Author: [AUTHOR] Published on 3/1/2023 12:00:00 AM

James Martin, PharmD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Clinical Pharmacogenomics, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aurora, Colorado

Who has inspired you in your career?
As with many others who have pursued pharmacy, there have been many encouraging professionals who have contributed inspiration at different points along my career path. Specifically, a pharmacist I worked with from the ages of 16–18 inspired me to pursue pharmacy. This individual inspired me to have compassion and altruism. They inspired me to focus on the details that are most important to ensure patient safety.

Do you have a favorite tip or trick for clinical practice or research that you want to share with fellow members?
I believe one of the things I have learned to prioritize during my training is to schedule a time to “take a step back.” This allows a few moments to think through all of what is going on. It can be very easy to jump from one task to another until exhaustion sets in, but scheduling a time to remove oneself from all resources can help one “see the big picture” as well as stimulate creativity.

When you are not working, how do you spend your free time?
In my free time, I enjoy traveling, hiking, camping, snowboarding, reading, cooking, and spending time with my family and friends.

How do you keep focused and motivated?
Maintaining focus and motivation is an incredibly challenging task and one that may require significant discipline. The way that I like to keep focused and motivated is to remind myself what primarily drives me to pursue pharmacy as a career, namely leading to better care for patients. It is helpful for me to take time to reflect on the positive feedback I have received or patient testimonies, which speak to the importance of the work I have conducted thus far. This activity helps greatly, particularly in times when focus and motivation seem particularly difficult to obtain.

Dr. Martin has been a member of ASCPT since 2020.