Amanda Abernathy

Amanda Abernathy has been a pharmacy technician for 17 years. During her formative years of practice, she achieved national certification through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, worked in many practice settings (outpatient pharmacy, inpatient pharmacy, and prior authorization for an insurance company), and held many specialized roles (inventory specialist, pharmacy technician trainer, and senior pharmacy technician). The role that changed the trajectory of her career path was Lead Pharmacy Technician where she built the discharge medication program for a hospital in her health system. This role led her to discover project management and obtain her MBA with a concentration in project management, which led to roles in healthcare technology. The skills and knowledge gained in all of these roles and pharmacy practice settings paved the way to Amanda’s current role as Pharmacy Technician Training Program Manager, where she is building and obtaining ASHP accreditation for a systemwide pharmacy technician training program for the UPMC Health System.

Facility:
UPMC is a world-renowned health care provider and insurer headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It operates 40 hospitals, 800 outpatient centers, and 59 pharmacies, employing over 100,000 people and serving millions of patients throughout Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland.

Current Responsibilities:
As the Pharmacy Technician Training Program Manager, my main objective is to build and obtain ASHP accreditation for a systemwide pharmacy technician training program. Additionally, I support all system level initiatives that impact pharmacy technicians. I have been honored to build a state registered pharmacy technician apprenticeship and a systemwide pharmacy technician mentorship program and contribute to initiatives, such as aligning UPMC processes and procedures with the new legislation for Pennsylvania pharmacy technicians to register with the state board of pharmacy and redesigning the pharmacy technician career ladder.

Recent Significant Projects:
As part of the ASHP accreditation process, I created a public facing website providing information on the UPMC Pharmacy Technician Training Program. This website launched in mid-July 2025. Since the launch, I’ve been contacted by an average of three people per week who are interested in learning to practice as a pharmacy technician. Many people are surprised that the training process is so straightforward, and I am humbled to offer this opportunity to the communities surrounding our health system. Diverse pipelines are essential to workforce resilience and sustainability.

Advice for Someone New to a Specialty Area:
It is essential to self-advocate for your career growth. The landscape of pharmacy is in a constant state of change, which creates opportunity. When you see an aspect of process or procedure that could be improved, bring this to your leadership with a solution. Offer to help plan and implement improvements. When you identify a gap in job roles in a skill set where you are strong and passionate, propose the creation of a new role. Approach your leadership with a business plan. Being proactive allows you to create your career path while also creating meaningful change in your pharmacy.

Involvement with ASHP:
I’ve been a member of ASHP for 10 months and I am actively engaged. I am fortunate to have been appointed to the SPPL SAG for Workforce Resilience and Sustainability. I attended my first Midyear in Las Vegas in December 2025.

Reason for ASHP involvement:
I am grateful to my employer, UPMC, for encouraging me to participate in professional organizations. My manager was instrumental in guiding me to the most impactful and valuable organizations to join. ASHP was their first recommendation and during the course of my membership, I’ve learned why the organization garners such esteem.

Value of ASHP for Peers or Colleagues:
ASHP offers valuable tools to connect pharmacy professionals and support our professional growth, advocacy efforts, and daily pharmacy practice.

Value of ASHP for the Profession:
ASHP is a space for pharmacy professionals to create the future of pharmacy. Through our professional growth, advocacy efforts, and daily pharmacy practice we make decisions and perform tasks that impact pharmacy at the highest levels (law, organizational operations, nationwide best practices, and more).