Jessica (Jessy) A. Marin, PharmD (jessica.marin@aah.org), is a manager of retail pharmacy operations with Advocate Health in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she oversees 19 outpatient pharmacy locations spanning hospital campuses, ambulatory clinics, and stand-alone sites. She earned her PharmD from St. Louis College of Pharmacy in 2011 and continued her career at Walgreens, fulfilling a wide variety of roles during her 14-year tenure, from student to registered store manager, all while cultivating a strong foundation in operations and team member development. In 2019, she transitioned to health system pharmacy leadership, bringing her extensive retail experience. Marin has participated in many projects to streamline workflows and policies and procedures. She is currently completing her term as the vice chair on the ASHP Section of Community Pharmacy Practitioners advisory group on Education and Practice Excellence.
Meet Jessica (Jessy) A. Marin
Community pharmacy faces significant challenges, including recruiting pharmacists and evolving the pharmacist’s role within an ever-changing healthcare environment. Recruitment has become increasingly difficult due to declining enrollment in pharmacy programs, competition from hospitals and other healthcare sectors, high workload demands, and concerns about burnout. These factors make it harder to attract and retain qualified professionals while maintaining a sustainable workforce. At the same time, community pharmacies are expected to expand their clinical responsibilities—such as administering vaccinations, providing medication therapy management, and supporting chronic disease management—which requires pharmacists to continually adapt and build new skills. To remain effective, pharmacies must keep pace with these growing demands by broadening services while ensuring patient care remains a top priority. This includes maintaining safe staffing levels, minimizing dispensing errors, delivering thorough and accessible patient counseling, and ensuring equitable care, even during periods of increased demand and operational strain. I am eager to continue my work with the ASHP Section of Community Pharmacy Practitioners to highlight the diverse and evolving career pathways within community pharmacy and inspire greater interest in the profession. By showcasing innovative practice models and nontraditional roles, I hope to encourage students and early-career pharmacists to see the full scope of opportunities available. I am also committed to advancing the role of community pharmacists by promoting provider recognition, expanding clinical services, and strengthening collaboration across healthcare teams to improve patient outcomes and support health systems.