OPTA

Meet Heather Maynard, CPhT, COPhT,?a pharmacy technician with 24 years of experience and our OPTA Technician in Focus! Currently serving as the Business Operations Specialist, Heather is the first technician to take on a leadership role at UW Health NI. She has spearheaded initiatives like the Centralized Refill Team, which supports ambulatory clinics across the system. A Certified Oncology Pharmacy Technician, Heather is dedicated to patient-centered care, building strong connections with patients, and driving improvements in safety and efficiency through teamwork and innovation. “I love helping patients in any way I can, whether it’s assisting with medication access or just being there to listen when they need support.” Learn more about Heather’s role and the advice she has for pharmacy technicians:?https://lnkd.in/d9Dj5R2G

OPTA members - join us today at 3 PM EST for the November Meeting! Heather Maynard, CPhT, will discuss her role in supporting cancer patients at Swedish American Hospital, followed by a presentation from Accessia Health on securing financial assistance for treatment costs and navigating funding alerts. Follow the link to join:?https://lnkd.in/eyeGJdGW

Hey OPTA members! Don't miss the November Monthly Meeting on Wednesday, November 13 at 3 pm EST, featuring these insightful presentations: ? We'll hear from our Technician in Focus, Heather Maynard, CPhT from Swedish American Hospital, where she’ll discuss her role in supporting cancer patients and the impact of her work. ? Accessia Health will share insight into securing financial assistance for patients' treatment costs and get tips on navigating their portal for funding alerts. For more information or to request the meeting link, contact Taryn Newsome, CPhT, at?[email protected]

Huge congratulations to Sara Rentzel, CPhT, RPhT, for presenting her poster at the 2024 NCODA Fall Summit! It’s inspiring to see her hard work and dedication showcased at such an impactful event. Sara’s insights contribute to advancing patient care and exemplify the commitment of our team to improving oncology pharmacy practices. Way to go, Sara!

Happy Halloween Everyone!!! ??

Meet Jill Cartano, CPhT, a passionate pharmacy technician at the Physicians' Clinic of Iowa with nearly 20 years of experience and OPTA's Technician in Focus. She expertly navigates financial assistance and manages oral pharmacy operations, ensuring that patients can access their medications without stress. After a diverse journey through retail and hospital settings, Jill returned to her true passion for pharmacy. Her dedication to patient care shines through as she fills medications, obtains prior authorizations, and connects with patients to help them focus on healing. Discover more about Jill’s role and her dedication to improving #patientcare. https://lnkd.in/d9Dj5R2G

What an incredible experience at the 2024 NCODA International Fall Summit! I am immensely grateful for the support leading up to this event and during the summit itself. A heartfelt thank you to the OPTA leadership! Your unwavering dedication truly shines as we strive to uplift and empower oncology pharmacy technicians!? I also want to extend a special thanks to my Program Development Team for their collaboration and support.?I’m excited to see our team grow and witness the amazing things we can achieve together! It’s a joy to see our mission in action!! Thank you to everyone who contributed to this memorable event—I’m excited about the future we’re building together! #NCODASummit24 Vonda McClendon Linda Grimsley Janine Brodeur, CPhT, COPhT Teri Roberts Alicia Barnes Jacqueline Caban Carol Hemersbach Emily Zimdars Sara Rentzel, CPhT, RPhT Brandi Parker Gudwien ??

I am grateful to NCODA and OPTA for the opportunity to speak on the panel "Empowering Patients: Unlocking Insights from Foundation and Grant Assistance Programs" last week. It was an enriching experience to engage in meaningful discussions about patient empowerment and the vital role of Charitable Patient Assistance Programs. Thank you to Taryn Newsome, Gina R., Jennifer Noonan, MSN, RN, and Vonda McClendon.

What an incredible experience at the 2024 NCODA International Fall Summit! I am immensely grateful for the support leading up to this event and during the summit itself. A heartfelt thank you to the OPTA leadership! Your unwavering dedication truly shines as we strive to uplift and empower oncology pharmacy technicians!? I also want to extend a special thanks to my Program Development Team for their collaboration and support.?I’m excited to see our team grow and witness the amazing things we can achieve together! It’s a joy to see our mission in action!! Thank you to everyone who contributed to this memorable event—I’m excited about the future we’re building together! #NCODASummit24 Vonda McClendon Linda Grimsley Janine Brodeur, CPhT, COPhT Teri Roberts Alicia Barnes Jacqueline Caban Carol Hemersbach Emily Zimdars Sara Rentzel, CPhT, RPhT Brandi Parker Gudwien ??

A huge shoutout to all the amazing pharmacy technicians at Moffitt Cancer Center! Your dedication and hard work behind the scenes—whether preparing medications, managing inventory, or supporting patient assistance programs—make such a profound difference in our patients' lives. I love seeing how much our role has evolved and all the advancements that have been made for pharmacy technicians over the years. We continue to step up and make a real difference in oncology care!!