 (39:18):
Mm hmmm, that's one one.
Speaker 4 (39:22):
Right now, not necessarily saying hey, he's having a stroke.
Speaker 7 (39:26):
I'm just saying need help, Like I've had someone tell
me that, like, oh I feel like a seizure is
coming on.
Speaker 4 (39:32):
Okay, well you're gonna have a sea get some water
like you know it.
Speaker 7 (39:37):
We are free health care, so I understand you coming
up to ask the questions, but you need to ask
the questions.
Speaker 5 (39:44):
She said, we are free health care.
Speaker 4 (39:51):
But I can say, maybe you shut up right, yeah,
right right, right right now.
Speaker 5 (39:59):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's that's huge.
Speaker 6 (40:04):
Because you're not you don't have someone coming up as
for an appointment right after me, Like I can pick
up my medication and ask you questions and you're not
going to say, I got someone coming like five minutes
lady to pick up their medication. And so it's a
beautiful thing that people can engage with you. So I'm
glad that you're you have a humanitarian side of what
(40:28):
you do.
Speaker 5 (40:30):
Thank you.
Speaker 7 (40:31):
Some pharmacists say we'll give them a minute, and I
do want you to give them a minute. Sometimes things
are overwhelming. Yeah, but that is all grace.
Speaker 4 (40:41):
Grace is all we're going.
Speaker 6 (40:42):
Yeah, yeah, yes, Well, Audrey, I know you've been listening,
and I know some things came up in your spirit
as doctor Alexis was giving us some great insight.
Speaker 2 (40:54):
What do you think, Audrey, Well, I could tell you
that the first I do. I have a bunch of notes,
but I'm not gonna ask all those questions. I do
want to say, I have a question about knowing medication.
So so to give you a prime example, my husband.
My husband works in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Speaker 3 (41:12):
So he thinks he knows everything about anything medicine.
Speaker 2 (41:16):
Right, But a few years ago he had a reaction
to a medication he had been taken for a long time.
Speaker 3 (41:22):
So he comes in the house and his lip is swelling, and.
Speaker 2 (41:25):
Then a little bit a while later it's swelling straight across,
and then like another hour later like this.
Speaker 3 (41:30):
It was crazy. His lip got like like this big.
Speaker 2 (41:34):
So we walk into the urgent med and the first
thing they said was do you take Lacina prier And
he was like yeah. So the guy was like, oh lecenterpril.
He told us was that was a side effect for
black folk? How can people? How can people find out
for themselves if this is something that affects us as
a race people? Because I never heard that, I could
(41:55):
tell you when the doctor said it, I was taking
little center prill too. And guess what I did. I
took my own self off Immediately. I was like, well,
he's I'm not taking it there see, so immediately I
got off a little center prayer. But the doctor, and
we have a black doctor, she didn't know. So she
prescribed what she thought was the best medication. And my
poor husband was scared all night long, think his throat
(42:16):
is gonna close up, even after they gave him this
steroiois question, so, you know, how do we The question
is how do we find out? You know, how do
we what do we do to make sure that the
medication is good for us? I know, we hear all
of the side effects and things like that. What do
we do find that out?
Speaker 3 (42:34):
Because he didn't know that he had been taking it
for about three years at that point.
Speaker 4 (42:38):
Yeah, so I will say I immediately knew Astenergy says.
I said, he I begged you. He takes that lesson
a pril that is inhibito.
Speaker 7 (42:46):
But I as much as I want to say like,
oh that's bad, like that's a bad drug, it's honestly not.
That's honestly one of the most recommended for African Americans
who have high blood pressure.
Speaker 4 (42:58):
And it is the big side expecting African Americans. And
I can't say why. There really is no specific why.
Speaker 7 (43:06):
And I can't say, oh, like everybody will get it,
this will happen to every African American, because it doesn't
because I know so many people who are on it
and they're completely fine.
Speaker 4 (43:17):
It really is your.
Speaker 7 (43:19):
Body and how your body reacts, and as you get older,
your body reacts to a lot.
Speaker 4 (43:23):
Of things completely differently.
Speaker 7 (43:25):
And like you said, it was three years and his
body was like, yeah, no, I'm not feeling it anymore.
Like sometimes it does take a while to builds up,
but it is your body, and it is also trial
and error that unfortunately, and that's the sad party completely
sucks about drugs. And that's why it's like our job
to know, like, hey, this and this it's absolutely no go.
(43:48):
But you said that immediate thing that those are the
things I tell patients, like the first time they call, well,
call it in and say this is their first time
ever taking it.
Speaker 4 (43:57):
That's African American. I say, hey, if you're feeling funny,
your throat starts getting scratchy, you feel like you can't.
Speaker 7 (44:03):
Breathe, you need to go us to the hospital. Because
you're having an allergic reaction, and that's just what might happen. Now,
some people freak out, like you said, you was like,
I'm taking myself off too, like and it's like, hey,
you could do that too, because there's another thing you
could take. But at the same time, you just need
to be aware.
Speaker 2 (44:21):
And one last question for you. When someone comes to
the pharmacy and they need this medication and they just
cannot afford it, and your heart is saying, man, I
want to do something, but what do you do about that?
Because I know that happens to a lot of elderly people,
a lot of people on fixed income and things like that.
Speaker 6 (44:39):
Be careful how you respond because we know that you
work for a certain company, So be wise in your response.
Speaker 4 (44:44):
Yes, okay, because this is love. Yes okay, yes, so
honestly being very helpful.
Speaker 7 (44:52):
I will tell a lot of patients about like discounts
because a lot of them they will not have insurance,
and people with no insurance they don't realize a lot
of the drug companies actually.
Speaker 4 (45:04):
Have manufacturer coupons where you'll get the first month for you.
Speaker 7 (45:09):
A lot of time, doctors will only want you to
take it a month to even see how it works,
and if it doesn't work, you're off of it, or
if it does work, it was probably just needed for
that specific time. So I'll tell people like that again.
Discount cards, those are the hugest ones to do. And like, honestly,
if it's cheap enough, I will pay for it, like
(45:31):
there's nothing against that. Like I will pay for cheat medication.
Speaker 4 (45:35):
You can't. Sometimes my heart can't take you telling me
you're not going without insulin like that is too much
for me. So yeah, things like that, And there's a lot.
Speaker 7 (45:47):
Of pharmacists out there who do things like that, will
really try to go the extra mile. And then there's
some who are just trying to get through the day.
Speaker 4 (45:54):
So if you don't ask, then not I'm going to
tell you.
Speaker 7 (45:57):
And that's why I always say I ask the questions
because if you ask the questions, then you act like
you know, then they do their job.
Speaker 5 (46:04):
Audrey, that was a good, good, good question, So Audrey
do so for me.
Speaker 6 (46:11):
I heard her say that's what teachers do, like when
kids can't afford school supplies, they use their own money too, right,
And Audrey gives back too, so I know she knows
what I'm saying, Audrey gives a lot to community and
people in government agencies, and she just provides her skill
and her knowledge. So you two are two amazing women
(46:36):
who love people and take care of us, and I
love you all for it. I'm just so grateful. And
doctor Alexis, I'm thankful that you are as free. I'm
kind of glad that she's young, Audrey, because she was
just answering, not like we do you know what I'm saying, careful,
but I think we need to talk about we need
(47:00):
to have a segment on mental health, particularly in young people.
Speaker 5 (47:03):
What do you think, Audrey in doctor I.
Speaker 2 (47:06):
Agree about a week ago, there's I don't know if
you saw this story, doctor Chien, but my daughter was
going down seventy eight and not seventy eighty five, and
young men jumped off of the spaghetti junction, and yes,
at the answer is absolutely we do we do you with.
Speaker 5 (47:24):
Us, Doctor Leek?
Speaker 7 (47:25):
I am because a lot of people don't know schizophrenia
is very predominant in black people and very predominant in
the age between twenty two and twenty five.
Speaker 4 (47:37):
So it's like they think.
Speaker 7 (47:39):
These things and it's like it actually is very common
and it's things that can happen and you can't get
under control and you can't live a normal life.
Speaker 4 (47:50):
So I definitely agree, understand.
Speaker 3 (47:54):
I think you should have a panel.
Speaker 5 (47:56):
That's what I was thinking.
Speaker 6 (47:57):
I was thinking the same thing just now that we
need to have a few people on and let's just
do it and maybe we can do the show for
an hour if that's okay with you, Audrey. When we please,
you and I can get together. But I want to
thank doctor Phoenicia Armstrong and Christine Marker. They sponsored this show,
(48:18):
so Audrey always sends the show and ask people to
give it to support. So thank you for that, Audrey,
because you know people have responded well. And I'm so grateful.
So thank you to doctor Armstrong, thank you to Christine.
Thank you Audrey for being a champion and a cheerleader
of the Keeping It Real.
Speaker 5 (48:37):
With Doctor Chin podcast. Doctor Leek, I love you.
Speaker 7 (48:41):
I love you, thank you so much. She's one of
my prayer warriors. I am so grateful for her all
through school. I mean she's seen me do all eight years.
So yeah, and I am so appreciated.
Speaker 4 (48:55):
Thank you guys.
Speaker 3 (48:57):
That's doctor Tan.
Speaker 2 (48:59):
I just want to say thank thank you to you,
because I felt like all of the shows have been
great but for some reason, and when a doctor Lexis
was talking, I was like, this is really a great
segment because you have brought in all of these different
women from different industries to share stuff that I don't
think people just say, Hey, I'm gonna go and get
this one from this industry and that one from that
industry and put them all on the show.
Speaker 7 (49:20):
It was.
Speaker 2 (49:20):
It was truly an amazing series. And Doctor Lexis, when
I'm sitting here, when I tell you I got pages
of notes, I'm like, I know I can't ask all
the questions. I have pages of comments notes.
Speaker 3 (49:30):
So thank you doctor ten for even thinking.
Speaker 4 (49:32):
Well you always me. I tell everybody that you can
always ask me. I might I might give you a
little sigh.
Speaker 7 (49:40):
It's right before a meal, but I'm going answer your question.
I'm gonna be listening.
Speaker 2 (49:45):
Man, Well I got your emails. Well I know that,
so yes, doctor ten, thank you for putting this all together.
Speaker 3 (49:51):
This was really truly amazing. So listen, if you guys enjoyed.
Speaker 2 (49:55):
This and you found this helpful, and you know someone
who may be thinking about going to to school to
be a pharmacist, make sure to share this episode with
them and also be sure to support this show. You
can do that by going to lindachinministries dot com. Check
out all the things Doctor ten is offering it. Subscribe
to the show is free, Share with two friends is free,
and support the show. And thank you to the sponsors
(50:17):
of the show. We hope to get more sponsors on
the show so we can keep doing this work, keep
empowering and inspiring folks.
Speaker 3 (50:23):
So listen.
Speaker 2 (50:23):
We'll be back again two weeks, same place, same time
you guys. Stay safe out there and until next time,
make it a great day. Bye everybody, baby, see you soon,
See you soon.
Speaker 4 (50:38):
Yeah, you've been.
Speaker 1 (50:41):
Listening to Keeping It Real with Doctor Linda Chen. If
you enjoyed this episode and hit the light button and
then share it.
Speaker 4 (50:46):
With a friend.
Speaker 1 (50:47):
Be sure to support the show by going to Lindachinministries
dot com. Subscribe to the show so you never missed
an episode, and tune in again in two weeks at
two pm Eastern. Sanitizer until next time, the faith and
keep it Real.
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