I’m originally from the Philadelphia area and pharmacy has always been a part of my life—both my mom and brother are also in the field. I moved to Boston about 20 years ago to attend MCPHS for pharmacy school. Before joining Charles River, I worked for a pharmacy consulting firm, which is where I was first introduced to FQHCs.
As the Director of Pharmacy, I focus on making sure our team is well-supported and that our pharmacies operate safely, efficiently, and in compliance with regulatory and clinical standards. We care for over 200 individual patients each day through a range of services—including dispensing medications, inventory management, counseling, responding to questions from providers and patients, and managing online medication requests and prior authorizations.
I enjoy supporting my team and helping them to develop their skills and explore new opportunities. I also find it rewarding to take the time to walk patients through their medications and how to use them. Often, their conditions can be well managed with the right treatment, but they may not always have a clear understanding of the details. It can be hard when patients are not able to receive their medications, especially when it is due to factors outside of our control—such as insurance changes, expired prescriptions, refill limits, or a medication being unavailable. While our goal is always to support patients and ensure they have what they need, we are sometimes constrained by regulations or insurance policies that are not clear to patients. But we always look for a way to help.
Recently, we worked with a patient who had been in and out of the hospital for months and was on multiple medications without much coordinated care. She was unable to read or write, but we were able to help by walking her through each medication and setting up a system that made it easier for her to take them consistently. I still remember how grateful she was—and how meaningful it felt to see her a few weeks later, doing much better.
Outside of work, I live with my wife, Deicy, who teaches at East Boston High, and our energetic son Tommy, who turned four in August and keeps us on our toes!