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In This Issue:
Meet Pharmacy’s Lina Matta and Paul Szumita
The role of a pharmacist is one with many facets, including medication consultant, safety officer, information provider, educational resource and medication distributor. Lina Matta, Pharm. D., and Paul Szumita, Pharm. D., BCPS, uniquely embody the changing face of this profession.
After graduating from pharmacy programs at Rutgers University and Northeastern University respectively, Matta and Szumita set their sights on BWH.
“BWH gave me the opportunity to step right into what I wanted to do—work in the medical ICU,” said Szumita. “During my final year of college, I was drawn to the ICU, as you can really see how medications work immediately.”
“BWH is a great institution that has a lot of energy,” added Matta. “Things always seem to be happening, and I knew if I came here, I would learn a lot.”
The two began their careers in BWH Pharmacy Services in June 1999—just one week apart. While Szumita has worked in the MICU since day one, Matta first explored cardiac surgery and is now tackling cardiology.
“Cardiac surgery and cardiology are both excellent service lines for the hospital, and I can’t help but feel lucky and extremely humble to work with such incredible clinicians,” explained Matta.
Both Matta and Szumita point to the ever-expanding role of the pharmacist as the most rewarding yet challenging experience they have been a part of during their time at BWH. According to Szumita, only one or two pharmacists worked outside the Pharmacy Services Department when he first started. Today, there is a pharmacist on every floor. “It has been very gratifying to see departments throughout the hospital begin to tap into pharmacy as a resource,” added Matta.
“Our pharmacists are well-trained in clinical issues and are fully prepared to assist nurses and physicians in day-to-day patient care,” said Bill Churchill, MS, RPH, director, BWH Pharmacy Services. “Today’s complex medication regimens require the kind of expertise that Lina and Paul are blazing the trail for here at BWH.”
Szumita also described the immense growth of the educational programs in Pharmacy Services as an exciting experience. “We have up to 20 students from area pharmacy programs at any one time,” explained Szumita. “Each student has an individual preceptor—like myself or Lina—to guide them through their training at BWH.”
As they look ahead to the future, Szumita and Matta see great things in store not only for Pharmacy Services but also for their individual careers at BWH. Szumita has recently assumed the role of Clinical Pharmacy Practice Manager and will supervise clinical staff, students and residents, while continuing to participate in various committees and groups as a representative of Pharmacy Services.
Matta continues to enjoy her daily interactions with her fellow clinicians and the patients on the floors and is open to new opportunities as they arise. “The highlight of my day is knowing I’ve helped another person,” she said. “Helping is my job—it’s all about personal touch.”