Psychiatric Pharmacist Working to Optimize Treatment, Improve Patient Safety

Nina Vadiei, PharmD, BCPP, was always interested in science and enjoyed working with other people. However, when discussing career options with her parents, most jobs in the health care field didn’t appeal to her. But after reflecting on the positive interactions she had with her local pharmacist growing up, she decided being an accessible health care provider sounded like the perfect fit.

Vadiei currently works as a clinical associate professor in the Division of Pharmacotherapy at University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy and a clinical pharmacy specialist in psychiatry at the San Antonio State Hospital. She works mostly with forensic patients who have been charged with a crime and have severe mental illness. And although she says this particular population is challenging to work with, learning from the patients makes it all worth it.

As a part of Drug Topics’ continuous coverage of American Pharmacists Month, Vadiei joined us to discuss how her career has unfolded, a program she worked on that exemplifies the value of pharmacists in patient care, opportunities for pharmacists to expand their role, and harm reduction strategies pharmacists can implement to help patients with substance use disorders.

Our coverage of American Pharmacists Month continues all October. To view all of our interviews, visit our American Pharmacists Month landing resource center.