Leading without losing yourself
By Erica Mabry, PharmD
Recall when you entered pharmacy school, started residency, or began your first pharmacy job. You entered with excitement, optimism, and a genuine desire to help others and improve health care. You were driven by purpose and the belief that your work would meaningfully impact patients’ lives. However, that enthusiasm may have been quickly challenged by the realities of demanding workloads, complex health care team dynamics, and leadership responsibilities.
New practitioners frequently find themselves leading teams, managing workflows, and navigating high expectations while still learning their own role. Amid these pressures, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and disconnected from the “why” that brought you to pharmacy.
Modeling healthy and sustainable behaviors
Leadership as a new pharmacist is not defined by having all the answers, but by modeling healthy and sustainable behaviors. When pharmacists prioritize their well-being, communicate openly, and seek support, they set a powerful example for colleagues and trainees. Leading as a good role model means demonstrating balance, resilience, and respect for oneself as well as others. These actions help foster a workplace culture where burnout is addressed proactively rather than normalized.
Burnout and compassion fatigue are common risks early in a pharmacy career. Burnout often arises from chronic stress, time constraints, and the pressure to perform while compassion fatigue stems from repeated emotional exposure to patients’ struggles. New practitioners may be especially vulnerable due to a strong desire to prove themselves and a reluctance to set limits. When left unaddressed, these challenges can lead to emotional exhaustion, reduced empathy, and disengagement from both patients and colleagues.
Intentional self-awareness
Leading without losing yourself requires intentional self-awareness and the willingness to give yourself grace. Mistakes, uncertainty, and growing pains are not failures, but they are part of professional development. Practicing self-compassion means acknowledging that you are still learning and allowing space for rest and reflection.
Setting boundaries, such as taking breaks, asking for help, and protecting time outside of work, is not selfish but it is necessary for long-term success and well-being.
Stay connected to your purpose
Pharmacy is a career rooted in service, but service should not come at the cost of self. Leadership in pharmacy is about sustainability. By staying connected to your purpose, giving yourself grace through the learning process, and caring for your own mental and emotional health, you preserve the compassion and enthusiasm that brought you to the profession in the first place.
Leading without losing yourself allows you to show up with empathy, clarity, and confidence, ensuring not only a fulfilling career, but also the ability to provide meaningful, compassionate care to patients and pharmacy teams for years to come.
Erica Mabry, PharmD, is an assistant professor of pharmacy practice at the Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy. She is passionate about caring for underserved populations through ambulatory care practice while educating and mentoring future pharmacists. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her dogs, cheering on Philadelphia sports teams, and traveling to the beach with her family.