Katie Plahn, CPhT-Adv, CSPT
Hazardous Drug Compliance Coordinator
University of Kentucky Healthcare
Lexington, KY
Certification
Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)
Number of Years at Organization
8
Why did you become a pharmacy technician?
If I'm completely honest, I became a pharmacy technician because my mom told me to. I was an 18-year-old junior college freshman who needed a job. She was a nursing educator who came home one day and told me, not asked but told me, that I had a job delivering medication carts in the morning before my classes. The rest is history.
How long have you been practicing?
My first pharmacy job was in 2001. This year will be my 25th year working in pharmacy.
What are you most proud of in your professional career?
This year, I had the opportunity to co-author the "Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs" module of the Hematology and Oncology Pharmacy Association's 2026 Core Competencies with my supervisor and mentor. Being asked to use my knowledge and expertise to educate a wide range of Hematology and Oncology pharmacy professionals was an honor.
What is your most memorable experience as a pharmacy technician?
My first in-person Midyear conference in 2023. I never imagined that I would reach a level in my career as a pharmacy technician where my employer would consider sponsoring my attendance at a professional conference a worthwhile investment. I learned so much and connected with so many great colleagues. It was an incredibly valuable and memorable experience.
Why did you become certified?
I became certified to demonstrate my skill and dedication to the profession as a pharmacy technician, treating it as a career rather than an alternative to other careers. It was a way to demonstrate to my pharmacist and technician colleagues that this was not a stopover or a detour on my way to another career.
What career advice do you have for others interested in becoming a Pharmacy Technician?
Be curious, be reliable, and don't underestimate yourself. Opportunities to advance as a pharmacy tech aren't standardized the way they are for other health professions, but they are there if you look hard enough.They tend to go to individuals who are always looking for ways to improve their environment and who question whether the way things have always been done is really the best way.