Melissa Pein, CPhT-Adv, CSPT
Pharmacy Technician Supervisor
Children's Mercy
Excelsior Springs, MO
Certification
Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)
Number of Years at Organization
19
Why did you become a pharmacy technician?
I got my start in pharmacy at 16 while volunteering at the hospital where my dad worked. The work immediately caught my interest, and earning a professional license at such a young age made the experience even more exciting. It felt like a meaningful responsibility and set the foundation for my career.
How long have you been practicing?
I’ve been licensed as a pharmacy technician since September 11, 2001.
What are you most proud of in your professional career?
In my career as a pharmacy technician, I’m most proud of practicing to the fullest extent of my license while continuing to learn something new every day. As part of the pharmacy operations leadership team, I currently oversee 38 talented pharmacy technician direct reports. I play a significant role in the department’s daily function and long‑term progress — an opportunity I never imagined when I first started as a young volunteer. Growing from those early experiences to where I am today has been one of the most meaningful parts of my professional journey.
What is your most memorable experience as a pharmacy technician?
I was trained in a very different era of sterile compounding — long before personal protective equipment (PPE) standards looked anything like they do today. I still remember making epidurals with controlled substances drawn from ampules, bare‑handed, without anyone thinking twice. Wearing gloves was unusual at the time, and I was even teased for wanting to keep my hands clean. Looking back, it’s incredible how much the profession has evolved. The changes in safety practices, regulations, and our understanding of exposure risks highlight just how far we’ve come.
Why did you become certified?
I became certified as soon as I turned 18 because it was required for my role at the time. The exam was still done on a scantron card with a #2 pencil — and I passed without realizing it was actually a significant milestone. Looking back, I didn’t fully appreciate that earning national certification at such a young age would become such an important foundation for my career.
What career advice do you have for others interested in becoming a Pharmacy Technician?
For anyone interested in becoming a pharmacy technician, I always recommend finding a mentor. Identify someone in your department — technician or pharmacist — who can be your go‑to person for questions, concerns, and honest conversation. This is a true career, not just a job. There are real opportunities to grow from frontline roles into leadership within the pharmacy profession. Discover what excites you, develop those skills with intention, and keep moving upward — even if that means helping build the ladder as you climb it.