Cory Jenks, PharmD is on the show today to talk about his book, Permission to Care: Building a Healthcare Culture That Thrives in Chaos. This is episode 10 of 15 in my Pharmacist Authors Summer Series.
Bio
Cory Jenks earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of South Carolina in 2011. Since then, he has practiced as a retail pharmacist, outpatient clinical pharmacist, and inpatient clinical pharmacist. He currently is a practicing clinical pharmacist—and improv comedian. Cory travels the country teaching healthcare professionals how to apply the valuable skills of improv comedy to create a more adaptable, empathetic, and humanizing healthcare experience for both patients and providers. Cory lives in Tucson, Arizona, with his wife, Cassie, their three children, and ten chickens.
Cory was also my guest on episode 89 of this podcast.
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Information about the book from amazon.com
Are you tired of feeling like you aren’t permitted to connect with your patients?
Can you envision creating a less sterile healthcare experience?
Pharmacist Cory Jenks had all the elements to make a competent healthcare professional. Good looks, academic accolades, multiple board certifications, and a competitive residency. However, none of these items prepared him for truly caring for his patients in a chaotic healthcare environment, and he was struggling. After implementing lessons he learned as an improv comedian, Cory’s perspective began to shift.
In these pages, Cory takes you through the comical and powerful tools needed to create a memorable, humanizing experience for your patients and colleagues. You’ll learn how to
· Prepare for the unpredictability of healthcare.
· Find more joy in your day-to-day work.
· Express your personality while connecting with your patients.
In whatever capacity you support patients and their families, this book will help you become a dynamic, adaptable, and empathetic caregiver.
Highlights from the interview
In the book, Cory explains how he applies his experiences as an improv comedian to the healthcare setting. Readers are encouraged to be good listeners and add, “Yes, and…” to their professional tool belt.
When Cory applied his improvisation skills to his pharmacist job, he found his job more enjoyable. Conversations with patients flowed more smoothly, and Cory’s patients felt seen, heard, and understood. Through his book, Cory wants to help other healthcare professionals use improv skills so that they enjoy their work more and build relationships with patients.
There are some laugh-out-loud moments in the book, but it’s more than entertainment. There are lessons to be learned, and you should read it with a pen. Take notes!
The audience for Permission to Care is frontline health care workers: doctors, physicians, physician’s assistants, nurses, nurse assistants, medical assistants, and anyone interacting with patients in the healthcare system.
Using improv in healthcare is like building muscle. At first, you’re inexperienced. Improv feels abstract, and your impact is weak. The more you exercise your improv muscles, the more impact you can make.
Letting go of control is important. Saying, “Yes” to something your patient says can feel counterintuitive. However, finding a way to, “Yes, and” builds relationships.
During our interview, Cory read a sample from Chapter 5. He would like to publish the audiobook version of Permission to Care in 2023.
Read the book; be a good listener; and say, “Yes, and…” to your patients and other things that come your way.
Help the author out! When you read the book, please review it on amazon.com. If you feel inspired to share your thoughts with Cory privately, please do so through his website, https://coryjenks.com.
Cory is available as a public speaker. If you know of a conference that Cory should speak at, please nominate him as a speaker. When he speaks at your event, you will laugh and learn.
I hope Cory has inspires you to use the principals of improv comedy in healthcare. And, if you’re interested in writing a book, I hope Cory has inspires you to write about something you’re passionate about too.
Cory is a great example of someone who brings something beneficial from outside the world of pharmacy into the world of pharmacy. What is something you can bring into the world of pharmacy from your background?
Links from this episode
Permission to Care: Building a Healthcare Culture That Thrives in Chaos by Cory Jenks, PharmD
Cory’s Website https://coryjenks.com
The Pharmacist’s Voice ® Podcast Episode 143 (OPA Annual Conf 2022 – Cory is mentioned)
The Pharmacist’s Voice ® Podcast Episode 89 featuring Cory Jenks, PharmD
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✅A Behind-the-scenes look at The Pharmacist’s Voice ® Podcast © Online Course https://www.kimnewlove.com
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Dates, authors, and book titles in the Pharmacist Authors Series
(Part 1 of 15) June 5, Introduction to the Pharmacist Authors Series (Episode 220)
(Part 2 of 15) June 9, The Pharmacist’s Voice ® Podcast Episode 221: Interview with Salam Kabbani, PharmD about her book: COVID Long-Hauler: My Life Since COVID
(Part 3 of 15) June 12, The Pharmacist’s Voice ® Podcast Episode 222: Interview with audio engineer Julie Walthers from Whole Story Studio: https://www.wholestorystudio.com/
(Part 4 of 15) June 16, The Pharmacist’s Voice ® Podcast Episode 223 Interview with Erin L. Albert, PharmD on her book The Life Science Lawyer
Part 5 of 15) June 19, The Pharmacist’s Voice ® Podcast Episode 224 Interview with Sue Ojageer, PharmD on her children’s book The Pharma Heroes: The Power of Precision Medicine
(Part 6 of 15) June 23, The Pharmacist’s Voice ® Podcast Episode 225: Interview with Tony Guerra, PharmD about his Pharmacist Residency and Career Series (8 books)
(Part 7 of 15) June 26, The Pharmacist’s Voice ® Podcast Episode 226: Interview with Christina Fontana, PharmD about her book Moving Beyond the Counter: Elevating into Heart-Centered Health Care through Entrepreneurship
(Part 8 of 15) June 30, The Pharmacist’s Voice ® Podcast Episode 227: Interview with Jade L. Ranger, PharmD, about her book Mustard Seed Mentality: Unscripted Pearls of Wisdom from a Wife, Mother, and Entrepreneur
(Part 9 of 15) July 7, The Pharmacist’s Voice ® Podcast Episode 229: Interview with RDML Pam Schweitzer, PharmD and her daughter Amy Graves about their children’s book Alice and Jack Hike the Grand Canyon
(Part 10 of 15) July 10, Interview with Cory Jenks, PharmD about his book Permission to Care: Building a Healthcare Culture That Thrives in Chaos
(Part 11 of 15) July 14, Interview with Donna Bartlett, PharmD about her book MedStrong: Shed Your Meds for a Better, Healthier You
(Part 12 of 15) July 17, Interview with Frieda Wiley, PharmD about her book Telecommuting Psychosis: From Surviving to Thriving While Working in Your Pajama Pants. Plus, we touch on her 3 children’s books in development.
(Part 13 of 15) July 21, Interview with Tim Ulbrich, PharmD about his book Seven Figure Pharmacist: How to Maximize Your Income, Eliminate Debt, and Create Wealth
(Part 14 of 15) July 24, Interview with LaQuoia Johnson, PharmD about her book How Rxacism Manifests Inside the Small World of Pharmacy
(Part 15 of 15) July 28, Pharmacist Authors Series wrap-up (solo show)
Thank you for listening to episode 230 of The Pharmacist’s Voice ® Podcast! If you know someone who would like this episode, please share it with them!