Amplifying Technicians: Mohammad Al Numan, BS, MS

In episode 6 of Amplifying Technicians, host Taylor Watterson, PharmD, PhD, assistant professor at the University of Illinois Chicago Retzky College of Pharmacy, welcomes Mohammad Al Numan, BS, MS, a 2025-27 University of Illinois Chicago/Takeda Fellow in Health Economics and Outcomes Research.

Detailing his unique journey as a pharmacist in both the US and Jordan, Watterson and Al Numan explored the stark differences in how each country values pharmacy education, technicians, and what it means to drive the profession forward.

“Unfortunately, like many other large [pharmacy] chains that [were] led to strong crisis management, the company went bankrupt,” said Al Numan. “That experience pushed me to rethink about my path and I decided to move here, to the United States.”

Al Numan also discusses his experience working as a lead pharmacy technician at CVS while pursuing his US licensure. He provides a candid look at the logistical and emotional challenges of pharmacy closures, comparing the pharmacy deserts in Jordan with the staffing burnout and patient surges he has witnessed in Pittsburgh.

Shining a light on the unique perspectives shared by pharmacists from all countries, Al Numan helped contextualize both the challenges and opportunities arising every day, not just in the US, but for all pharmacy employees around the globe.

Be sure to tune in each month on Drug Topics for conversations that highlight the impact of pharmacy technicians and the many ways they are advancing the profession. All episodes of Amplifying Technicians will be available in video format via DrugTopics.com on the last Tuesday of each month. Check out our previous episode with Julissa Gomez, an emerging pharmacy professional and pharmacy intern at CVS Pharmacy.

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