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Aug 4
1h 3m

186: From CVS Stress to Six-Figure Healt...

ANISHA PATEL
About this episode

*This podcast episode was originally a YouTube LIVE with Q&A which you can watch on my YouTube channel ⁠here⁠. This is a series of episodes I am doing on non-traditional careers running from July to December 2025. Sign up to my shared Google Calendar ⁠here⁠ so you never miss an episode*


Join me for an inspiring conversation with Dr. Lauren Curtis, who transformed her retail pharmacy career into a thriving six-figure role as a Product Manager in health tech. Lauren shares her journey from being a stressed CVS manager to earning double her retail salary while working Monday-Friday with actual work-life balance.

Dr. Lauren Curtis is a Product Manager in health tech who started her career in retail pharmacy at CVS. Over a decade ago, she made the bold decision to send a cold email to PillPack, which completely changed her career trajectory. She now helps design healthcare technology tools while earning significantly more than her retail pharmacy days and maintaining excellent work-life balance.


💼 Understanding Health Tech Roles

  • Operations Roles: Clinical operations manager, overseeing workflows and productivity
  • Product Management: Shaping product direction, bridging user needs with business goals
  • Entry Points: Associate Product Manager, clinical roles at tech companies


📊 Salary & Compensation (USD)

  • Associate Product Manager: $100,000-$115,000
  • Senior Product Manager: $160,000-$180,000+
  • Leadership Roles: $200,000-$220,000+
  • Additional benefits: bonuses, equity, remote work options


Best Entry Strategy:

  • Gain 2-3 years clinical experience first to build your "secret sauce"
  • Look for roles that leverage your clinical background
  • Focus on transferable skills in applications, not just clinical achievements
  • Consider starting in clinical roles at tech companies to learn the environment


JOIN MY NEWSLETTER COMMUNITY:

This isn't your typical pharmacy newsletter - it's a weekly mentoring session delivered straight to your inbox, packed with actionable insights for ambitious pharmacy students. Each week, I share:

  • Building multiple income streams while maintaining clinical practice

  • Time management secrets and productivity hacks I swear by ⚡

  • Systems and strategies that keep it all running smoothly ⚙️

  • Personal reflections on growth, failure, and resilience

  • Behind-the-scenes looks at podcast production and brand building

If you are ready to think differently about your future in pharmacy, sign up 👉⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!


PARTNERSHIPS and DISCOUNTS:

The Naked Pharmacy is a brand I LOVE and use daily. They are offering my podcast listeners a 20% discount on all their products. Use discount code PD20 at checkout to receive the offer.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thenakedpharmacy.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


🚀 Check out our Amazon storefront dedicated to podcasting gear! We will keep adding/reviewing the list but there’s a selection of microphones, audio interfaces, and more to help you elevate your podcasting game. Explore Our Storefront⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


CONNECT WITH LAUREN:

LinkedIn: Lauren Curtis


CONNECT WITH JAMIE WILKEY:

This podcast series is in collaboration with Dr Jamie Wilkey, the Misfit PharmD and author of the LoveMyPharmD newsletter that over 20,000+ pharmacists read weekly. Connect with Jamie ⁠here⁠.


Follow me on.⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and/or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Feel free to subscribe to the podcast on your favourite podcast platform so you can be notified when a new episode is released or leave a review on apple podcasts. If you have any suggestions for guests you want me to talk to or if you’d like to come on yourself, please feel free to contact me via social media, or email at info@pharmacistdiaries.com.


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