Pharmacy Technician Spotlight: Christine Cline-Dahlman

Every pharmacy technician spotlight reveals a story that shaped how someone shows up for patients. For Christine Cline-Dahlman, BFA, CPhT-ADV, CPT ED, that story includes a moment in a critical care unit she still remembers vividly today: rushing to a heart transplant patient’s side, moving as fast as the moment demanded, and feeling firsthand what it means to serve someone at their most vulnerable.

That memory is part of what has driven Christine’s career ever since, not just as a pharmacy technician, but as an advocate for the entire profession.

A Career Built on Advocacy

Christine’s journey spans years of hands on patient care, but it has increasingly turned toward something bigger: making sure pharmacy technicians have a seat at the table where decisions about their profession get made. She has spoken directly to her state board of pharmacy, pushed for the profession’s growing recognition, and built PharmTechForward, LLC around the idea that technicians deserve real avenues for advancement, not just task lists.

Her advice for anyone who wants to advocate for this profession starts simple: collaborate first. Build relationships with the people around you, get involved in your state association, and let that groundwork open doors that an application alone often can’t.

Where the Profession Is Headed

Christine also shared her read on where the field is going. The CPhT credential is increasingly viewed as a foundational skill rather than an endpoint, with specialty certifications opening up new paths for technicians who want to grow. Recent workforce data backs up why this matters. Christine pointed to the PTCB’s 2025 workforce study, which found that over 43 percent of pharmacy technicians now have more than 10 years of experience in the field. As more technicians build long term careers, their professional development needs to grow with them, well beyond the minimum CE hours required to stay licensed.

Her closing thought sums up the philosophy driving her own career: continue learning, continue your career, and continue supporting your peers.

Watch the Full Pharmacy Technician Spotlight Interview

The video above shares the full story behind the highlights, in Christine’s own words.

Want to connect with Christine directly? Reach her at PhTForward@gmail.com or through PharmTechForward, LLC.