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Cindi Brennan completed her PharmD degree in 1980 at the University of Southern California and her MHA in 2000 at the University of Washington.

Cindi has a fascinating life story to tell. She devoted her professional career to patient care, pharmacy services, and academic and organizational leadership, then Cindi retired early to sail the world. Cindi’s advice: create a plan to make your dreams come true.

Agatha Nolen graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy in 1977, received her MS at the University of Oklahoma in 1986, and her PhD in 2011 at Tennessee State University.

During Agatha’s pharmacy career, she has taken advantage of the many opportunities to advance pharmacy practice and pharmacy health-system leadership, and to pay it forward to those she mentored. Agatha considers service to others as the capstone of her career.

Bill Puckett earned his BS in Pharmacy degree in 1968 from The Ohio State University (OSU) and his MS in Hospital/Clinical Pharmacy in 1970 also from OSU. Bill completed his MBA in Healthcare Administration in 1977 from Capital University, Columbus, Ohio.

Bill shares his passion for pharmacy and for trains. Through his journey, he has an interesting life story to tell, including his advice from Disney’s “plussing,” that is, always try to exceed expectations.

Gregg Matsch graduated from Washington State University with his BS Pharmacy in 1981 and earned his PharmD degree from Washington State University in 1998.

Gregg shares his hospital and industry pharmacy career choices and retirement planning as well as his advice to those considering life’s journey. Through your career, do not be afraid to try something new. Put your energy into achieving your goals. Seek out a colleague to become your mentor. Find someone to mentor and find and read a good retirement planning book.

John Clark has served others for more than 40 years. He has done so as a clinician, educator, preceptor, mentor, researcher, and leader in pharmacy. His proud African American and working class family heritage continue to fuel his passion as a role model, supporting others as they pursue, achieve, and sustain professional excellence.

John is a 1974 alumnus of Texas Southern University, a 1979 Master of Science graduate in pharmaceutical administration from Wayne State University, and a 1983 graduate, with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, from Florida A&M University.

Dr. Clark shares his journey, thoughts of retirement, and links his legacy to his mother’s refrain: Do something meaningful that matters to others.

Prati Wojtal spent a career leading ambulatory pharmacy services, improving patient care, and advancing the profession of pharmacy. The thoughtful, planned, and purposeful approach displayed in her career continues in her retirement. She is a past president of the Wisconsin Society of Health System Pharmacists and was a board member for the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin. Prati earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1987 and a Master of Science degree in 1989 from the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy.

Prati’s dedication to supporting and helping others also continues as she shares her reflections and lessons learned, including making time or reflecting on and exploring your sense of purpose.

Lois Ann Murray’s pharmacy career was spent in institutional, retail, hospital, home infusion, nuclear, specialty, GPO, and PBM pharmacy services. In retrospect, she describes her career in the same manner that Sheryl Sandberg describes it in her book Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead. Careers are not necessarily about climbing a corporate ladder; rather, “Careers are a jungle gym, not a ladder.” The diversity of Lois Ann’s roles in clinical services, sales leadership, operations, general management, and contract management led to her final position, in which she focused on business development strategy. Additionally, excellence in patient care delivery was a core, nonnegotiable value. In retirement, she continues to focus her time in diverse areas and still has a passion for delivery of care to others. Lois Ann received her Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy in 1976 from The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy.

Lois shares her thoughtful approach to living a really good retirement. The key is planning and the ability to pivot when life throws a curveball.

Henri Manasse devoted his career to service in academic and professional organization leadership positions. He is now living a retirement of family time, skiing, teaching, and volunteering his talents to his church and community.

Henri graduated from the University of Illinois College of Pharmacy (1968) and pursued a Master of Arts degree in education from Loyola University of Chicago (1972) and then a PhD from the University of Minnesota (1974) in the behavioral sciences applied to pharmacy.

There are purpose and rewards in working, but you should look forward to retirement with challenges and dreams of a new future.

When Patti Kienle graduated from pharmacy school, she intended to work in community pharmacy; however, as she was looking for her first pharmacist job, it was clear they didn’t want to hire women. Lucky for us, she found her first job in a hospital where she stayed for 25 years, even as it became a regional health system. However, her system pharmacies then became part of a national pharmacy management company, which opened a corporate Medication Safety Manager position, which enabled her to move into the corporate world where, even though she is beyond her retirement age, she continues to work.

Patti graduated from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science (now the University of the Sciences) in 1975 and received her MPA from Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania in 1983. She completed an Executive Fellowship in Patient Safety from the Medical College of Virginia in 2003.

The keys to being able to ease gracefully into a new position: Groom others for every facet of your responsibilities; delegate what you can; as you are developing skills, accept delegation from others when appropriate; and, be nimble in how you work.