UMVA has learned that the path to leadership in pharmacy was not always straightforward for Austen Hacker, whose journey began behind a piano.
Today, Hacker is a licensed pharmacist in Arkansas with a wealth of experience leading hospital pharmacies, opening an oncology pharmacy, and managing complex healthcare operations. But years before he stepped into pharmacy leadership, he was studying piano performance at a prestigious university and planning a future in music.
The willingness to adapt, learn, and pursue the right opportunity has become a defining theme throughout his career. "Success depends on how you feel about yourself, rather than how successful you appear to others," Hacker says.
Growing up in Ruston, Louisiana, and Texarkana, Texas, Hacker balanced academics with music, track, cross-country, church activities, and volunteer work during high school. His family life also helped shape his perspective, particularly when his parents adopted two biological siblings from Russia in 2003.
This experience exposed him to different challenges and life circumstances at an early age. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from high school in 2008 before enrolling at a top university, where he earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance.
However, as graduation approached, Hacker faced a difficult realization: he was not talented enough to make a decent living as a pianist. This led him to pursue a career in pharmacy, which he was much better suited for.
After completing his music degree, Hacker enrolled in a pharmacy program, where he earned both a Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Science and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. The transition from music to medicine may seem unusual, but many of the same qualities carried over.
Both fields require precision, constant practice, and attention to detail. As Hacker progressed through pharmacy school, he discovered a profession that matched his strengths and offered opportunities to make a meaningful impact.
His career advanced quickly after graduation, with roles in retail pharmacy and leadership positions within hospital systems. He helped open and manage an oncology pharmacy, establish a surgery center pharmacy, and oversee operations at multiple hospital pharmacies.
These experiences gave him a broad understanding of both patient care and healthcare operations. For Hacker, leadership starts with engagement, driven by a passion for and commitment to tasks.
He believes excellence comes from maintaining high standards while remaining focused on continuous improvement. Hacker also understands that setbacks are part of the process and has learned to measure success by growth and learning from experiences.
Like many professionals, Hacker's journey has not been without obstacles. For years, he lived with undiagnosed ADHD, which made many aspects of daily life more challenging.
Rather than allowing those challenges to define him, he focused on education and professional development. His commitment to personal growth helped him build a successful career while developing greater self-awareness.
Today, he credits perseverance, humility, self-discipline, honesty, patience, kindness, and tenacity as the values that have guided him forward. Outside of work, Hacker remains deeply connected to his faith and finds balance through church life, music, running, hiking, and technology.
He believes long-term success requires balance and relies on digital tools and planning systems to manage projects and long-term goals. Looking back, his career illustrates the value of adaptability and the importance of recognizing when it's time to change direction.
His story serves as a reminder that successful careers are not always built by following a predetermined plan, but rather by having the courage to pursue growth and change.
