A Day in the Life of a Hematology/Oncology Clinical Pharmacist By Anthony Quach, PharmD, BCOP
Working as a hematology/oncology clinical pharmacist means having the privilege of walking alongside patients through some of the most pivotal moments of their cancer journey. In malignant hematology, these relationships often span months to years. I may meet a patient on the very day they receive their diagnosis, guide them through their first chemotherapy cycle, counsel them on their conditioning chemotherapy as they prepare for stem cell transplant, and support them throughout their inpatient transplant admission. Later, I might see that same patient in the infusion center during post-transplant follow-up, helping them make sense of the extensive medication regimen they began after transplant. Being a familiar face through each of these transitions and building a relationship with my patients is the most rewarding aspect of my role at UC Irvine health.
My day-to-day responsibilities at UC Irvine Health vary depending on which “hat” I am wearing. When I am on the inpatient malignant hematology service, my focus is on managing complex chemotherapy regimens for patients with newly diagnosed leukemia, aggressive lymphoma, and other high-risk malignancies. This includes tailoring induction regimens, reviewing supportive-care needs, assessing organ function, and collaborating closely with providers to ensure that each plan is both safe and evidence-based. The pace is quick and clinical decisions often need to be made in an urgent manner, but the opportunity to help manage a patient’s treatment from the very start is deeply rewarding.
On other days, my work shifts to the outpatient setting. In clinic, I may see patients independently on our pharmacist schedule through a collaborative practice agreement with our leukemia and stem cell transplant providers. These visits range from pre-transplant counseling and educating patients on what to expect from conditioning chemotherapy to performing detailed medication reconciliations for those recently discharged with complex transplant-related regimens. I also coordinate post-transplant vaccination schedules, manage supportive care medications, and provide medication education to patients and their caregivers. These encounters allow me to build rapport with my patients and ensure the continuity between inpatient and outpatient care is maintained.
There are also days when I am stationed on the inpatient stem cell transplant and cellular therapy service. Here, my work centers around managing transplant conditioning chemotherapy and cellular therapies, ensuring accuracy and safety at every step of the preparation and administration process. I collaborate with the stem cell transplant team to manage complications such as graft-versus-host disease, infections, or regimen-related toxicities, all of which require constant vigilance and multidisciplinary teamwork. The complexity of the stem cell transplant and cellular therapy service means no two days are alike, and each patient presents unique challenges that require me to practice at the top of my license.
Across all these roles, the underlying sense of purpose remains constant. Whether I am verifying chemotherapy orders, discussing dose adjustments with providers, or counseling a patient on what to expect during treatment, everything I do is centered on improving patient outcomes. Knowing that my work directly contributes to the safety, quality, and continuity of care for individuals fighting cancer is what motivates me each day. The positive impact I can make as a hematology/oncology clinical pharmacist is the reason why I committed to this career path.