Dr. Breonna Stringer

I attribute much of my success to where I come from and, most importantly, to my parents and the community that helped shape me. I grew up in Pembroke, Georgia, a small town with just one red light, but I never felt that where I came from had to limit where I could go. My church family and the people back home never allowed me to give up. They supported me in countless ways throughout my journey, even coming together to raise money when or if I needed it.

Basketball also played a major role in shaping the person I am today. As an athlete, I learned discipline, perseverance, accountability, and how to keep pushing even when things became difficult. Having coaches like Coach Mario Mincey, Cindy Bennett, Allen Wallace, and Cassandra Donaldson, who constantly challenged me and pushed me to become better on and off the court, helped develop a level of determination that followed me long after basketball. That same competitive drive carried into the classroom, pharmacy school, and ultimately my professional career.

There were also people who made an impact on me outside of the classroom. One person in particular was Ms. Christy Dyson. Although she never taught me in the classroom, she helped keep me grounded throughout my journey of high school. She always had an open door policy for me. Whether I was having a bad day, a good day, or a sad day, she remained a rock for me. I still carry many of our conversations with me today, and there were days when remembering her words gave me the push I needed to keep going.

A major part of my motivation has also been my two younger sisters. I wanted to show them, as well as other young people from my hometown, that we can accomplish anything we put our minds to. Coming from a small town does not mean that we are invisible, and it does not mean our dreams have to be small.

Mercer University was my number one choice, so receiving my acceptance letter was an incredibly meaningful moment. It represented not only something I had worked hard to achieve, but something my entire support system had helped me reach. From my parents and sisters to my church family, teachers, coaches, mentors, and community, I have been surrounded by people who pushed me forward and reminded me of what I was capable of, even during the moments when the journey became difficult.

The best career advice I’ve ever received was to never stop advocating for my patients and to never stop being myself. That advice has stayed with me throughout my journey in pharmacy. As my career has evolved and my interests have expanded into areas like Medical Affairs, Drug Information, and Medical Information, I’ve realized that patient advocacy can take many different forms. Even when you aren’t directly at the bedside or behind the pharmacy counter, the work you do can ultimately influence patient care.

The second part, never stop being myself, has been just as important. I never want professional growth or career advancement to make me lose the qualities and values that got me here. I want to continue showing up as myself, treating people with compassion, asking questions, advocating for what is right, and remembering the people and community that helped shape me. No matter where my career takes me, I want patients to remain at the center of my “why” while always remaining true to who I am.

If you have your mind set on something, never give up. When you get to college, take advantage of every resource available to you and take your education seriously. Get to know your professors and classmates, build relationships, and get involved. Being involved opened so many doors for me and connected me with people who were willing to help me along the way.

Always put your best foot forward because you never know who may see something in you and be willing to help you reach that next level. At the same time, remember to enjoy life. Pharmacy school is rigorous, and your education is important, but so are you. Take time to eat, spend time with your family and friends, have a glass of wine, laugh, and do the things that allow you to recharge. Work hard toward what you want, but don’t become so focused on the destination that you forget to enjoy the journey.

In oncology, things are constantly evolving. Guidelines, including NCCN guidelines, are continuously updated as new evidence and treatment options become available. You have to be able to review and interpret different sources of information, compare previous guidelines with current recommendations, and understand what has changed and why. The exciting part is that we are continuing to improve, and there is always something new to learn.

As a Drug Information Specialist, I’ve also had the opportunity to work with many different medications and disease states. It has allowed me to take what I learned in pharmacy school and explore it on a much deeper level by evaluating literature, interpreting clinical trial data and outcomes, and translating that evidence into meaningful drug information. One of the things I enjoy most about the field is that I’m constantly learning and expanding my clinical knowledge.

The values that are most important to me are integrity, accountability, continuous growth, and compassion. I believe in doing what’s right even when no one is watching and taking responsibility for my work and the decisions I make. I also believe in always being open to learning and growing because, in the field of pharmacy, there is something new to learn every day. Most importantly, I believe in treating people with respect, empathy, and compassion at all times. These are values I try to carry with me in both my professional and personal life.