Michael J. Mandarino, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP
Neurology and Complex Internal Medicine
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA
Dr. Mandarino is a Neurology and Internal Medicine Clinical Pharmacist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Albany, NY, and completed his PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Montefiore Nyack Hospital in Nyack, NY, followed by a PGY2 Psychiatric Pharmacy Residency at RWJBarnabas Health Behavioral Health Center in Toms River, NJ. Throughout his professional practice, Dr. Mandarino served as a residency program director and developed expertise in mentoring early-career practitioners and psychiatric pharmacy residents with clinical and professional development.
Getting a Head Start on Your Professional Development
When I first stepped into my professional career, my primary priorities were focused on staying organized and learning how to apply all the knowledge I gained during residency training. Professional development felt like something I would eventually get to once I had a better handle on my clinical responsibilities. One of the most important lessons I have learned is that professional development does not depend on having a specific title or years of clinical experience but instead depends on early intention and curiosity.
Starting early helps you build habits that last. Whether it’s working towards a certification, precepting pharmacy learners, or sitting in on webinars, these consistent efforts will add up and help you develop yourself professionally. You do not need to do everything all at once, but by doing something consistently, it is where real growth happens. Putting yourself out there helps you get on the radar for future opportunities as these tend to find people who are already engaged. When you show interest and take initiative, people will notice, and doors start opening in ways you might not expect.
The Power of Mentorship and Building Your Network
Mentorship and networking have been pivotal to my development, especially in the field of psychiatric pharmacy. Some of the best career advice I received did not come from a textbook but instead came from someone who had “been around the block” and was willing to share their story. Many of my major career shifts happened because someone took the time to offer guidance or connect me with the right person.
Mentorship does not always need to be formal. Some of my most impactful mentors have been peers just a year or two ahead of me, or colleagues who share advice or clinical scenarios over coffee or a meal. If you are not sure where to start with identifying networking and mentorship opportunities, try attending a conference, joining a committee, connecting with a local college of pharmacy, or even reaching out to someone whose career path you admire. Most people are more than happy to share what they have learned, you just need to ask.
Spotting Opportunities for Professional Development
Finding professional development opportunities often starts by noticing what is already around you. Local organizational emails and your professional network can all point you towards valuable resources. One of the first things I did was explore what my own institution offered. Many organizations provide access to continuing education through internal presentations or may reimburse these efforts through tuition assistance programs. These tuition assistance programs can help cover the costs associated with continuing education credits, board certifications, or even conference registration fees. Additionally, AAPP has multiple volunteer opportunities available throughout the year that should be considered for professional development.
Attending conferences, whether in-person or virtually, can be an excellent way to further provide professional development. Organizations like AAPP may provide tools, such as the Justification Toolkit, to help advocate and request financial support and/or protected time from your employer. Framing your request as a return on investment for the department, rather than a personal perk, can make a big difference. Propose a plan that minimizes workflow disruption and offer to share key takeaways with your department afterwards. When leadership sees that your development benefits the whole department, they are more likely to say yes. Staying engaged with professional development is not solely about providing individual career advancement, but more importantly, it improves the care we are able to provide to patients. We provide our best work when we are learning and growing alongside the profession.
If your organization does not have the budget to support your professional development, do not let that stop you. AAPP and other professional organizations offer grant support and scholarships to help practitioners attend conferences, conduct research, and grow within the profession. Even virtual conference attendance is a great way to get involved with peers. Time is often a big challenge. If carving out space for professional development feels impossible, consider partnering with others who share similar interests. This could be colleagues in your department/hospital network, practitioners you meet at events, or even pharmacy learners at your institution. Uninterrupted blocks of time are infrequent, so look for small windows each day/week to make consistent progress. Consistency and organization will always beat perfection.