Natalia Betancourt

Q&A with Natalia

What motivated you to pursue a career in pharmacy?

I always knew that I wanted to work in healthcare. I still remember the day in grade 12 psychology class when we learned about illicit drugs, and the effect they had on the brain. I found it so fascinating that a little tiny chemical could do so much, which led to my interest in pharmacology! (It still amazes me what a tiny pill can do.)

My interest in pharmacology, mixed with my passion for health and wellness, ultimately led me to becoming a pharmacist.

What are some of your proudest moments in healthcare?

I think it is just the feeling of knowing you made a difference in someone’s life. Whether that be a patient struggling with addiction, helping manage somebody's blood sugars, or just educating a patient’s family members on their condition and medications, I am proud of being able to help.

A more specific example was with a patient who struggled with opioid use disorder for years, and was in and out of treatment facilities. We would have regular chats, and I would help motivate him and reassure him that he was capable of beating his addiction. This patient actually just celebrated 18 months clean – I am so unbelievably proud of him, and love that I was able to play a role in his journey.

What qualities do you bring to your role at Pinnacle?

I think I have an interesting background as a pharmacist, as I specialized in mental health and addictions immediately after graduating! In my final year of pharmacy school, I worked on the Vancouver's Downtown Eastside neighbourhood. This might be scary for some, but I thrived there. Working in mental health and addictions, and working with such a vulnerable population, can be such a rewarding job.

After graduating, I moved to Nanaimo specifically to work as a pharmacist in an addictions-focused pharmacy downtown. It was a unique role, as the pharmacy was located in the same building as three addictions clinics. I am very well versed in opioid use disorder treatment and harm reduction, such as methadone, suboxone, kadian, fentanyl patches, and oral fentanyl – which is unique compared to most retail pharmacies!

What values influence your work?

The biggest thing for me is that every single patient is different. No two patients should be looked at the same, even if they are taking the exact same medications and have the same medical conditions.

I think that health is very multifactorial, and needs to be looked at in a holistic way. It is important to always dig deeper and look at the root cause of an issue, rather than focusing on a “band aid solution”. Using addiction for an example, all the medications in the world will not treat someone if we are not addressing the underlying cause, mental health, and lifestyle factors.

I am very passionate about mental health, and believe there needs to be a larger focus on the role mental health plays in all conditions. Consider a patient with diabetes and untreated depression. A patient struggling with depression is unlikely to adhere to medications, unlikely to exercise and unlikely to eat a healthy balanced diet. Addressing depression would lead to a healthier lifestyle, which would naturally lead to a better control of diabetes, which cannot be beat by medications alone.

What challenges do you face as a pharmacist? How do you overcome them?

I think one of the biggest challenges for me is learning how to be comfortable being uncomfortable. I worked in a job I was very comfortable with for years, and I was scared to branch out after specializing in one area, but being scared and uncomfortable is what is needed for growth.

Pharmacy practice is constantly changing, and I am never going to know every single thing about every single medication... and that is okay! This type of work constantly brings unique challenges, and I learn something new every day.

I have learned to lean into help, ask my colleagues questions when I don’t know the answer, use the resources available to me, and stay open to advice from others.

What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?

Cuddling with my puppies (my golden retriever, Ford, and Pomeranian, Charlie)! I also work on my jewellery business in my spare time, which is a nice brain break from pharmacy. I've learned that it is important to take care of my own mental health and wellbeing, and try to fit a lot of self care into my life.

What do you find most rewarding about being a pharmacist?

I’ve said it before: the most rewarding thing about being a pharmacist is making a difference in people’s lives. I cannot think of a better job!

I love that I get to make unique connections with people every day. I love that I get to be nerdy and excited when I talk about medications. I love that I get to be a valuable resource to people. I guess you could say I love getting to do what I love!

What is your educational and professional background?

I did my Doctor of Pharmacy program at The University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Early in my education, I took a large interest in mental health, and was involved with projects such as designing patient education sheets for the hospital. To stay on top of things I have taken additional courses, including the Provincial Opioid Addiction Support Treatment Program, and specialized Sublocade training.

This job has taught me a lot about diabetes, much more than I ever learned in school. I have taken an interest in diabetes management, and plan to write the Canadian Diabetes Educator exam in May 2025 so that I can become a Certified Diabetes Educator.

What message do you hope readers will take away from your bio?