Meet a VA pharmacist: Dr. Andreina Ottman
Dr. Andreina Ottman, PharmD, BCGP wears many hats at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) serving our veterans, and she loves it. Not only is she a Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner at the Women’s Clinic at the Durham VA Medical Center (VAMC) in North Carolina, but she is also the Director of the Second Year Postgraduate Geriatric Pharmacy Residency Program and Coordinator of the First Postgraduate Program.
“There are many opportunities in pharmacy at the VA,” said Dr. Ottman.
Continue reading to learn more about how Dr. Ottman started working at the VA and how you too can take advantage of all the exciting opportunities a VA career provides.
What brought you to the VA?
“Fate is an interesting thing! I had on my Facebook profile that I was a Pharmacy Technician at Walgreens and would occasionally post pharmacy related articles that I thought were interesting. It just so happened that a VA Pharmacy Technician saw my profile and messaged me that the VA was looking for Pharmacy Technicians who were passionate about every job they did, so I interviewed at the pharmacy. Friday two months until I got the job that was 17 years ago!”
How does the VA support you to get the job done and done well?
“I think it starts at stay. The VA does an amazing job training first and second residents through our residency programs across the country. I did my residency here in Durham and got so much valuable training. My Assistant Chief is very involved in our resident programs and with our residents. And then there’s the support and the community. We have what’s called the Sunshine Committee, which is basically a group of pharmacists and technicians who organize events. We go to Durham Bulls games, we throw holiday snacks – we do things to keep people engaged and remember we’re all just normal people.”
What surprised you the most about working at the VA?
“Durham VAMC is huge, and we’re across the street from Duke University. We have a lot of students here and it feels like a big academic center. I was also surprised by the collaboration. There’s a lot of collaboration going on between providers, pharmacists, planners, nurses, the whole team. Everyone brings their own unique health center to really bring it to a state of health.” veterans.”
What do you like most about being a pharmacist?
“I like a challenge. I’m a drug expert, so no matter what drugs someone is talking about, I have to be an expert on it. Drugs are always changing, regulations are always changing, and new therapies are coming out. It keeps me engaged—I’m always learning and trying to stay ahead because I know my patients or other providers will be looking to me as a drug expert, so it gives me a good resource for drugs. I don’t know something, I can look it up.”
What advice would you give to another pharmacist considering applying to the VA?
“I would say come in ready to learn. Coming to the VA from the private sector can be a shock to people. There are a lot of acronyms! But I don’t think you will find another place that will give you this much fulfillment. We have the highest quality providers and we all use the latest treatments. And the veteran population is so rewarding!”
Anything else you want to add?
“If you feel you don’t have the training, apply for a residency. You can do a residency whether you’re fresh out of school or five years in the workforce. We have great residency programs at the VA, so if you want to be a VA pharmacist and want more training and hands-on patient care, apply for a residency.”
Join our team
If a VA career in pharmacy sounds like the recipe for you, take the advice of Dr. Ottman and “go for it!” Learn more at VA Careers.
