On 8 November this year, the annual congress of the Pharmacists Society of Latvia (LFB) held a ceremony to present the LFB awards and congratulate the winners. Among the winners of the prestigious Pharmacist of the Year 2025 award is BENU Aptieka pharmacist and pharmacy manager Alise Galeja, who has 10 years of experience working in the field of pharmacy and has participated in countless pharmacy activities. This year, the award was presented to 10 pharmacists.
Inspiration and enthusiasm for work
Recognition in the professional field inspires, motivates, and moves you, admits pharmacist Alise Galeja: “When I found out that I’d received this award, I was pleasantly surprised, moved, and, I won’t deny it, I also felt tears of joy. It is a real honour for me to be one of the recipients of this award. This award confirms that what I do is valuable. It gives me encouragement and strength to continue working with even greater enthusiasm.”
Alise Galeja has extensive experience working in the pharmacy field. “On 1 December this year, it will be exactly 10 years since I started working in a pharmacy,” says the pharmacist. “I have spent all these 10 years at BENU Aptieka. I started as a student, stocking shelves and learning about medications, then continued as a pharmacist, and now I have been working as a pharmacy manager for a year and a half.”
Conversation and support
When talking about the profession of a pharmacist, Alise admits that what she likes most about it is working with people. It is through communication that pharmacists find the answers they need to help people, Alise explains: “In my opinion, the most important thing in a pharmacy is having a conversation with the customer, during which we learn a lot of necessary information in order to offer the best treatment. Often, people come just to talk, and this is also very important – both for prevention and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, as well as for knowledge about the correct use of medications and dietary supplements, and for emotional support. I get the greatest satisfaction when a person I have previously consulted comes back and thanks me because the recommended therapy has helped.”
Learning that never stops
The profession of a pharmacist involves lifelong learning and exploration. It is an opportunity for continuous improvement. As the pharmacist, Alise Galeja, explains: “It’s always interesting to order and receive a new medication, because it’s something new – when new medications come out, we learn new things.”
Knowledge and its improvement are the basis of a pharmacist’s work, because everything is constantly changing and developing, says Alise Galeja. New medicines and therapies are being invented, and pharmacists definitely need to know all about them and keep up to date with innovations. Accuracy, good communication skills, a willingness to help, empathy, emotional resilience, and a high sense of responsibility are also very important in the work of a pharmacist.
What motivates someone to study pharmacy?
Looking back on her choice of the pharmacist profession, Alise recalls: “I have to thank the poster from a drug manufacturer in the chemistry classroom, which made me think that it would be great to invent a cure for all diseases. This led to discussions with my mother about how this was a recognised profession with stable work. Also, in my small-town pharmacy, which we used to visit, there were always helpful, competent pharmacists. It seemed fascinating that they knew about every medication in the pharmacy, because there were so many!” This feeling stayed with Alise throughout high school, and as a result, she only applied to pharmacy programmes. “It was absolutely clear to me that I wanted to study pharmacy and work in a pharmacy,” admits the pharmacist.
For those who are currently considering studying pharmacy, Alise wishes: “If you want to contribute to public health, I wish you all the curiosity and confidence you need to make your choice! I wish for you to find your rightful place in the field of pharmacy, where you can realise your full potential and ideas. Do not stop at difficulties, but look for the positives in them, which can result in greater growth!”
We are proud to congratulate BENU Aptieka pharmacist, Alise Galeja, on receiving the LFB Pharmacist of the Year 2025 award and wish her luck, lots of energy, and endless interest in the future!
