Maxwell Norris

"No one individual moment stands out that defines how I feel about my work. Instead, what sticks with me the most is the sense of gratitude and hope I feel as I work with our transplant patients through their ups and downs. It's incredible and humbling to watch the transformation from when I first meet them at their sickest, their hearts failing, to seeing them go on to live full lives after transplant.

I've been the Heart Transplant Clinical Pharmacy Specialist with the Penn Transplant Institute for two years - though I've been around Penn for a while. After completing my Doctorate degree in Pharmacy, I had the opportunity to complete a two-year residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in a specialized program focused on transplant pharmacy.

One of the most important parts of my role is to coach and teach patients how to take, manage and refill their medications. Patients are often surprised — and always really excited — to learn they have a full-time pharmacist working on their transplant team to help navigate medications. Many are faced with 30 or more new medications when they are transplanted, it's very daunting. Helping them develop medication-taking skills and routines are crucial to transplant success and prolonging the amount of time a person gets to spend with their new heart.

Each patient has unique requirements based on their medical needs so there is no 'one size fits all' plan. It's never boring, always a challenge and makes my job exciting every single day.

I'm with patients for their entire journey — from pre-transplant to transplant, and then lifelong after their transplant. Seeing what they go through, the struggles they overcome and the strength they have, it's an honor to be part of their care. I'm so grateful to be part of this process and team."