MEET THE PROFESSIONAL
June 2019
Dr. Susan Chmait
Dr. Chmait is a Clinical Pharmacist for Kaiser Permanente where she manages medication regiments in the specialty of Anticoagulation.
Dr. Chmait runs the Regional Direct Oral Anticoagulation Clinic (DOAC) for Kaiser Permanente, Southern California. She started this program in 2010 with 12 patients. They currently have close to 20,000 patients in the program now, with up to 10 pharmacists on her team.
Dr. Chmait is also an Officer and Contract Specialist for UPSC (United Pharmacists of Southern California) which is a labor union consisting of Pharmacists advocating for safe patient practices.
We are very excited to feature her this month in our “Meet the Professional” series.
Below are a few questions to help facilitate this interactive connection. At the end of the page you will have an opportunity to post your own questions for Dr. Susan Chmait.
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Degree/s and Universities.
- Clinical Practice Residency, Kaiser Permanente
- Pharm.D., University of Southern California, School of Pharmacy
- B.S. in Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine
Discuss a role model or mentor who influenced your career choice:
Our professional mentors are not always the people we would expect. One of my greatest mentors has been a Physician Assistant whose dedication to advocacy for patient care is unparalleled. In today’s health care environment, where administrators and CEO’s are intently running lucrative businesses with healthy bonuses, the patient can be forgotten in the race. It has really become my professional and personal goal to push back and make sure our patients have access to safe, effective and appropriate levels of care pushing the lines of formularies and taking more time per patient, even if that means the bottom line for those at the top may be compromised.
Do you recall any specific challenges you encountered and overcame?
I frequently face challenges being one of many health care professionals actively swimming against the stream. Patient advocacy is challenging in that it’s a constant battle to do what’s right for patients amidst so much bureaucracy.
Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?
My goal is to continue as a leader in the labor movement and as a clinical pharmacist. It is my opinion that professionals should engage in the daily business of what is happening around us. Health care professionals are uniquely exposed to people often at their most vulnerable. I’ve never met a pharmacist, nurse, physician, physician assistant or any other health care professional who hasn’t gone above and beyond and self-sacrificed for the betterment of others. My goal is to do what I can, through labor unions and effective bargaining, to improve outcomes for the many and push back against the few. In addition, I’d like to increase my activity with regard to lobbying for safe patient care practices in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in your field?
Pharmacy is much more than the type of pharmacist we are so accustomed to seeing filling prescriptions at a drug store. Being a pharmacist can be the most exciting occupation as there are so many avenues to discover. My advice would be to talk to pharmacists, visit pharmacists in clinics, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and schools. Really research the field so that you can find the specialty/niche that will bring you the most joy. And finally, consider doing a residency as that will open up many opportunities for you and career paths which may not be possible without one.
Tell us a little bit about your hobbies outside of your field:
I love having a lazy day at home with my loving husband and three sons. It is my greatest joy to watch my boys, almost all grown now, moving through life with such dignity and grace. I also enjoy scrapbooking…the old-fashioned paper kind (not the digital). I just love going through pictures of my family and creating storybook albums. I’ve made over 40 albums and hope I continue to make many more as it brings me so much joy.
A Q&A form will be uploaded shortly. In the meantime feel free to send any questions you would like to ask Dr. Chmait to admin@network1017.com
Click here if you would like to connect with Dr. Chmait.