Clinical VA Pharmacist & Tutor for Future Pharmacy Technicians

Dasha C.

I’m a clinical pharmacist and educator who loves helping students move from feeling overwhelmed to feeling confident and in control. Before pharmacy school, I spent about ten years working as a pharmacy technician in multiple real-world settings—large retail chains like Walmart, CVS, and Target, outpatient clinics such as Baylor Scott & White, and a mail order pharmacy. That experience gave me a deep, practical understanding of what techs really do every day: managing workflow, handling prescriptions, communicating with patients, and supporting a busy pharmacy team. I later earned my Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from Texas A&M Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy and now practice as an outpatient clinical pharmacist with the VA in North Texas, where I work closely with technicians and see exactly what makes someone successful on the job and on the PTCE.

I’ve taught and mentored pharmacy techs, pharmacy students, and adult learners in many settings, from health education workshops to one-on-one and small-group exam prep. My teaching style is patient, encouraging, and very organized. I break down complex topics—like calculations, federal requirements, and top medications—into clear, step-by-step explanations using real scenarios from retail, clinic, and mail order practice so the content feels practical, not abstract. When we work together, we’ll start with a relaxed assessment of your goals, test date, and confidence level, then build a customized plan that may include pharmacy calculations, medical terminology and SIGs, top 200 medications, federal requirements, patient safety, and order entry and processing based on the PTCB content outline. I use practice questions, visual explanations, repetition, and test-taking strategies to build both accuracy and confidence so you feel prepared, calm, and truly job-ready—not just memorizing for a test.