I grew up in Tooele, Utah and still live in the area. I got started in pharmacy my senior year in high school when I completed a pharmacy technician training program at the Jordan Applied Technology Center. I worked at several community pharmacies during my undergraduate studies at Salt Lake Community College and Utah State University. While I studied pharmacy at the University of Utah, I also worked as a Poison Information Provider at the Utah Poison Control Center. Since graduating I have been working as a geriatric pharmacist at a long-term-care pharmacy.
As a geriatric pharmacist, I play a critical role in ensuring safe and effective medication management for older adults. As people age, physiological changes such as decreased kidney and liver function, altered body fat distribution, and slower metabolism can significantly affect how medications are absorbed, distributed, and eliminated. These changes increase the risk of adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, and overdosing. I specialize in understanding these complexities and work to tailor medication regimens accordingly. I also regularly reevaluate a patient’s medication plan to account for changes in health, avoid polypharmacy, and ensure treatments align with the individual’s evolving needs. My expertise helps improve health outcomes and quality of life for older adults.
In my role as a geriatric pharmacist, deprescribing is a key part of optimizing care for older adults. As people age, the balance between the benefits and risks of medications can shift, with certain drugs posing increased risks of side effects, interactions, or diminished effectiveness. I carefully assess each medication to determine whether it remains necessary or if it may be causing more harm than benefit. Through a collaborative approach with healthcare providers and patients, I help to safely taper or discontinue medications that are no longer essential. Deprescribing can reduce the burden of polypharmacy, minimize adverse drug reactions, and ultimately improve overall well-being in older adults.