Podcasts Business Pharmacist's Voice Interview with April Jones, PharmD, MBA: Pharmacist, Author, and Entrepreneur

Interview with April Jones, PharmD, MBA: Pharmacist, Author, and Entrepreneur

Published: Oct. 9, 2020, 4:30 a.m.

Today\u2019s episode is an interview with Dr. April Jones.\xa0 She\u2019s a pharmacist, author, and entrepreneur.\xa0 As the parent of a childhood cancer survivor and amputee, she is an advocate for a number of interests, including adaptive sports.\xa0 She uses her family\u2019s story to educate others and encourage them to find strength in struggle and purpose in pain.\xa0 As an author, she entertains audiences in print, ebook, and audiobook. \xa0

Dr. April Jones is not only\xa0an Oncology Medical Director for Pfizer, but she is also\xa0the author of No Mess No Message, owner of The Drifted Drum Company, a motivational speaker, an avid community volunteer, a mentor, and a leader in the pharmacy profession. Along with her many professional credentials, she\u2019s the\xa0mother of an international adaptive athlete/cancer survivor/college student and 2 other busy boys.\xa0 It\u2019s her personal journey that makes her an authority on transforming pain into purpose and struggle into strength. \xa0

Mentioned in this episode

Highlights from the interview\xa0

April celebrated the 1st anniversary of the release of No Mess No Message in Sept 2020. \xa0

April\u2019s son Tyler (cancer survivor) started college this fall.\xa0 He\u2019s pre-med for sports medicine and will earn an athletic trainer\u2019s certificate in his Bachelor\u2019s Program.\xa0 He wants to specialize in adaptive sports medicine.\xa0

When April tried to identify her book\u2019s target audience, she thought it would be cancer moms.\xa0 Turns out, her journey is relatable to anyone facing adversity.\xa0 It helps prepare someone facing a struggle. \xa0

\u201cMeat grinder\u201d analogy = processing what\u2019s happened to you.\xa0 What we put in needs to come out better once we\u2019ve processed it.\xa0

I related to the book even though I\u2019m an autism mom.\xa0 April wanted to help others to be stronger.\xa0 If the pain happened, and it\u2019s behind her, and she can\u2019t use it to help others.\xa0 It\u2019s compassionate to share with others.\xa0 April is a mentor of sorts in the book.\xa0 One theme is, \u201cHang in there!\xa0 If I can make it through this, so can you!\u201d

Why did April narrate her own book?\xa0 To be as authentic and transparent as possible.\xa0 Narrating it \u201cher way\u201d was important to her.\xa0 She had a professional production team record her book. \xa0

April\u2019s friend Angela challenged her to write No Mess, No Message.\xa0 Angela founded Wesley\u2019s Warrior Foundation after her son Wesley passed from cancer as a child.\xa0 \u201cHelping is healing.\u201d\xa0 April committed to sending one chapter/month to Angela until the book was finished.\xa0

Wesley\u2019s Warrior Foundation helps alleviate financial burdens.\xa0 Families can\u2019t work due to treatments.\xa0 Parents need to pay rent and buy groceries.\xa0 Angela put her finger on what she needed when she was needy and created a foundation to serve that need. \xa0

Asking for help and articulating needs can be difficult.\xa0 April was worried about hurting feelings, insurance reimbursement, etc.\xa0 You have to do what you have to do or your child will suffer.\xa0 Find your voice early because you will have to advocate long-term for your child if they live a long life. \xa0

If you don\u2019t know your options and how much better life could be, you just can\u2019t make better choices.\xa0 Support groups can be helpful.\xa0 Connect with other families that have similar diagnoses and disabilities.\xa0 She\u2019s learned so much from others about steps she had not gotten to yet.\xa0 You get to end up being a resource to others AND use the info for the benefit of your own child and his care team.\xa0 It\u2019s rewarding because you remember how much learning that fact/about that service made a significant and positive impact on your own child.\xa0

April attended the Endeavor Games in Oklahoma so she could network with other moms, get support, and learn.\xa0 Tyler met athletes and made friends and lasting relationships.\xa0 Tyler participated in races and got medals.\xa0 It opened his mind to new athletic possibilities and gave him joy.

When you start with a disadvantage, it can make you stronger. \xa0

Tyler is April\u2019s business partner at The Drifted Drum Co.\xa0 As the book was being published, the company was born.\xa0 It serves more than one purpose.\xa0 Tyler wanted an apparel line.\xa0 April wanted to publish other people\u2019s stories.\xa0 So, they formed The Drifted Drum Company \u201cThe Business of Encouragement.\u201d\xa0 The Drifted Drum Company became April\u2019s publishing Brand, and Tyler Vibes Apparel is part of it.\xa0 She is developing books with other authors and will publish their stories under her brand. \xa0

Events are on the website under The Drifted Drum Company.\xa0 Examples include \u201cThe No Pity Party\u201d Event and \u201cA Path to Purpose\u201d Virtual Retreat.\xa0

\u201cDrifted\u201d = ended up in a place you didn\u2019t expect to be due to external forces directing you.\xa0 \u201cDrum\u201d = a vessel that can be emptied out and filled up over and over again.

Details about Path to Purpose Retreat:\xa0 Tickets can be found at thedrifteddrum.com. See EVENTS tab.\xa0 It\u2019s a Virtual event Dec 5, 10 AM-2:30 PM CT.\xa0 Cost is $50.\xa0 Use the coupon code WELOVEKIM for 10% off the ticket price.\xa0 All participants get some swag = her book (digital download) and the companion journal.\xa0 There is a great line-up of speakers!\xa0 See links above: \xa0

  • Kateriina Rosenblatt, human trafficking survivor, There is Hope for me Foundation
  • Pastor Zane Isaacson - survived his Mom\u2019s attempted abortion\xa0
    Monica Schmelter, Host of Talk Show Bridges on Christian Television Network
  • Fabi Powell, Founder of Josh Powell Foundation (sarcoma awareness)
  • The Director of The Drifted Drum Co will share about her story of drug addiction and recovery. \xa0
  • One of the workshops afterward will be facilitated by Dr. Jerrica Dodd PharmD.\xa0

The book, ebook, and audiobook were released at the same time.\xa0 You can download the companion journal to the book by visiting www.thedrifteddrum.com. \xa0

April wants to launch the \u201cNo Pity Party Podcast\u201d in 2021.\xa0 She will focus on sharing messages of inspiration and sharing resources that helped her guests.\xa0

If you want to keep up with Dr. April Jones and The Drifted Drum Company, sign up for the newsletter on www.thedrifteddrum.com. \xa0

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