Kathryn (Katie) Pinkney
PharmD, BC-ADM, TTS 

No two days are alike for a pharmacist — that’s what Dr. Katie Pinkney has always enjoyed about her work.

“You never know what’s going to come up when you look at someone’s chart. … You’re looking for that one place where you can make the most impact. It keeps the job interesting.”

Dr. Pinkney’s mother, a nurse, had long encouraged her to consider a future in pharmacy. But it wasn’t until she met a hospital pharmacist at her high school’s annual career day that the idea really clicked.

“I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to be. It’s a big decision. But [the presenter] just talked about her career with such passion, and that made me think, alright, maybe my mom knows what she’s talking about,” she recalls with a laugh.

Dr. Pinkney got a job as a cashier at a small independent pharmacy chain in the greater Boston area, where she grew up and still lives today. She worked there for about 10 years, rising to the role of pharmacy manager after she earned her PharmD from the University of Rhode Island in 2012.

I felt alive again, learning all these new things. And because I had whole visits with my patients, I could really make an impact over time.”

“It was a very good community. [The pharmacies] had relationships with all the local health centers. … I also really liked the family feeling of working for a smaller company.”

Most of all, Dr. Pinkney loved connecting with people. That led to her next pharmacy role at a community health center, where she counseled patients one-on-one on lowering their blood pressure, managing diabetes, and quitting smoking. She had always prided herself on being a strong mediator and translator — and by breaking down complex medical information, she could empower people to better understand and self-manage these chronic conditions.

“I felt alive again, learning all these new things. And because I had whole visits with my patients, I could really make an impact over time.”

In April 2024, Dr. Pinkney embarked on the third chapter of her pharmacy career, one that would provide more work-life flexibility. As a clinical pharmacist specialist with the Beth Israel Lahey Health (BILH) Performance Network, she can work from home four days a week — and still make a direct impact on her community.

Dr. Pinkney likens her current work to being a detective, as she reviews often lengthy, complicated patient health histories with one question in mind: How can I help this person and their primary care provider make the most of their next visit together? To that end, she might recommend the physician order a new lab or screening test, refer the patient to a specialist, or try a new medication they may not have heard about yet.

If she notices a gap in care — for example, someone missed their last appointment or never followed up on a referral — she can connect them to extra support. Once, Dr. Pinkney noticed a patient’s insulin wasn’t working as expected to keep their blood sugar in check. On a hunch, she suggested the healthcare team get back to basics and demonstrate the proper way to inject the medication. That did the trick.

“It’s good to have that extra person there to take a big step back, look at the big picture, and catch those things. The change we [clinical pharmacists] make is to help push the entire health system toward evidence-based medicine.”

The change we [clinical pharmacists] make is to help push the entire health system toward evidence-based medicine.”

Dr. Pinkney also delivers continuing education to other healthcare providers across the BILH network. Last summer, she and a colleague presented a class on glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist drugs, from their well-established indications for type 2 diabetes management and weight loss to emerging research on potential new uses.

She’s particularly proud of the relationships she has built with her primary care colleagues, who are challenged to keep up with a vast range of health conditions, plus ever-evolving clinical guidelines and treatments.

“As a clinical pharmacist, you’re a constant student. There’s always more to be learned. [Primary care providers] can utilize us as a member of the team. … When they really trust you and start referring patients to you, that feels really good.”

Translating complex information, connecting with people, partnering to deliver the best possible healthcare: For Dr. Pinkney, that’s what it means to be your pharmacist.