After nearly 17 years with CVS Health, Bill-Bern Balthazard is pursuing his longtime dream of becoming a pharmacist through Pacific University's five-year PharmD pathway.
Discover how the pathway's flexibility, supportive faculty and encouragement from his employer are helping him balance a full-time pharmacy career with his PharmD education.
For nearly 17 years, Bill has built a successful career with CVS Health, gaining experience in pharmacy operations, training, and leadership across multiple states. Yet throughout his professional journey, one dream remained constant: becoming a pharmacist. “Pharmacy has always felt like my calling,” Bill shared. “When first working in pharmacy, I knew immediately I found my place.”
Despite his passion for the profession, pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree was a step he hesitated to take. “I wanted to become a pharmacist, but I let my fear of failure keep me from trying,” he explained. “There was always the voice in my head saying, ‘Don't let fear stop you. What are you waiting for?”
Today, Bill is turning that longtime dream into reality as a student in Pacific University School of Pharmacy's five-year PharmD pathway, which provides an extended educational option for students seeking greater flexibility while pursuing their pharmacy degree.
Today, Bill is turning that longtime dream into reality as a student in Pacific University School of Pharmacy's five-year PharmD pathway, which provides an extended educational option for students seeking greater flexibility while pursuing their pharmacy degree.
A Career Built on a Passion for Pharmacy
Bill began his career with CVS Health on the East Coast as a pharmacy technician. His dedication and interest in helping others quickly led to opportunities for advancement, first as an inventory specialist and later as a lead technician and district training coach. “That's where I fell in love with training and teaching,” Bill recalled. “I enjoy helping people learn about pharmacy, how to do their jobs, and watching their confidence grow.”
His career eventually took him to California as a District Training Coordinator and later to the Pacific Northwest as a District Pharmacy Coordinator, managing pharmacist scheduling and payroll across several states. He also gained leadership experience as a store manager in Portland and Seattle before returning to Portland and his role in pharmacy operations.
Although each position brought new responsibilities and opportunities to grow, Bill's passion for pharmacy and his desire to become a pharmacist never faded.
Finding the Right Path at Pacific
When Bill decided to explore pharmacy schools, he attended several open houses and considered different educational options. Having close friends who graduated from Pacific University helped introduce him to the School, but it was his own experience visiting campus that made the difference. “When I visited myself, Pacific felt different,” he shared. “I felt like I was being treated as a person, and I connected with the faculty I met right away.”
The structure of Pacific's five-year PharmD pathway was equally important. It offered Bill the opportunity to pursue his education while continuing to work, making a goal that once seemed overwhelming feel achievable. “The five-year pathway made returning to school feel possible. It opened a road for me to pursue my PharmD while continuing to work, which took away a lot of the stress and anxiety I had about taking that step forward.”
For Bill, the combination of flexibility, personal connections, and a supportive learning environment gave him the confidence to move forward. “Between the flexibility and the connections I felt at Pacific, I could finally see myself moving forward instead of letting the fear of failure hold me back.”
Balancing a Full-Time Career and Pharmacy School
Today, Bill continues working approximately 40 hours per week at CVS Health while pursuing his PharmD degree. Balancing work, classes, and studying takes careful planning, but he has developed a system that works for him. “My calendar is my best friend,” he said. “Every
thing goes into it: work, classes, study time, and other plans.”
He also credits CVS Health and his supervisor, Dr. Tayler Evans, Pharmacy District Leader, for their flexibility and encouragement. “CVS has been amazing about giving me the flexibility to attend classes and study,” Bill shared. “My boss, Tayler Evans, has been especially supportive. She understands that some weeks school needs to be a priority and works with me to plan around my class schedule and make time for studying.”
Having a predictable academic schedule has also been valuable, allowing him to plan his professional and personal responsibilities around his coursework. “The five-year structure has been amazing. Now that I'm in the program, becoming a pharmacist feels so much more attainable,” he said. “The pace feels right for me, and the faculty have all been open and understanding and genuinely care.”
Beyond the flexibility of the pathway, Bill particularly appreciates the support he receives from Pacific's faculty and staff, whether through reviewing exam questions, providing additional guidance, or simply offering encouragement when challenges arise. “Returning to school came with a lot of fear and anxiety for me, but that fear gets quieter when you have a good group of people holding you up. That's how I've felt at Pacific.”
Beyond Work and School: Finding Time to Recharge
Despite his busy schedule, Bill makes it a priority to find time for himself and the people and activities he enjoys. Outside of pharmacy and school, he loves cooking, listening to audiobooks, playing video games, and spending time with his partner, friends, and three dogs—two huskies and a labradoodle, who certainly keep him busy!
One of his strategies for maintaining balance is setting aside one day each week completely free from work and school responsibilities. “Having the day to relax and recharge helps me keep a balance and gives me something to look forward to during a busy, stressful week,” he shared.
For Bill, making time to recharge is an important part of managing the demands of work, school, and everyday life while continuing to pursue his professional goals.
Looking Toward the Future
Although still early in his PharmD education, Bill is excited to explore the opportunities that becoming a pharmacist may bring. His interests include patient care, leadership, and teaching—areas that reflect both his professional experience and the aspects of pharmacy he finds most rewarding. “Helping patients is what drew me to pharmacy in the first place, and I'd like to explore how I can make an even greater difference as a pharmacist,” he explained.
His years of experience training and mentoring others have also shaped his vision for the future. “Training and teaching have also been some of the most rewarding parts of my career, so I'd love to continue helping others learn and grow.”
For Bill, pursuing his PharmD is not about starting over. It is about building on nearly 17 years of experience, expanding his ability to care for patients, and opening new opportunities to contribute to the profession he loves. His journey also highlights how flexible educational pathways and supportive employers can help experienced pharmacy professionals advance their careers while continuing to contribute to the pharmacy workforce.
Looking back on his decision to return to school, Bill has no regrets. “I'm so glad that I chose to come to Pacific,” he shared. “Being here has made me feel even more confident that I made the right decision.”
And for others who may be considering a similar step, his journey offers a simple but powerful reminder: “Don't let fear stop you. What are you waiting for?”
Explore Pacific University's Five-Year PharmD Pathway
Pacific University School of Pharmacy's five-year PharmD pathway provides an extended educational option for students seeking additional flexibility while pursuing their Doctor of Pharmacy degree. The pathway offers opportunities for working professionals, including pharmacy technicians and others interested in advancing their careers, to balance their education with professional and personal responsibilities.
Learn more about Pacific University's five-year PharmD pathway and discover how it may help you take the next step toward becoming a pharmacist.