By Erin Ballentine, PharmD, MBA, MS, BCPS
“Way to go girl! That’s awesome! Celebrating with you!” These were the words of the last text message I received from Caleb Hoover, a 27-year-old NICU pharmacist, who tragically left this world too soon on April 29, 2024.
Caleb (pictured in the far left of photo; I am third from left) was a natural leader. When Caleb spoke, people listened. Caleb was bold, borderline offensive at times. He was not afraid to contradict you, and he held to his convictions strongly. However, it was this very boldness and confidence that gave his words such weight. If Caleb made a statement, you knew that he believed that with all his heart—and good luck refuting it. Caleb embodied what it means to be unapologetic.
The advice mattered because it came from Caleb
When I was a final-year PharmD candidate, Caleb and I had the opportunity to share an APPE block. It was September, only a few months away from the busy residency application cycle, and I was considering a combined PGY1/PGY2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership residency. I was intimidated by this career path, unsure if the leadership roles that I had held in my small school of pharmacy would prepare me to compete against stronger candidates from large, well-known organizations.
One day, as I rambled on about my uncertainty, Caleb stopped me and said, “What are you doing? You are one of the most amazing leaders I know.” He proceeded to speak to specific examples when he had seen my leadership on display and provided a detailed explanation of why I should apply. I did, and I am grateful to have spent the last two years at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, completing residency and accepting a position with their pharmacy leadership team.
For dramatic effect, I could claim that this one conversation was pivotal in altering the trajectory of my career. However, it wasn’t just the encouragement itself that made a significant impact— it was the person who offered it. I knew from past experiences that Caleb used his words intentionally, authentically, and thoughtfully. He didn’t make claims without careful consideration, and he only voiced his beliefs when he felt passionately about the outcome.
Team first mentality
The unapologetic leader holds a significant amount of power in their words because of the nature by which they choose to intentionally and specifically wield them. Unapologetic leaders do not develop this power simply by encouraging and inspiring others, but also through how they boldly stand by their convictions and advocate for their people during difficult situations. At times, they may be the only one in the room with a specific opinion, but they don’t allow the comfortability of blending in deter them from speaking up for what they believe. In the words of Aristotle, “to lead an orchestra, you must turn your back on the crowd.”
Unapologetic leaders are willing to turn away from the majority to focus on the path they believe is in the best interest of their team. These leaders use their convictions as a tool to guide organizations into uncharted territory which may just provide the greatest breakthroughs. And while unapologetic leaders may be the first one standing to be different, they rarely end up standing alone.
Erin Ballentine, PharmD, MBA, MS, BCPS, is an inpatient operations manager at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD, and the 2024–2025 vice-chair of the APhA New Practitioner Advisory Committee. She is passionate about enhancing patient care through optimizing daily operations within the pharmacy and by serving the pharmacists, technicians, and residents that are a part of her pharmacy team. In her spare time, Erin enjoys running, trying all the seafood cuisine Baltimore has to offer, and cheering for her favorite sports teams, namely the Steelers and the Orioles.