Grow in a collaborative environment as part of Northwell’s Vivo Pharmacy team.

At Northwell Health, our team members know a career in pharmacy means having the support to grow and make an impact on the health and wellbeing of our communities. Northwell’s Vivo Health Pharmacy provides specialized pharmacy services for our patients, and our Vivo pharmacy team members, like Talha, Tara and Sophia, share what makes their pharmacy career meaningful at Northwell Health.

Talha Akhtar, PharmD, CSP, Supervisor, Mail Order Pharmacy

Talha was always attracted to the values, commitments and educational support Northwell offers. Spending 15 years in the retail pharmacy industry, he had colleagues and peers that worked for Northwell who told him about how wonderful the environment was – so he knew he wanted to see it for himself. After joining Northwell in 2020 as a staff pharmacist with Vivo Health Pharmacy, Talha quickly recognized that this was a place he could grow his Truly Ambitious career.

Talha was promoted to supervising pharmacist at Vivo Mail Order in 2022 and now holds a pharmacist license in 20 states, so he can give approval for the pharmacy to get licensed and ship medications to multiple states. He is currently pursuing an MBA in Strategic Healthcare Management at Hofstra University and is benefitting from Northwell’s tuition assistance program. “There is something different about working here,” he shared. “Leadership truly cares and wants to make a positive impact on the business and on the frontline team.”

Tara Hutter-Irving, Pharmacy Manager

As a pharmacy manager at Vivo Health Pharmacy, Tara oversees the operations and staff at four of our outpatient Vivo Health Pharmacy locations inside our hospitals. In addition to managing resources needed by the pharmacy department teams to operate efficiently, the most important part of Tara’s job is providing leadership to the team and communicating strategies to achieve department goals.

Tara was always interested in a career at Northwell because of its continuity of care across all specialties — coming together with the common goal of providing the best experience for the patients. “Our providers are one team with the same focused goal — patient care,” shares Tara.  “I love that pharmacy is an important part of the whole healthcare team at Northwell. From admission to discharge, we all work together to make decisions and provide the best care.”

Tara was especially drawn to Northwell because she knew it would give her the opportunity to work in a collaborative environment with supportive leadership. “Northwell makes it possible to continue to learn and grow professionally and personally. There is a lot of support from colleagues and leaders, and I am proud of the team that we’ve built.”

Sophia Brutus, Pharmacy Supervisor

Sophia saw the positive impact Northwell has on people’s health and wanted to be part of a team that provides essential healthcare services.

“Becoming a pharmacist at Northwell has opened doors to more diverse career opportunities in both clinical and administrative roles within the healthcare field. It has allowed me to contribute to patient care and make a meaningful difference in our community.”

As a pharmacy supervisor, the most crucial aspect of Sophia’s role is patient safety, which includes counseling patients on proper medication use and maintaining a well-organized and compliant pharmacy. She enjoys the opportunity of leading a team, playing a pivotal role in patient care and engaging with a larger network, which keeps her constantly learning.

“Northwell has supported my professional development through training, mentorship and access to resources. I always feel supported because Northwell prioritizes employee growth and ensures we have the tools needed to excel in our roles.”

Interested in a career in retail pharmacy at Northwell Health? Explore a career with us today.