My name is Dr. Bethany Fiskum, PharmD. I am a pharmacist. I reside in the Des Moines area with my husband, Aaron and our black lab rescue, "Puppy". I was born in Valley City, North Dakota where my two year old self faced an occurrence of events during the great blizzard of 1978 that would forever change the trajectory of my life. I was rendered profoundly deaf at the age of two from spinal meningitis. It is, without a doubt, medical intervention that altered the course of my pilgrimage. If not for medicine, I would not be alive and well today. I grew up especially fond of science and math and have always had a fascination with medicine. Pharmacy is the perfect unification of all three so it was the natural career path for me. Deep down inside, I always knew I would be a pharmacist and I had every intention of seeing that through.

Upon graduating from high school where I was mainstreamed for most of my schooling, I attended Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. to experience the deaf culture and to do my under graduate. Subconsciously, pharmacy kept gnawing at me so after my time at Gallaudet University, I found myself back in the Midwest at University of Iowa and applied to the College of Pharmacy to pursue my dream. Furthering my education was the best investment I ever made professionally. Education, in its most primitive form, can allow you to change the narrative and re-frame circumstances of your personal continuance. I would be misrepresenting if I said it was an easy journey. Granted, there were a lot of trial and tribulations and it did test my equanimity from time to time, however, that also made me even more determined to see it through. I had a sign language interpreter for most of my schooling. I did have a provisional term with a remote stenographer but I quickly found that using a sign language interpreter was my preferred method so I stuck with that for the rest of the duration. Immediately upon graduating with my doctorate in pharmacy, I did a residency and then went on to manage a couple diffeent pharmacies for several years. I am also a preceptor and have been bestowed the Preceptor of the Year award twice, once from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy in 2006-2007 and again with Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in 2010-2011. I continue to precept because students today are the future and education is a vital foundation to their success.

People and patients, for the most part, have been very receptive while interacting with me. There are some who are surprised for a split second when they find out that I am deaf. Once they realize that I am able to perform in the capacity of a pharmacist, they are more than willing to work with me. If using sign language isn't an option in the situation, which is often the case, I will either type back and forth using a computer or utilize pen and paper. If I find myself without access to a computer or paper, I will use my phone and type on there. My phone has come to my rescue countless of times while I am helping someone out in the aisles.

I do not let my deafness limit me nor do I let it define me. I define it. I'm most happy when I can push boundaries and show people that we can do anything but hear. It is up to us to use every opportunity to try and connect, to include, to empower, and to bring joy to others that they may not have known otherwise. One is only as limited as one believes or imagines oneself to be. Sadly, some people can be judgmental. They can be elitist. They can be exclusionary, often to the point of obliviousness, but that can all be modified with a little educating. It is human nature to be afraid of what one does not know. The more educating we do, the better off we all are. This brings to mind a quote by Victor Hugo that I live my life by, "What matters deafness of the ear, when the mind hears? The one true deafness, the incurable deafness, is that of the mind." This bespeaks of why education in any configuration is so important and essentially a life altering journey for those who choose to embrace it - not just in the form of schooling but in life lessons as well. It opens up our minds to the diverse beauty that surrounds us in our every day life.

There are a number of deaf pharmacists practicing today. It is very empowering to learn of success stories from others. The healthcare profession is very progressive and a great place to be.