Interview with Dr. Eleni Mastro, independent consultant pharmacist
Today\u2019s episode is an interview with Dr. Eleni Mastro, an independent consultant pharmacist.\xa0 I invited her on the podcast because she uses her voice to advocate and educate.\xa0 Optimizing drug therapy in the elderly is important.\xa0 As an independent consultant pharmacist certified in Medication Therapy Management, Dr. Mastro helps facilities and geriatric patients manage drug regimens, decrease adverse drug events, and reduce costs.\xa0 As a result, her patients and clients feel empowered.\xa0 Dr. Mastro\u2019s extensive background in pharmaceutical nomenclature and drug safety testing sparked her affinity to medication management.\xa0
Dr. Mastro earned her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University.\xa0 She is an active member of the American Pharmacists\xa0Association (APhA) and the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP).\xa0 She is licensed in New York and New Jersey.
Mentioned in this episode
Dr. Mastro's Website: \xa0www.compliance-reach.com
Email: \xa0em@compliance-reach.com
Facebook: \xa0Compliance Reach Pharmacy Consulting
Eleni Mastro LinkedIn: \xa0https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleni-mastro/
Brand Institute https://www.brandinstitute.com\xa0
American Pharmacists Association (APhA) https://www.pharmacist.com
American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) https://www.ascp.com
Blair Thielemier PharmD linkedin.com/in/btpharmacyconsulting\xa0
Pharmapreneur Academy *AFFILIATE LINK* Coupon code for $50 off Month 1 is: VOICE50
Highlights from the interview\xa0
Dr. Mastro joined Pharmapreneur Academy with Blair Thielemeier and felt inspired to create a business working one-on-one with patients, their caregivers, and families to educate on disease states and medications.\xa0 She also consults with prescribers and care facilities. \xa0
Dr. Mastro has a passion for working with the elderly.\xa0 Helping patients one-on-one is rewarding to her.\xa0 Narrowing down her business services was a challenge, but she feels confident with her choice. \xa0
Dr. Mastro shared a success story about working with an elderly gentleman with dementia.\xa0 Using her problem-solving skills, Dr. Mastro looked at all the \u201cpieces of the puzzle,\u201d optimized his drug therapy, encouraged an increased activity level, and saw the behavior change he needed.\xa0 He felt better and slept better, and his family was happier as a result.
Patients find Dr. Mastro in a number of ways:\xa0 referrals from healthcare professionals, word of mouth, Facebook, fliers, networking with pharmacies, and her website.\xa0 Although the COVID-19 pandemic has been a barrier to in-person meetings, Dr. Mastro has had the opportunity to meet with many patients using Zoom. \xa0
Dr. Mastro\u2019s familiarity with the Beers List is important to her business.\xa0 Researching medication doses, making recommendations to prescribers (on dose and appropriateness), looking at bloodwork with deeper insight, and make clinical decisions based on data ultimately helps helps her manage drug regimens, decrease adverse drug events, and reduce costs.\xa0
One of Dr. Mastro\u2019s favorite resources is the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) website.\xa0 The insights, CE, and network of member pharmacists strengthens her knowledge base and helps her be a more effective pharmacist.\xa0 COVID-19 and transitions of care are two topics on the ASCP website Dr. Mastro found especially useful in recent months. \xa0
One of the best pieces of advice Dr. Mastro has ever had was about imposter syndrome.\xa0 Someone warned her about it, and it made an impact on her.\xa0 She recognized the little voice in the back of her head (imposter syndrome) that was holding her back.\xa0 She pushed it aside so she could move forward with her business idea and feel confident she would succeed.\xa0 It\u2019s a turning point so many entrepreneurs face, and she encourages others to recognize the feeling and push forward in spite of self-doubt. \xa0
Patients, the adult children of patients, and healthcare providers may not realize they need Dr. Mastro\u2019s services.\xa0 Marketing her medication therapy management (MTM) service creatively and getting patient buy-in is one of her biggest challenges.\xa0 When she develops a relationship and educates patients and families, they feel empowered and able to advocate for their health/their loved one\u2019s health. \xa0
On her journey from Brand Institute to founding Compliance Reach Pharmacy Consulting, many patients, families, other pharmacists, and entrepreneurs have impacted Dr. Mastro.\xa0 She says that meeting amazing people is the best thing that\u2019s happened on her journey. \xa0
If you are a patient, family member, caregiver, or facility interested in reaching out to Dr. Mastro, please visit www.compliance-reach.com or e-mail Dr. Eleni Mastro em@compliance-reach.com. \xa0