Rite Aid’s Afilaka goes ‘above and beyond’

Femi Afilaka

For Rite Aid’s pharmacist Femi Afilaka, pharmacy is about “going above and beyond.”



“It is a personal habit of mine to sometimes reach out [to my patients] when either I haven’t seen a patient of mine for a long time or when they are not able to actually drive to the pharmacy,” Afilaka told Drug Store News. Afilaka will go out of his way to ensure his customer’s receive their medications when needed. “That ties into going above and beyond,” he said. “Not necessarily just staying within your job description, but stepping outside of the box and doing things that you know will help out your customers.”

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Afilaka is a pharmacist in a Newark, Del.-based Rite Aid store and has been with the company since March 2003. In that time he has developed a reputation for his devotion to patient care, for delivering that extra touch of customer service and for truly embracing the “fast and friendly” company initiative. And that solid work ethic also helps him lead by example as a pharmacist trainer for his district.



“When it comes to our associates and the people that I personally train, it is one of our core values to provide an environment that inspires and motivates the best people to work for us, at our stores,” he said. “They have to always possess a positive attitude ... a positive attitude on a day-to-day basis will help them on their journey.“



His best advice for up-and-coming pharmacists? Look for challenging assignments. “You need to be able to challenge yourself and take responsibility for self-development,” he said. “Rite Aid already provides us with an environment that brings the best out of us as employees,” he added, but it’s up to each individual pharmacist to determine how to go “above and beyond.”



Afilaka is a certified CPR trainer, important because in order to be certified as an immunizing pharmacist, each pharmacist must be trained in how to administer CPR. “Throughout my career I’ve learned to take risks and be zealous. It’s hard for me to say no because I love to take on challenges,” he said. “I accept challenges because it helps me grow as a pharmacist and an individual.”