Pharmacist of the Month

Dr. Gary Sasaki

An Interview with Dr. Gary Sasaki
Photos and Interview by Jen Yang

Dr. Gary Sasaki is currently a pharmacist at the Tang Center

1. What made you decide to go into pharmacy?

In order for me to answer this question, you need to know that, at the time, I had just been discharged from the US Navy and was trying to find a direction in life. Initially, I thought I wanted to go into dentistry, but I needed organic chemistry to fulfill my pre-dental requirements. It was then, that someone suggested to me that I apply to pharmacy school, complete my prerequisites for dentistry in the first year of pharmacy school, and then, apply to dental school. However, while in pharmacy school, I did not expect to be turned off to giving injections in pharmacy lab exercises. After learning that I did not like giving injections, I decided to stay in pharmacy. It was not a colorful start to a career in pharmacy, but, in retrospect, it was the best decision I had ever made.

2. Which pharmacy school did you attend?

I attended UCSF pharmacy school. It was the only school that I applied, because, at the time, I could not afford to attend UOP or USC pharmacy schools due to limited funds.

What did you like about it?

To be honest, there were not many things I liked about UCSF. Maybe it was because I had to work a lot just to live in San Francisco . I had very little time to socialize while in pharmacy school.

Dislike?

I wanted to go to a school with a larger campus where I could meet people with different educational backgrounds. UCSF students mostly had medical backgrounds and seemed to be too competitive. Even to this day, I still dislike being at UCSF because the pharmacy administrators all seem to be uptight and worried about their own backs.  

3. What made you decide to work at the Tang Center ?

I would like to believe that I wanted to work at the Tang Center because: I enjoy the interchange with college students and trying to help them to survive their college years. I am energized by the fact that I can interact with young, vibrant, intelligent people. I wanted to work with an old friend, Keith Dong, and try to help him make the Tang Center pharmacy to be a better work place. I wanted a full-time job with good health benefits. I wanted the challenge of working in a different branch of the pharmacy profession. I needed something to stimulate my mind, raise my enthusiasm for pharmacy, and renew my zest for life.  

4. What do you like about working in the Tang Center ?  

The rewards of receiving words of appreciation from the medical staff and students. •  Working fixed hours and few weekends. •  The good work benefits – primarily the health benefits. •  The working conditions are manageable and not stressful-not like other pharmacies.  

5. What do you dislike about it?

I prefer the private sector better than the public sector. I find that the workers in the private sector are more dedicated and more focused. Since their pay scale depends on their work habits, they are more willing to try to impress their employer by working hard. In the public sector, the workers are in a fixed pay scale and their pay increases are also fixed. Therefore, it is more difficult to have them work harder because there are no incentives.  

6. What are some things you wish you could improve on in the community pharmacy setting?

Ideally, it would be nice to have a pharmacy that had a more professional appearance – more like a doctor's office-carpeted with a couch and magazines. Have a counseling room that was more like an office with a desk and computer. The computer would have the patient's medication profile, problem list, and possible drug interactions. I would have time to discuss the drug therapies with the patients and be able to charge their insurance for my time. I would have time to answer my email from my patients and time to communicate any concerns with their physicians. I would provide seminars for the community that would focus on disease states and their treatments. I would provide clinic days for monitoring hypertension, dyslipodemia, diabetes, and geriatric problems. I would provide compounding services which would include making ointments/creams/patches for non-commercially available drugs; solutions/suspensions for children that have difficulty in taking pills/capsules; and drugs for veterinarian use.

7. How do you see the future of pharmacy? Predictions for the field?

I am sorry to say that (not in the near future) the pharmacy profession may be soon reaching a peak in many ways. Third party reimbursement has already been lowered to a point where it is more difficult for the community pharmacies to make it financially on prescription items alone. I believe that the larger chain stores are depending more on the over-the-counter sales to make a profit. Chain stores are also looking to automate the dispensing system that may eliminate the need for more pharmacists. Already, the chain stores have raised the bar for the number of prescriptions a pharmacist must fill, thus, decreasing the need for more pharmacists. I believe that pharmacist's wages will eventually reach a ceiling, if not already. On the positive side, there have been new opportunities for pharmacists in drug companies, insurance companies and drug information centers.

8. Any advice for future aspiring pre-pharmacy students?

I have just one word to give to you all and that is, “passion”. Pharmacy may not have been your initial intended goal in life, it wasn't for me, but with a little passion, it easily can be a field you will like. A good grade point average may get you an interview with the admissions committee at pharmacy school, but passion will get you into pharmacy school. Start now! Get as much information about the pharmacy profession and decide what you want to do in pharmacy. Get yourself to really believe in what you are going to do to achieve that goal and be able to communicate that desire to everyone that you talk to, especially the admissions committee. Whatever you decide to do in life, keep those cinders of passion glowing – otherwise, you will be one unhappy person.

9. What are your favorite hobbies/activities?

Basketball, tennis, weight training and investing/finance/economics

10. Where is your dream vacation destination?

I would like to spend 3 months in the northeast of the US – Washington , DC , New York , New Hampshire . I would like to be there to see the fall colors in New Hampshire , spend several weeks at the Smithsonian Institute and bring in the New Year by watching the ball descend in Times Square , New York .