September 5th, 2023
Michael Desmond, BCOP-RPH Awarded Mission Champion
Michael Desmond, BCOP-RPH, joined the St. Joseph Hospital Pharmacy Team in September 2019 as an Infusion Pharmacist, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and experience. He has worked as a Clinical Pharmacist for over 33 years, with a special focus on oncology pharmaceuticals for the past 15 years. Michael currently works within the Cancer Center/Infusion Center at St. Joseph Hospital, where he is considered a valuable member of the team.
The best part about Michael’s job is being able to build camaraderie with the colleagues and patients he gets to work with. Michael focuses on being a good role model for his fellow colleagues, stating that “God works through us to do good things, and good things will come back to us.” When Michael’s work is done within the Cancer Center/Infusion Center, he is always sure to check in with the rest of the Pharmacy team; offering any support that is needed to ensure all patients throughout the hospital are cared for.
Michael enjoys working at St. Joseph Hospital because of all of the personal connections that he has made. He feels that those within the St. Joseph Hospital community genuinely make an effort to get to know who you are as an individual – and that employees are never treated as just a number. He truly values the time his colleagues take to recognize the hard work he and others are doing. He knows that this isn’t something commonly found a every hospital, which makes him feel appreciated.
Michael’s most memorable moments while working at St. Joseph Hospital are related to the small acts of kindness from others. The nursing team within the Cancer Center/Infusion Center never miss special occasions for him, regularly decorating his office door for his birthday or during National Pharmacy Week. He appreciates the close work he is able to do with patients of the Cancer Center/Infusion Center, and takes great pride in building mutually rewarding relationships with those that he provides care for. Michael describes his patients as extremely generous with their time and talents, often surprising him with homemade treats. Between his colleagues and his patients, he feels both appreciated and respected.
Brooke Breen, Pharmacy Technician, states, “Michael communicates the right things at the right times. He is always accessible to the nurses for questions and offers help with whatever they need. Providing personal attention to each patient and resolves problems timely when they arise, Michael gives us the tools and information we need to provide outstanding patient care. Michael is a great pharmacist and a great patient teacher.”
When Michael is not taking care of his patients, you can find him playing table tennis at home or with the club he joined in Merrimack, New Hampshire. He spends his free time reading, and while he appreciates a variety of different genres, sci-fi is his favorite. Michael is known for his green thumb and takes joy in working in his garden at home with his wife, Barbara. Michael also cherishes the time spent with his son, Christopher, taking delight in the fun they have when going to the movies together.
Congratulations, Michael!