06/24/2025
Soo Shepherd was caring for infants as a daycare provider when she decided she was ready for a career change. “I wanted to get a good-paying job in health care, but I didn’t have two years to study,” Soo explains. She found the Pharmacy Technician program at BRCC to be perfect!
Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists in preparing and dispensing medications, managing inventory, and providing essential support in healthcare settings. They play a crucial role in medication safety for patients.
Soo now works in the Augusta Health Inpatient Pharmacy and says her BRCC studies gave her a strong foundation to use in her current position. “It is easy to find a job because this program is respected by employers looking to hire pharmacy technicians,” she says. “I’m proud to be a first graduate from BRCC pharm tech class.”
The BRCC Pharmacy Technician program is dynamic and engaging, designed to prepare aspiring pharmacy technicians with the knowledge, skills, and hands-on training necessary to be successful pharmacy technician. The program combines rigorous coursework with practical, real-world application to prepare students for a rewarding career in pharmacy.
Soo’s classmate, Brent Andes, also works at the Augusta Health Inpatient Pharmacy. He was a cashier at Fishersville Family Pharmacy, where his supervisor told him about the pharmacy tech program at BRCC. “I heard great things about Jackie (BRCC Pharmacy Technician Instructor & Program Coordinator) from my bosses before I applied, and after meeting with her I went all in on the program,” he says.
After the pharmacy where Brent was working closed, he needed to find a new position. Jackie and former classmates helped him find his current position at Augusta Health.
“While I was taking the class, I thought the hospital information was kind of a waste of time because I only planned to work retail, but after we shut down, I was able to successfully transition to a hospital setting because of what I had learned,” Brent explains. He adds that the program included training and activities that prepared him well for working in a hospital setting as well as retail.
“Overall, I’m very glad that I had the opportunity to be in this program and I emphatically recommend it to anyone looking to get into pharmacy,” says Brent.