Darius Rey Dignos and Ela Keziah Sanchez are a husband-and-wife duo who work as Inpatient Pharmacy Technicians at Cleveland Clinic’s Main Campus. Motivated by the chance to grow professionally and be closer to family, they moved from Tampa, Fla. to Parma Heights, OH in September 2023 after being accepted into Cleveland Clinic’s 18-week Pharmacy Apprenticeship Program. Darius’ sister, an IV Pharmacy Technician at Fairview Hospital, played a key role in guiding them toward the apprenticeships, sharing insights and introducing them to Human Resources.

The pair was thrilled to begin their journey and seek new opportunities that aligned with their potential. Darius was working at a Publix grocery store, while Ela had a job in customer service at the Department of Motor Vehicles. Ela shares, “We didn’t have any pharmacy experience, but the apprenticeship accepts people with no experience. The program really prepared us for the job.”

Apprenticeships Can Lead to Meaningful Careers

Cleveland Clinic currently offers five apprenticeship programs, including Electroencephalogram, Ophthalmic, Pharmacy Technician, Polysomnographic Technician and Sterile Processing Tech. These programs are held at different times throughout the year and are a launching pad to a rewarding career in the healthcare field. Candidates earn as they learn, get full healthcare benefits, receive guidance and support from knowledgeable professionals, and are ready to apply their skills toward their professions’ designated certification exam once they complete the program.

Over the 18-week course, Ela and Darius participated in hands-on training, shadowing different areas to gain a broad understanding of pharmacy operations. That’s when the two realized just how much went on behind the scenes. “We didn’t know what pharmacy techs did. When we went into a pharmacy, we thought it was just about getting your meds,” Ela says. “But there’s so much that goes into it.”

A Mix That Keeps Things Moving

Pharmacy techs’ duties are important, and vary, depending on which department they’ve been scheduled for. It’s crucial for them to ensure the patients receive their medications safely and accurately. “We’re both trained in the IV rooms in central Main Campus pharmacy as well as the Heart and Vascular Institute pharmacy. So, some days we compound IVs (create custom medications for chemo patients), and other days we answer triage texts from nurses and patients and deliver meds. If we’re assigned to central pharmacy, we work with a rotating carousel and pull hundreds of labeled medications each day. In that case, we’re moving non-stop and bagging meds,” Ela says.

Caring for Her Caregivers

Now, as official caregivers on the team, Darius and Ela work alternating shifts to accommodate their four-year-old daughter’s needs. “Our manager is very supportive,” says Darius. “She’s always willing to work with us on our schedule. We can talk to her any time. And she always checks in to see how our days and our jobs are going.”

Their Hospital Highlights

When it comes to sharing what they like most about their job, Ela points to how quickly the day goes when she’s busy. “Yes, the days do fly by,” she says. Darius, the more introverted of the two, mentions the opportunity to work behind the scenes. “I do prefer working in the background, as opposed to when I had to interact with customers at my old job.”

There for Each Other

Ela and Darius both call out the level of teamwork and communication that takes place during their shifts. “No matter what we’re doing, we all help each other out. If the carousel goes down, people jump right in to help, even if it’s not their job,” Darius says.

A Future of Possibility

While Ela and Darius are delivering meds on different floors, they often ask their fellow caregivers what it is that they love about their roles. They’re both willing to consider giving something else a try in the future. “You know, we’re curious about what the future may hold, but we really do like the jobs we have,” Ela says.

Their manager also supports their future growth and encourages them to keep an open mind. “She’s even asked us if we want to be cross trained in different departments. All we have to do is let her know,” says Ela.

The Pluses of our Apprenticeships

With rewarding careers and many options for the future, Ela and Darius only have good things to say about the Apprenticeship Programs. “I would really encourage anyone to join because they’ll get the chance to study – and Cleveland Clinic pays,” Darius says. Ela adds, “I would say, ‘Don’t think twice about joining one because it will really prepare you. You’ll get to shadow different areas and get on-the-job training for 18 weeks. It’s a really great opportunity because you’ll learn a lot of things.’”