Specialty Pharmacist Paving the Way for Biosimilar Adoption

Chelsee Jensen, PharmD, BCPS, is a senior pharmacy specialist at the Mayo Clinic. Before she became a pharmacist, Jensen wanted to become a nurse. However, after helping her grandmother organize and stay on track with various medications, she decided to pursue a career in pharmacy.

At the Mayo Clinic, Jensen works in the supply chain and finance field as a pharmaceutical formulary manager. She began at the Mayo Clinic as an inpatient pharmacist, but switched positions in 2017. In her role, she has spearheaded a biosimilar implementation initiative across the entire Mayo Clinic. She said her role has been very interesting and that she has learned a lot so far.

“I think this supply chain role has so much value,” Jensen said. “My previous experience in the hospital in the inpatient setting gave me a ton of value. I also had exposure to our outpatient infusion area. I think all of that has tied in really nicely to the work I do now and I’m just super happy that I chose this profession and have had the opportunities that I’ve had.”

In a conversation with Drug Topics, Jensen discussed some of the rewards and challenges she faces in her setting, a specific program she implemented that exemplifies the value of pharmacists in patient care, what the biggest opportunities are for pharmacists to expand their role in patient care in today's health care landscape, and how biosimilars will impact the pharmacy profession in the coming years.

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