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Student Profile: Sarah Jane Brandes

Sarah Jane Brandes knew early on that she wanted to work in health care. "My mom is a nurse, and I've always been interested in science," says Sarah Jane.

By high school she had decided to become a pharmacist, and she wanted to earn her degree quickly. She enrolled in University of the Pacific's (UOP) Pre-Pharmacy Advantage program in which undergraduate freshmen are admitted directly into UOP's School of Pharmacy. After two years, she had successfully completed all pre-pharmacy requirements and matriculated into the doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) program. She expects to graduate with her doctoral degree in a total of just five years.

It was the same eager attitude that led Sarah Jane to become involved in the Partners in D program, counseling seniors about their Medicare Part D options.

"My professor said he was looking for people who were interested in helping the elderly and underserved," says Sarah Jane. "I thought it would be a great opportunity to learn more about Medicare Part D and boost my knowledge. A lot of patients don't truly understand this prescription drug insurance program, so I felt that I should understand it myself so I could help them."

Sarah Jane learned that seniors often need help evaluating and selecting the right Medicare Part D plan. Of the dozens of plans from which seniors can choose, each has different coverage, premiums, deductibles, and co-payments.

"A lot of people just sign up for a plan that their friend said was good," she says.

But the right plan for one person can just as easily be the wrong plan for another person. One way Partners in D can help seniors is by helping to keep them out of the so-called "donut hole." The donut hole is a gap in the program's insurance coverage. In 2008, that gap occurs when an individual's prescription drug costs have exceeded $2,510 for the year but not yet totaled $5,726. During that gap, seniors must pay for everything on their own.

At one of the Partners in D community outreach events where Sarah and her fellow students provided Medicare Part D counseling, one senior was able to save more than $1,000 per year just by switching plans.

"We worked at several 'brown bag' events where the patients bring in their whole bag of drugs. We help them utilize an online plan finder tool, created by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to help them select the best Part D plan for their medical and financial situations," says Sarah Jane. "I had the opportunity to work with one lady who was just overwhelmed with gratitude. Her husband was reaching the gap every year and they really couldn't afford it. We successfully switched him into a lower cost plan. She said, 'I'm going to tell everyone I know that pharmacists are just top-notch.'"

Sarah Jane understands that because pharmacists are on the front lines of health care, they can serve as a bridge between patients and the healthcare system. "We are the number one most accessible health care professional. On any corner you can find a pharmacist," she explains.

One of her professors, Rajul Patel, PharmD, PhD, credits Sarah Jane's success to her unique ability to connect with patients. "Sarah Jane can interact with any individual at any level – even when she's conveying complex information about Medicare Part D," he says. "She listens closely to people and then tries to meet the needs of the individuals she's helping."

Sarah Jane has not yet decided exactly where she will use her PharmD degree when she graduates in 2009, but she is confident that when she does, she will be able to use the lessons she has learned from Partners in D to help her patients.