327. Exploring Drug Information and Clinical Databases feat. Dr. Christine Sommer

**Intended Audience: Everyone**

Ever wondered how drug interaction alerts end up in your EHR or pharmacy system? In this week’s episode, Dr. Sommer takes us on a deep dive into the world of drug information databases—sharing her journey, the challenges her team tackles, and advice for pharmacists eyeing the informatics space.

A Few Can't-Miss Insights:

Shaping Clinical Data : Dr. Sommer reveals her team’s crucial work maintaining allergy, drug-drug interaction, and pharmacogenomics content at FDB.
Adapting with Technology : Christine reflects on her nearly 30-year career, from the era of mainframes to today’s advanced database systems, highlighting how FDB’s content has grown far beyond classic drug interactions.
Integration Woes & Wins : Learn what it’s like to ensure FDB’s drug knowledge fits seamlessly into diverse EHR and dispensing systems, and why close collaboration with vendors is key to success.
The Real-life Impact : Dr. Sommer shares how FDB data helps clinicians not only avoid harmful interactions but also tailor therapy to the patient level—think pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine!
Career Advice : For anyone interested in pharmacy informatics, Dr. Sommer emphasizes the importance of strong clinical skills, adaptability, multitasking, and a commitment to continual learning, and plus, why staying grounded in hands-on patient care still matters.

And if you’d like to connect with Dr. Christine Sommer or learn more about pharmacy informatics roles at First DataBank, she invites you to reach out on LinkedIn.

Disclaimer: Views expressed are those of the individuals and do not reflect thoughts and opinions of any entity with which speakers have been, is now, or will be affiliated.
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Network with other pharmacists at Pharmacists Connect!
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For more information on pharmacy informatics, check out some of the following useful links:

ASHP's Section of Pharmacy Informatics and Technology: https://www.ashp.org/Pharmacy-Informaticist/Section-of-Pharmacy-Informatics-and-Technology/
HIMSS: https://www.himss.org/resources/pharmacy-informatics-and-its-cross-functional-role-healthcare

Disclaimer: Views expressed are my own and do not reflect thoughts and opinions of any entity with which I have been, am now, or will be affiliated.