Pharmacist Spotlight: Cassey Eunice
Hawthorne Pharmacist Spotlight
Meet Cassey Eunice, PharmD our Compounding Lab Manager at Hawthorne Taylor Pharmacy.
Where did you go to school?
I grew up in Red Bank and went to White Knoll High School in Lexington county. I did my undergraduate study at the UofSC Aiken campus then I got my PharmD at the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy.
How long have you been with Hawthorne?
I have been with Hawthorne since my first semester in pharmacy school. I started in December of 2012, so going on 9 years now.
What made you want to go into pharmacy?
I have a lot of family in the medical field, so I have known that I wanted to go into the medical field for most of my life. I tried multiple paths while in school and found that I could make the biggest difference in pharmacy, and after many long talks with family, decided that it also suited my personality and skills best.
Why did you choose Hawthorne Pharmacy?
When I first applied at Hawthorne, I chose it because I wanted to be in the compounding pharmacy. I didn't know much else about it. I knew that I liked compounding from school and Hawthorne was the standard for compounding in this area. There are many reasons that I am glad that my young self chose this business. I feel as though I have been able to become an integral part of this business and our community. Hawthorne has given me the opportunity to make a difference in our patient's lives that I would never have received in another pharmacy setting. I've also been able to grow and mature in my professional career. The experiences and opportunities that this company has given me are invaluable and I will forever be grateful. Hoping to continue to make a difference in our community for many years to come!
What do you enjoy most about your work?
The challenge. The compounding lab is no joke. There are so many moving parts! From the employees to research projects, to formula development, to logistical puzzles.. the list goes on and on. Not to mention the short timelines that come with all of it due to the need to get medication to a patient as quickly as possible. And I love it. I love managing it. There is a fine line between things running like a well-oiled machine and complete chaos. It takes constant care to balance it all. Conquering a challenge can only be done with a good team though, and I have one of the best. I am only able to manage because of the awesome employees that I have!
What is your area of expertise?
If you had asked me this a few years back, I would have been embarrassed and probably said 'Pharmacy?' I never imagined as an early pharmacist being able to say I was an expert in anything. Now I feel that I have a field. I am a compounding pharmacist, and that is my area of expertise. I am constantly trying to learn everything I can about my field so that I can help as many patients as possible. The last 8 and a half years in this lab have taught me so much, and with constantly evolving regulations and new research development, there is always something new to learn! Every conference I attend, or webinar I watch gives me new tools to bring home to my practice.
How are you involved in the Pharmacy Community?
I am a member of the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding who are advocates for compounding pharmacists and pharmacies on the regulatory side of things. They help me stay up to date with new developments in our field and help me to have a voice on topics that are close to home.
What do you do in your free time?
I love spending time with my family and being outside as much as possible. I love to hunt deer and fish on Lake Murray with my husband. We have recently moved to some property and my little girl loves when we ride around on our 4-wheeler through the trails. It is becoming our favorite pastime. We just planted our first little garden at the new house so I am excited to see how that goes!