Bled Tanoe, PharmD

12/02/2025

I will say always… the progress in Pharmacy will never be fair. One project that enhances certain areas of pharmacy, would negatively impact another. And while it is not fair to penalize the entire profession because of this, it is also not fair to leave others behind to suffer the unwanted consequences.

Bringing clinical services within community or Clinic pharmacies which are well staffed and have a strong protocol in place will be great for our profession.

But as APhA survey even showed, 77% of Pharmacists have said that they were overwhelmed, overworked and did not feel like their environment were safe.

Now tell me how this is going to work safely for both the patients and the pharmacy staff? To Pharmacies which are so understaffed and closing left to right… are we doing more damage than good?

And again, this might work in many other settings including some community independent and chain pharmacies.

But let’s be honest, the majority of our local Walgreens and cvs are drowning and this is only going to get them deeper.

Perhaps, we can find a middle ground to make sure that our pharmacies which are ready for this can do this while we protect those are not ready yet.

11/26/2025

Update: thank you beautiful community . Your words mean so much ❤️❤️

Hi my name is Bled and I am dreading the holiday gatherings or any gatherings now that my special needs son is getting older.

Ok here I said it. When they are small, our babies are cute. Everything they do is forgiven and understood. But as they get older, the behaviors become harder to control. The cuteness slowly disappears. And you are left with keeping your eyes everywhere and holding your children closer… afraid that things will unravel.

And that’s not all. Add their health complications in the midst and the risk of exposure and your anxiety goes up the roof.

My son is growing and becoming stronger. And now, when he wants something and you fight him, he is strong enough to push back. Yes he is only 5 but you would think he is 10 because of how strong he is. Yesterday, my husband almost lost a finger because we have been struggling with an oral aversion and eating everything on site. We have no answers. We have been told that it will pass and we have to ride it. There is nothing we can do.

But in the meantime, we have to watch him all the time, and we have to make sure to disarm him if he gets a hold of something he is not supposed to have… which is everything.

Tell me how we are supposed to do this ?

We do not talk openly how hard it is for special needs family to leave their home , their sanctuary to go somewhere else and be in community. Because people don’t take into consideration, our kids sensory issues and things that can unsettle them. They are not supposed to. It is not their lives. They are not used to be in constant state of alert like we are. It is not fair to ask them.

So how do we do life as people when life has already given us so many restrictions? Do we stay home and never leave our houses? Do we steal opportunities from our neurotypical children because their siblings can’t properly function outside of our home?

How are we meant to do this when it feels so lonely and isolated ?

So yeah , so happy thanksgiving right?

Please let this sadness settle in for today. You don’t have to offer me anything. I love my son with everything in me and you can’t convince me that my life will be better off without him regardless of how you interpret this.

11/23/2025

This is one of the most excellent responses I have seen about the recent news about reclassification of the nursing profession for federal loans.

No one is denying that education has become too expensive and that perhaps the “ intention” of this is to minimize debt. However, not only it does not provide an alternative to obtain those higher levels of education. But it also pushes candidates to turn to private loans which are worst.

Furthermore, please understand that while you might not have needed 100K for your education, others might. Those who still need to support their families while obtaining their degree. Those who have restrictions on working or could not work enough to take care of themselves, their family and pay for tuition.

Your experience does not equal that of others.

11/23/2025

Apparently, the reactions to the dismissal of PA, NPs , and others as professional degrees ( for loan capping) are “ hyperbolic “ and “ exaggerated “.

Like I have said before, we have yet to see the ramifications of re- defining the journey throughout LPN, RN and beyond.

Did you realize that when there is a code in a hospital, it is not your Doctor who is first at bedside. Nope, most of them are not even in the building.

Want to guess who runs those codes and actively work to bring the patient back?

Nurses, Nurse practitioners, Physicians assistants and others.

So yes maybe you feel that the whole thing is only about capping the federal loans.

But this is about access of care. We are narrowing the paths to those degrees and thus creating a major shortage which in terms , restricts access to care.

So maybe you believe that those impacted are exaggerating about the way they feel about this.

But sit tight and wait.

PS: also, can we talk about the fact that those professions are mainly dominated by women??

Ok now.

11/22/2025

Dear Nurses, you are not healthcare professionals.

Now that I have your attention , let’s get started.

Recently , changes have been made to define what is considered an healthcare professional or not. I do not care who you voted for or did not vote for .

But what I care about the most , is understanding basic human decency and the value of people’s actions and abilities. Something we have been terribly missing in the last several years.

And yes you do not have to be defined as something to have value. Not at all.

But you have to give people the recognition they deserve.

And nurses, deserve much more than being healthcare professionals.

They are heroes.

They are healers.

They are saviors.

They are the patients family.

They are the patients friends.

They are their advocates.

And when the country was in pieces during the hard years of Covid, nurses held our healthcare system together.

If we can’t recognize that, then we do not deserve them.

And yes , not every nurse cares. I know. Just like not every pharmacist cares. There are bad apples everywhere. And I had my shares of run with nurses who are absolutely disrespectful, unprofessional and so much more.

But as a pharmacist and a patient family myself, I have worked alongside of many amazing nurses who have saved countless lives including my son’s.

To strip them of the title of professional, is not just dangerous. But it is also set a very dangerous precedent.

Because what makes us believe that Pharmacists won’t be next?

PS: as a rule, if you can’t pronounce acetaminophen, you do not get to decide what qualifies as a healthcare profession.

Also, since we are playing hide and seek with the implications of this and the logistics of the wording and because this is about capping loans, and people should not feel a certain way about it, I added the link to the definition of an healthcare professional. Also, understand that many states and federal rules which include nursing as a profession, will need to be also amended. If we do not capture the near and far implications of this, then that’s an issue.

Health professionals maintain health in humans through the application of the principles and procedures of evidence-based medicine and caring. Health professionals study, diagnose, treat and prevent human illness, injury and other physical and mental impairments in accordance with the needs of the p...

11/21/2025

I love that Todd Eury is constantly celebrating Pharmacy. So amazing leaders in our profession. But rooting for Lannie Duong, PharmD and Dr. Maurice Shaw . Rxcomedy

11/14/2025

I want every Pharmacist, Technician and Student to understand that they are powerful and brave . Every single one of you. Yes you can be scared and still be brave. And I celebrate the public bravery of those professionals to speak up on behalf of their fellow Pharmacy professionals and their patients. ❤️❤️❤️

11/12/2025

Yall we made it.

Man… that was rough and the drama was dramating. Lol.

Someone once told me that if I made about the people and NOT about myself , the people would show up for me when needed. They told me if you established yourself authentically , it would show when your character is in question.

I knew it was never going to be easy to enter the public scene and to do advocacy the way I was doing without having some opposition at every turn. I knew that there were going to be hardships and challenges coming professionally and personally . I knew that I was going to make mistakes and I would have to learn to admit them either publicly or privately . I knew I was going to learn to be schooled and to take wisdom and teaching in order to grow. I knew that not everyone would like me…not every Pharmacist or Technician or Student and even association would support me.

I was prepared for a lot of things except this:

You.
I was not prepared for you to hold me when I felt like things around me were falling apart.

I was not prepared for you to defend me.

I was not prepared for you to love me and support me.

I was not prepared for you to even accept me.

I was not prepared for you.

And yesterday, like every time I have found myself in situations like this, you came for me and you stood up for me.

You have made every sacrifice I have made up to this point absolutely worthy.

Every fight, every time put… every trip away from my family …every decision to stand up to the giants… every decision to even commit professional su***de … you have made it worthy.

A movement not for me.

A movement for you.

Because you are loved more than you know.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

11/11/2025

I always wonder what it feels like to sit behind a keyboard and type things like this. I wonder about the power and rush and excitement, one must feel to become so undeniablly bold and makes those types of comments , especially about something that has been so public for the last 4 years and although has not been as successful as many power advocating groups, has done something for our profession with little power it had. Something that has consistently asked for help to make its efforts better. Something that has repeatedly said that it was not perfect and would never be perfect .

Something that has been unapologetically about the mental well being of Pharmacists, Technicians and Students across our profession.

And something that has also spoken against PBMs and their practices.

Something that has tried to put our community Chain Pharmacists , Technicians and Students, at the front fond of advocacy because they are so often forgotten.

And this thing, has been criticized, insulted, judged and etc and none of that is particularly bad because you need some good checks and balances.

But those comments like the one about a year ago that called me a “ terrorist “, and this… those comments are not about check and balances.

There are about small and inconsequential people , who believe that they are better than me because of what… I don’t know.

And maybe they are . Maybe they are correct and no, there is no need to rush to prove them wrong. This is not a need for validation.

But if we are being honest, I am sad. I am sad that in Pharmacy, we do this. I am sad that instead of kindly educating people and even guiding people , we do this.

Listen, you don’t have to like what I do or used to do as truly, I am on a much needed sabbatical. You can dislike me. You can hate. You can do all of that. I will take it.

But for goodness sake, do not minimize the hurt and turmoil of what many ( not all) of our Pharmacists, Technicians and Students are facing within our major community Chain pharmacies , especially when we have individuals literally taking their lives or suffering of mental and physical illnesses because of those conditions.

You do not have to like me. You don’t have to respect me.

But you can try to at least step into the pain of others.

And if you do not see the purpose in fighting for those, then you are a sad human being overall and I feel deeply sorry for you.

11/11/2025

I don’t joke about racism and bias and misogyny. But the amount of white men who have literally insulted , criticized and harassed , disrespected and demeaned me since has been truly astounding.

For anyone who has followed me since the beginning, you have known me as someone who has lived by a code of integrity, humility and honor and who has never hesitated to say when she is wrong and to apologize. I am not above reproach.

But one thing I would absolutely Not apologize or diminish myself for, is the truth that , will remain one of the most important, powerful and beautiful Pharmacy grassroots movements in our pharmacy history and it was led by this woman of African descent and if that scares your tiny manhood and your caucasianism ( yes I made that word😂😂), then it sounds like a personal problem to you.

Until then, I will keep using my voice to advocate and support for our Pharmacists, Technicians and Students across the profession and especially those from the community setting. And you can remain there either your tiny manhood.

11/11/2025

I know it comes with the territory. You say something on the internet and you should expect things . So I expect this. Someone to try their bravery over me. I am still confused about the nature of the message.

And also, because I am nothing but gracious, I took out their name.
But try this again one more time and you will not be afforded the same courtesy.

I have attached my answer below because while I might be professional, I am also petty as hell and I need to be.

“ If you are going to come into my inbox and talk about things , you should probably familiarize yourself with what I do and my pharmacy advocacy. So allow me to re-introduce myself to you since you seem to be lost. My name is Dr. Bled Tanoe and I am a pharmacist apparently like you and I actually remember you from OU. I started my social media campaign ( you should Google it… it is really popular) to advocate for better working conditions for pharmacists and technicians and pharmacy students in the community chain Pharmacies. I advocate for their mental and emotional and physical wellbeing which also impacts patients safety. I have also advocated for PBMs reforms as well. I used to be a community pharmacist but now I work inpatient and while it does not make me an expect in everything community pharmacy, I had my shares. My social media campaign has been instrumental in enacting many regulations across the nation in terms of workplace conditions including changes in regulations to allow protection of pharmacy professionals who speak against workplace conditions .

Please find my work in places like NYT, USA Today, CBS News, PBS, pharmacy podcast, Pharmacy Times, WSJ and others.

And no, I am not bragging . It is fact.

Now, you are fully acquainted with who I am.

Ask me a question or make a comment that is relevant to me and we can discuss.”

11/08/2025

Do not underestimate your community Pharmacist:

In Pharmacy school, we create this divisive culture among students: residency vs non residency. We provide more support, more opportunities for development and more networking for those who choose to pursue residency. And the killer of it all, we tell our students that those are going to residency have more clinical skills than those who do not. They are “ better”.

Now I am well aware post graduate training and such are imperative in certain domains and yet in some sense, residency trained pharmacists do acquire additional clinical knowledge.

But it does not mean that those in community pharmacists are not able to transition out of the current setting . Nor does it mean that they don’t have at least the standard clinical knowledge if not at time, more than others. Community pharmacists do not choose this path because they want to do the bare minimum.

And it is proven more than often that, many Pharmacists who transition out of community into clinic positions or hospital, do in fact succeed and adapt.

We need to allow our profession to move through spaces without putting barriers.
Yes, again some specialities do require those additional training and we need to acknowledge the work that has been put it.

But there should not be an hierarchy .

Pharmacists are capable to do so much more if they are given the right opportunity and the chances.

Don’t snub a community pharmacist of an opportunity that can transform our practice system.