SOPPS staff member advances pharmacy technician education

Katie Sasina originally intended to become an X-ray technologist, going as far as becoming licensed. But she fell in love with her experience working in a pharmacy — originally an attempt to get more of a background in healthcare, she said.

“I felt like I was making a difference in someone’s life,” said the instructor for the school’s unique Pharmacy Technician Program Microcredential at Binghamton University’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. “Even while I was in high school, I wanted to be a teacher, just not that standard elementary, middle, high school area. So, I think doing it through a university, being able to use all my pharmacy background and teach, blended those aspects of service, empathy, and knowledge together for me.”

Sasina recently received the 2026 Pharmacy Technician Award — demonstrating her exemplary leadership and significant contributions to health-system pharmacy in New York state.

As one of the first pharmacy technicians in the nation to earn the Certified Pharmacy Technician Educator (CPTEd) credential last year, Sasina’s expertise, commitment, and leadership in pharmacy technician education, curriculum development, and learner assessment is also recognized nationally.

“This award reflects my dedication to properly training the next generation of technicians through my role here at Binghamton and at United Health Services (UHS),” Sasina said. “This role is a way to share my knowledge and to advocate for techs. When you think of pharmacy, you typically only think of pharmacists, but technicians and what they do are so important.”

The award is a prestigious honor presented by the New York State Council of Health-system Pharmacists (NYSCHP). Conferred only once before, it is designed to recognize those in the field who advance the role of technicians, enhance member engagement, and support the council’s mission.

Sasina currently works part-time as a certified pharmacy technician at UHS. Previously, she worked in the Wilson Medical Center inpatient pharmacy for over six years and as a senior technician at Rite Aid pharmacy. With that experience in hospital pharmacies, she assists students in skills labs to create real-life experiences that technicians will encounter in the field.

“Pharm techs are jacks of all trades. After getting admitted to the hospital, a pharm tech is going to be one of the first people you’re talking to,” she said. “Pharm techs are deeply woven in healthcare plans for patients. Teaching these students to put patients first, pay attention to the details, and maintain medication safety is so important.”

With a long-term goal of running the program administratively, Sasina is doing whatever she can to develop professionally, whether that includes conferences, committees, or — her next goal — an advanced certified pharmacy technician credential.

Sasina has done every aspect of the pharmacy technician role from delivering medication to units, mixing IVs, and training new technicians, but she acknowledges that the role continues to expand. As the pharmacist role grows and evolves alongside it, it has become increasingly important to Sasina to ensure that the next generation is treated fairly and equitably.

“I joined the pharmacy technician committee through NYSCHP last fall, to figure out how we can advocate better for technicians,” she said. “We’re trying to change verbiage in the bylaws so pharmacy technicians can vote for NYSCHP leadership roles. I also want to do better advocating for technicians and get New York state to require certification. Programs and students like ours are essential to the effective running of a pharmacy.”

Now recruiting students for the third cohort, the Pharmacy Technician Microcredential is currently accepting applications.