Introduction

Dr. Linda Gutierrez-Miller earned her PharmD from the University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy. She is a bilingual Clinical Pharmacist and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist with extensive experience in ambulatory care, focusing on managing chronic diseases in underserved communities. She is also skilled in medication therapy management, diabetes education, pharmacotherapy, and clinical pharmacy practices.

Why Pharmacy

After pharmacy school, I began working at an Indian Health tribal site in Santo Domingo, NM, gaining clinical experience, especially in diabetes management. I became BPS Board Certified in Pharmacotherapy and a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES). Then I moved to Ohio where I worked at a federally qualified health center, charitable pharmacy, and primary care clinics for a large hospital health system. I also become BPS Board Certified in Ambulatory Care. Now I am in Alaska working at the Providence Family Medicine Center.

Career Journey

I work as a clinical pharmacist at a Family Medicine primary care clinic in Anchorage, Alaska, that is also a training site for medical residents. We have specialty clinics in Obstetrics and Addiction. We offer refugee services and have a diverse patient population speaking over 80 different languages.

My career path is unique in that I have a variety of experiences having worked at an Indian Health tribal site, federally qualified health center, charitable pharmacy, and in primary care clinics.

Current Role and Responsibilities

I have devoted time each day to help the Family Medicine residents with medications when they are seeing their patients. I also have my own provider visits where I prescribe medication to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, asthma, COPD, and provide anticoagulation services. I participate in the Quality Committee and Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) clinic. I also help patients find affordable medications, assisting with Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs). As a CDCES, I meet with patients to help with continuous glucose monitors, insulin pumps, and provide nutrition education such as teaching how to count carbohydrates to adjust insulin doses.

Challenges

With over 80 different languages spoken at my clinic, I worry that information gets lost in translation. This is especially true when I call patients on the phone. However, communicating in-person is easier even though we don't speak the same language because of body language. A smile means the same thing whether the patient speaks Hmong, Ukranian, or Tagalog.

Rewards

Helping patients accomplish their health goals is the most rewarding part of my job. When my patient's blood glucose is in Time in Range (TIR) for the majority of their day, I celebrate their success. When my patient without insurance is able to get an expensive lifesaving medication from a manufacturer Patient Assistance Program (PAP), I celebrate that they can receive the best medication despite their financial situation.

Advice for Students and Aspiring Professionals

Many different paths can lead to your goal destination. Even though you may become upset or angry when you come across a detour sign because you see your destination just across the street, later you'll realize that it was the perfect path for creating experiences necessary to prepare you for your goal destination. I didn't match in a residency program after graduating from pharmacy school, so I had doubts that I could reach my dream job of becoming an ambulatory care pharmacist. However, job opportunities opened up that provided me with valuable clinical experience. Having BPS Board Certification showed proof of my experience and knowledge for employers to hire me despite not having completed a pharmacy residency.