Career Profiles
When many people picture a pharmacist, they imagine someone standing behind a counter counting pills and ringing up prescriptions. The reality is far more complex — and far more impactful.
For Andy Scherf, staff pharmacist at Kilgore’s Medical Pharmacy, a locally owned, independent pharmacy with locations in Columbia and Ashland, Mo., pharmacy is about relationships, advocacy and helping those in the community.
If you’re a student or career seeker exploring health care pathways, here’s an inside look at what a career in pharmacy can truly look like.
Growing up around family members who worked in health care planted an early seed of interest in Andy. Seeing the meaningful work they did — and the difference they made in people’s lives — created a natural curiosity about health care careers.
At the same time, he had a strong desire to work in a science-oriented field and directly with people. Pharmacy brought those passions together.
As a staff pharmacist, no two days look exactly the same. Typical responsibilities include the following.
Retail pharmacy blends clinical knowledge with customer service, communication and teamwork — making it a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
One of the most meaningful parts of the job is helping people every single day. Pharmacists are often the most accessible health care professionals. Patients don’t need an appointment. They don’t have to wait days for a response. They can walk in or call and get answers right away.
Pharmacists also are typically the final checkpoint in the health care chain. Before a patient leaves with their medication, it’s the pharmacist’s responsibility to make sure the plan of care is a sensible one and that the patient truly understands it.
Can the patient afford this prescription? Are we taking into consideration possible limitations of the patient? That responsibility is taken seriously because to have positive outcomes, providers need to work with patients to set them up for long-term success.
Like many areas of health care, pharmacy faces real challenges. Declining reimbursement rates and unfair practices by pharmacy benefit managers have placed financial pressure on pharmacies, especially independent ones.
Rather than becoming discouraged, Andy focuses on what can be controlled: building strong relationships and providing exceptional, personalized care. That commitment has helped make the pharmacy an essential part of patients’ lives — and reinforces why independent pharmacies matter.
In addition to practicing, Andy serves as a preceptor through the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Pharmacy, supervising Introductory and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences.
A consistent message shared with students is this:
Health care can be incredibly rewarding, but it also can be thankless. Not every patient will be appreciative of your efforts, but you can make a real difference.
Perhaps the biggest misconception about retail pharmacists is that they simply count pills. In reality, pharmacists act as a safety net for patients in the following ways.
These days, patients commonly see multiple providers who can be from different specialties, offices and even health systems. It’s imperative that these providers work harmoniously.
Retail pharmacists often spend more face time with patients than many other health care professionals, allowing them to become strong advocates and trusted resources. This trust and available facetime can empower patients to speak their minds and relay important information that they did not disclose with other members of the health care team.