A pharmacist caught a mistake that saved Brian’s life—and inspired him to become one

When Walgreens pharmacy manager Brian Mason was in high school, he suffered complications from open heart surgery. It wasn’t until a pharmacist discovered an error in his medication that Brian’s heart beat normally and he returned to full health.  

“That solidified my desire to be a pharmacist, knowing that there was somebody behind the scenes that you might not necessarily be talking to, that they were able to make a difference,” Mason says.  

Mason, who also comes from a family of pharmacists, currently serves the patient community of Belmont, North Carolina, and just marked his 10-year anniversary at Walgreens.  

“I am here to make an impact. That’s why I became a pharmacist,” Mason says. “It’s not necessarily about making an impact that you see right now. It’s what you’re doing to prevent something that could happen down the line. That’s what gets me through the day.”  

To learn more about Mason’s inspiring story, watch the video below. It’s the first in a series that celebrates our dedicated pharmacists and pharmacy technicians for American Pharmacists Month. We’ll be sharing more pharmacy team members’ stories throughout October.