From a tender age, OPTICS pharmacist Henry So recognized the difference that patient advocacy and education could make in healthcare outcomes. As the child of an immigrant family, Henry watched his diabetic father grapple with language barriers, rigid prescription guidelines, and uncomfortable side effects from medication as he struggled with the disease. In these difficult moments, Henry could see the need for a supportive intermediary to bridge the gap between prescriber and patient, and who could take a more patient-centered approach. And thanks to a chance encounter at a career fair, Henry realized that being a pharmacist could fill that role.

Now a practicing ambulatory care pharmacist with Diamond’s OPTICS team, Henry is proud to be a both an educator and an advocate for many of Diamond’s institutional patients. In this episode, Henry talks about his personal and professional journey into pharmacy and how his current role at Diamond has brought that journey full circle. If you’re a pharmacy student or a pharmacist looking at a different career direction, we think you’ll enjoy what Henry had to share with us.