Celebrating Trust and Innovation: Closing American Pharmacists Month with Teresa Gerbig, PharmD

As American Pharmacists Month draws to a close, RxE2 recognizes the vital and evolving role pharmacists play in healthcare and clinical advancement. To cap off our campaign, we sat down with Teresa Gerbig, PharmD, Pharmacy Network Manager at RxE2, to discuss her personal journey, the unique position of pharmacists in clinical research, and how technology is shaping the future of patient care.

Teresa’s commitment to pharmacy is deeply personal. Her interest in the profession was sparked when she witnessed the direct impact of health issues on her family after her father suffered a heart attack. She was inspired by a local pharmacist who assisted her father, demonstrating the amazing ability of a pharmacist to positively affect people’s lives.

This early experience shaped her perspective, fueling her passion for patient empowerment and the pursuit of “bringing joy and meaning back to patients’ lives”. Teresa believes that embracing health as a fragile gift and trusting in scientific advancements are key principles for improving patient care.

Her core philosophy for guiding and educating patients is clear: “If you want to be here tomorrow, you have to plan for it today,” she reminds patients.

As an accessible healthcare professional, the community pharmacist is in a unique position to influence clinical research. Teresa highlights that pharmacists often know their patients on a very personal level.

This personal connection establishes pharmacists as a deeply trusted member of the health care team. This high level of trust is critical when discussing participation in clinical trials. Teresa holds herself to a high ethical standard, stating, “I would never recommend something to a patient that I wouldn’t suggest to my mother, father, or any other important person in my life”.

Because of this inherent trust, when pharmacists introduce patients to opportunities that could potentially improve their healthcare outcomes, the patient gives it serious consideration. This high level of patient engagement results in quality patients for clinical trials.

Technology is rapidly changing the scope of pharmaceutical practice, allowing pharmacists to move beyond traditional roles and become more active participants in a patient’s health care journey.

Teresa emphasizes that technology has enabled pharmacists to expand their role as healthcare members, freeing them up to provide care as active members of the health care team. Looking ahead, she anticipates that technology will continue to allow pharmacists an even larger role, enhancing patient continuity of care and improving overall healthcare outcomes.

As we conclude American Pharmacists Month, Teresa shared a powerful message about the fundamental importance of pharmacists in the healthcare ecosystem. She notes that pharmacists are often an untapped resource in the community.

Pharmacists are among the most accessible and trustworthy members of the healthcare team, consistently offering personalized care. They become a trusted friend, which helps in negating the “white coat syndrome”. Because of this trusting relationship, pharmacists are able to truly see and hear what patients are “freely saying and needing”.

Teresa’s dedication exemplifies the mission of RxE2 and the impactful work being done by pharmacists nationwide. We celebrate their commitment to moving science forward and ensuring every patient receives the knowledgeable, trusted care they deserve.