There are so many different types of careers within the field of pharmacy—from research and drug development to pharmacy informatics! To highlight some of the more unique career settings in the industry, we’re introducing a new page on our website—Novel Pharmacy Practice Settings—where you can explore these unique career pathways.

In addition to learning more about unique pathways on our new webpage, we’ll also be featuring pharmacists who work in these unique settings on our blog. Today, we’re excited to spotlight Dr. Corey Craig!

Dr. Craig, PharmD, works at New York Presbyterian as a nuclear pharmacist, working with radioactive material to help treat his patients. At night, he turns into a DJ, performing across the country. Learn more about how Dr. Craig found his niche and became Coreyography.

Please describe your practice setting. What makes your career path unique?   

My focus in Pharmacy School at OU was Nuclear Medicine. There was a fully operational Nuclear Pharmacy on campus, and I took all the courses.

I worked in Dallas from 95-2001, then moved to NYC, then years later went to the University of Colorado for the NTPD program and received the PharmD.

What led you to this career path? What steps did you take?  

The nuclear pharmacy was located on campus, and I worked there throughout my time at the University of Oklahoma. I loved how unique to setting and dispensing were. Taking all of the coursework during my time at the University of Oklahoma allowed me to take positions at Nuclear Pharmacies and instantly be an “Authorized User” and dispense doses.  This saved the Nuclear Pharmacies money and time usually spent on training Hospital and Retail pharmacists who left those settings for Nuclear.

What does a typical workday look like for you?  

During the week, I work at the hospital from morning to afternoon. My evenings involve music production, radio show production, podcast production, reviewing new music sent by labels/music promoters, and preparing for gigs.

I travel on the weekends for DJ gigs and work as a pharmacist during the week.

Describe the most exciting or rewarding aspect of your role?  

New York Presbyterian has been very supportive, and the schedule compliments my other DJ/producer career.

Describe the most challenging aspect of your role.

Nuclear is my favorite practice of pharmacy. It is true that if you love what you do, it never feels like work. The same is true for the DJ career.

As far as “challenges,” I have been faced with managers and sometimes other staff pharmacists who tried to belittle or minimize or stereotype DJing as “frivolous,” “mid-life crisis,” or “distracting” from my work as a pharmacist. I had no problem reminding those people that balancing more than one career is possible.

What advice would you give to a current student pharmacist who is interested in pursuing a similar type of practice role in the future?  

Never forget about your passions and creative side. Your quality of life and work/life balance is very important. With the “Great Resignation” looming across the country in many fields of work, it’s important for people to take their time and lead a balanced and fulfilled life.

If you have a hobby/talent/interest that brings you joy, pharmacy work should not be given the power to muffle it.

Can you share a brief story about a time you positively impacted a patient, population, or community in your role?

My DJ/Podcast/Social Media audience can always rely on me for information about health issues relating to the LGBT community.  When the monkeypox outbreak was happening here in NYC, I used my platform to be a source of information about vaccines and TPOXX treatments.  I am uniquely positioned to have that audience and the knowledge base.