Denise Pigarelli

Denise Pigarelli 11/17/16

Background

Knew in 8 th grade that she wanted to be a pharmacist

Practiced at the VA in primary care setting in Phoenix, AZ before coming back to

Madison

Had her B.S., but wanted her PharmD so she came to Madison for school and

worked at UW Hospital in the cardiac care unit as an inpatient pharmacist

Ambulatory care residency in Madison

Showed her that outpatient > inpatient

Got a job in ambulatory care in Phoenix, AZ

Began teaching at a community college in Phoenix that showed her that she

loved teaching

Found a job in Madison that involved teaching and practicing at the VA (where

she is now)

Current career roles – works at SOP (80% of time) and clinical practitioner at the

Madison VA

Once she retires she would like to come back to school here at Madison and get a

degree in landscape architecture

Responsibilities as an ambulatory care resident

Half-days in various clinics each day/week

Shadow a pharmacist in your clinic for a little while, then would be able to see patients

individually and then consult the physician

Showing patients how to start medication/draw injectables

Looking at x-rays

Cardiology clinic – reading EKGs, listening to heart sounds

Giving injections for rheumatoid arthritis patients and flu shots

Did a geriatrics rotation where she learned about how to work in a healthcare team with

other professionals and how to take care of the older adult population

At the VA

Works with blood glucose issues, diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.

Foot discomfort, urinary issues, etc.

Works very closely with a nurse

Takes care of lots of people on insulin pumps and sensors, works with patients that take

extra-concentrated insulin which can be very dangerous

Detective work to find out what will work the best and to make sure patient

safety is the best as possible

Cool fact about working at the VA: you can get licensed in any state at any VA and then

can practice at any VA in the nation!

At the school

Head coordinator for pharmacy class 305 (consumer self care and OTC drugs)

One coordinator for pharmacy FIG

Teaches third year pharmacy students about diabetes and pharmacokinetics in the

spring, and the fall course on monitoring non-prescription drugs

Teaches elective advanced diabetes class for third year pharmacy students in the spring

before they go on their rotations

Gives students the real-life experience as having diabetes and helping patients

with special living conditions and this disease

Coordinates the advanced elective rotations for fourth year pharmacy students, both in

other states or internationally