Emily Smith, PharmD, Pharmacy Clinical Operations Supervisor
Emily Smith’s path into pharmacy started early. By age 12, she became the youngest licensed pharmacy technician in Maine, working in her family’s pharmacy and building a foundation that has shaped her entire career.
“Patients are my why,” she said.
For Emily, that means looking beyond medications and focusing on what it takes for someone to truly stay well.
“It’s not just about getting better here,” she said. “It’s about being able to stay better at home.”
In her role at St. Mary’s, Emily focuses on formulary management, interdisciplinary care and transitions of care. To better understand what patients face after discharge, she continues to work one day each week in a local retail pharmacy setting, giving her insight into insurance coverage, prior authorizations and access to medications in the real world.
“If we don’t understand what’s happening on the outside, we can’t make the best decisions on the inside,” she said.
But her why extends beyond clinical care. Emily is drawn to the ways St. Mary’s supports patients as people, not just diagnoses. Whether it is access to clothing, food or other basic needs, she sees those resources as essential to helping patients stay healthy.
“You can’t expect someone to get better if they don’t have what they need at home,” she said. “Those pieces matter just as much.”
That mindset shapes how she approaches her work each day. It is not about adding more medications. It is about making thoughtful decisions that support the whole person and help prevent patients from returning with the same challenges.
“We have to look at the full picture,” she said. “Otherwise, we’re just putting a temporary fix on something that will come right back.”
Emily joined St. Mary’s in May 2025, drawn to the opportunity to bring clinical care, real-world insight and a strong sense of community together in one role.
“At the end of the day, it’s about helping people stay healthy in a way that works for their lives,” she said.
