Team
Santa Catarina Pharmacy
Maria João
Maria João is a pharmacist at Farmácia Santa Catarina.
She’s the cheeriest of the whole team!
She enjoys doing a bit of everything. What motivates her most is developing new skills and learning new things.
“Hello, I’m Maria João Carlos. I was born in Coimbra, although I’m originally from Terra de Paixão (Alcobaça).
In 2016, at a crucial juncture, I chose to study Pharmaceutical Sciences so that I could combine two areas that interest me: Chemistry and Health. I have been a qualified pharmacist since 2021, having graduated from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Porto. During this five-year journey, I was a member of several voluntary organisations, which gave me the tools to learn how to interact with people from different backgrounds and with different life stories.
On top of all this, scientific research is a field very close to my heart, so there’s never too much knowledge or too many new discoveries – especially if it enables me to raise awareness about health a little more amongst those I come across.
And because chemistry is in everything around us, I couldn’t help but enjoy a walk in the fresh air, spending time with friends to boost my serotonin levels and give my laughter muscles a workout, as well as a good concert.’
In a word I am...
Organized
One word to describe why you enjoy working at Correia Rosa pharmacies...
Mutual support
Interesting Facts About the Employee
Beach or countryside?
Beach
Prevention or treatment?
Prevention
Football or volleyball?
Volleyball
If you could solve one problem in the world, which one would you choose and why?
Socio-economic inequality, particularly in terms of access to basic services (healthcare, food, education), so that everyone could enjoy the same rights and benefits, regardless of their social status.
A song that inspires you?
A book that made a lasting impression on you?
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Has any experience in a pharmacy setting helped you become a better professional?
During a consultation involving a complex dosing regimen, with a gradual increase in the dose of the medicine, I realised that the patient had not understood the doctor’s explanation, nor the regimen he had prescribed. So, to ensure there would be no mistakes in taking the medicine, I explained it to her again using a colour-coding system, which was more intuitive for her. This consultation made me realise that the pharmacist plays a crucial role in ensuring medicines are used correctly.
Has there been an experience in your life that has left a lasting impression on you?
I volunteered at a charity restaurant in Porto (Associação CASA) that provided dinners for the homeless. This experience gave me a first-hand insight into this reality, which is becoming increasingly prevalent.