“My journey started off as the youngest of three who grew up with a single mother.Her love and support taught me how to be caring and supportive, but also that you have to work hard to get where you want to go.
I graduated fourth in my class at GNA and cumlaude at Wilkes University School of Pharmacy, but neither was accomplished without long days and nights, tons of studying, and working for experience. But it all paid off.
Getting my Doctor of Pharmacy degree allowed me to start my career at an independent pharmacy, where I serviced many, many customers for ten years…a lot of those old customers reach out to me on social media all the time, and it feels really good when that happens. I did outreach programs for diabetes education, medication adherence, safety and disposal, and cholesterol and flu clinics, so l’ve educated a lot of people, and I’m proud of that work. Then, I took a new position at a different pharmacy as pharmacist in charge, and I was a preceptor for several pharmacy students, teaching and pushing them to have successful careers. I’ve even worked part-time as a pharmacist at a medical marijuana dispensary.
I currently work two part-time jobs, one at Geisinger, and one at the new Nockley Pharmacy in Nanticoke, where I am the pharmacy manager. I prefer the smaller, independent pharmacies because there’s more flexibility-if I want to stop and go shopping with a patient in the aisles to get them what they need, I can do that, and not have to worry about the phone ringing behind me or filling a certain number of prescriptions per day. It’s easier to form relationships, too, and that’s what’s important.
I volunteer as a youth soccer coach to help my children and others grow and evolve physically and socially. I love the kids! They want to come; they want to come to practice, they have relationships outside of practice, they cry when practice is over or there’s no practice… it’s heartwarming to know they’re having a blast, and that’s really satisfying as a mom. They have taught me more lessons than I probably taught them soccer! I love coaching them, and now I love watching them all grow.”
Ericka Roback Impaglia, 2002
Pharmacist
