ON THE FRONT LINE

Both of my parents are Iraqi, but I was born in Iran. My parents migrated there during the war between the two countries. I came to New Zealand with my family as a refugee in 2005, when I was 13. We lived in Hamilton, and then I went to Auckland to study at pharmacy school.

From my second year, I worked for Dale Griffiths at Westview Pharmacy during term time and for Ian McMichael at Pharmacy 547 in Hamilton in the holidays and for my internship. Ian and Dale were interesting, good mentors and taught me a lot.

After becoming a pharmacist, I did placements in Taumarunui and Ōhakune. In April 2018, I returned to Auckland to work for Dale at Zoom Pharmacy, passed my internship and moved to Chemist Warehouse about two years later. I now manage Unichem Waiora Pharmacy in Henderson, west Auckland.

I applied for the army in 2017, but they messaged me to say I needed more experience. I waited until 2020 before going through the process again. In December 2021, I joined as an officer cadet and completed the first part of my training. When COVID-19 struck, Chemist Warehouse asked me to delay the rest of my training.

I completed my Specialist Officer Induction Course in Waiōuru earlier this year and graduated in April.

How do you start your day?

I wake up at 4.45 or 5.45am and, depending on the day, I walk my dog, do weights, boxing or Brazilian jiu-jitsu. I arrive at work at 7.50am and once there, I get organised doing things like payroll.

What is the most underrated product in your pharmacy?

The antihistamine Cetirizine. Many people use it when they have symptoms but don’t understand its preventative properties and that they should take it before summer.

What’s the one thing the pharmacy sector could do better?

The way pharmacists are towards others in different work environments, such as Zoom Pharmacy, Chemist Warehouse, smaller pharmacies and hospitals, and the way we come at each other. It is better to come together to make this career path better so people don’t leave it to go to Australia or medical school.

Don’t put each other down as much. Don’t see pharmacy as a business but as a profession. Working alongside medical centres would be better and attract many people to this profession. There is a lot of hate on one pharmacy Facebook group. I don’t understand why we don’t find ways to improve things and move forward.

What are you most proud of professionally?

I am proud of where I’ve come so far. I have gone through many hurdles and have done so much, like working for Dale and Ian and finally finishing my army training. I hope one day to be deployed and help others. It has been a dream of mine for ages to be a member of the Army Reserve Force.

In your opinion, what’s the next big thing in pharmacy?

Maybe, with the new elements being funded, it could move us in the right direction, so patients see us as someone who can do more and give advice, not just someone who gives out scripts

What’s the thing you most like about your workplace?

The people I work with. I have the most supportive young people working for me. One was an intern last year and is super loyal. I also have a great intern this year who always listens carefully. If one is missing, the other will turn up and do more hours. I’m excited to go to work just to see them.

What takes up too much of your time?

Jiu-jitsu because I spend over two hours in each class. I enjoy it. I go, get beaten up and go back home.

What’s the weirdest question a patient/customer has asked you?

When a man comes in and asks, “What would you use for this treatment?” Then he pops out a picture of his privates, and there are warts on it. Or being shown rashes under breasts and being flashed at.

What are the three things you couldn’t do without personally or professionally?

I couldn’t do without my colleagues, my dog and my partner and I couldn’t survive mentally without training. My dog Castro is a 56kg bullmastiff that looks scary but is a big teddy bear who just wants to play and cuddle.

Who do you admire?

My mum. When we lived in Iran, she looked after us kids while Dad tried to find a better country. She stayed strong the whole time. We wouldn’t be who we are today if it wasn’t for her.

What’s your favourite 3pm snack?

Chocolate, of any type – doesn’t really matter – especially if it has almonds.

What’s your favourite pastime outside of work?

Binge-watching bad TV shows, then walking my dog for two hours.

What would you do if you weren’t a pharmacist?

I would be an engineer like my sister and try to get into the army that way.