KINGSTON, R.I. – Nov. 13, 2024 – The public’s perception of a pharmacist used to be a reclusive scientist in a white lab coat dumping pills in a bottle and slapping on a label for a cashier to hand to a customer. That perception has drastically changed, as patients increasingly turn to their pharmacist for advice not just on a specific drug, but on a whole host of health issues, even those unrelated to prescription medication.

Pharmacists are now known as the most accessible of health care professionals, and one University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy alum is highlighting that fact, shining a spotlight on the myriad health care services your local pharmacist provides, while helping inspire the next generation of pharmaceutical scientists.

Ethan Melillo ’17 is senior manager of integrated health for cosmetic brand L’Oreal, working to increase patient access to skin care products and teach pharmacists to counsel patients on their skin care. He is also a certified clinical diabetes pharmacist, a clinical program pharmacist, community specialty pharmacist, and, in perhaps his most prominent role, social media influencer helping educate and entertain nearly 500,000 followers.

“I had seen other medical professionals online, but I hadn’t really seen any pharmacists on there,” the East Greenwich resident said. “And whenever I saw any pharmacy videos, it was always something negative about our profession. I saw this as an opportunity to talk about the positive things about why I love being a pharmacist and really educate the public about what we know and what we do. I want to advocate for my profession and showcase the knowledge pharmacists have. We’re really the medication experts.”

Melillo began posting videos on TikTok in March 2021 under the handle “millennialrx,” beginning with a musical video about medications to avoid taking with alcohol, which quickly went viral and has been viewed more than a million times. He followed that up with posts about vaccines, diabetes, pharmacy law, birth control and many more. He offers important advice to followers about medications and their side effects, debunks other less qualified influencers who share dubious information, offers glimpses behind the scenes of a pharmacy, and shows students the broad range of opportunities a pharmacy degree allows.

“I think as a student, I saw community pharmacy, I saw hospital pharmacy and I saw teaching, but I didn’t really know what other avenues there were in pharmacy,” Melillo said. “So I wanted to pull the curtain away and show pharmacy students that there are so many opportunities available for them. By showing them the different careers pharmacists can have, I think it’s been really eye-opening to students and helped them be excited about becoming a pharmacist.”

His videos—primarily on TikTok, but also on Instagram and YouTube—are also eye-opening to the general public and have garnered such a following that he has secured paid partnerships with such prominent brands as Relistor, Salix Pharmaceuticals, Dulcolax, and CeraVe. Melillo now has a talent agency booking more partnerships as he posts as many as five videos a day—essentially creating a second full-time job—all while he continues to work for L’Oreal; partner with Pharmacy Times to create continuing education programs for pharmacists on various skin conditions; contribute to “The Pharmacy Corner,” a website for pharmacists, technicians and students to learn about skin care; and guest lecture at pharmacy schools across the country.

Educating the public on health care has been part of Melillo’s mission since he began as a community pharmacy technician at age 17, then as a pharmacist and teacher at the University of Houston, and now as a social media celebrity.

“A lot of times people can’t afford to see a doctor, so they’re getting advice online or from social media, which is a little scary,” Melillo said. “They really trust these people who have no medical degree and no medical background, and they’re buying these products they don’t need. When I see something that’s really trying to mislead the general public, I have no problem trying to debunk it, and I’m very blunt about it, which is probably why I have such a big following. I really want people to be aware that there are so many scams online.”

While Melillo’s videos are informative and educational, as well as entertaining, he points out that one of the best teachers any patient can have is at the local pharmacy. People should feel comfortable talking to their pharmacist even after seeing their doctor, he said, as pharmacists have specialized knowledge about medications that physicians may not consider.

“There are a slew of antidepressants, for example, and some people think because that’s the one their doctor prescribed, they should take it even though it may have side effects or doesn’t make them feel good,” Melillo said. “They might not feel comfortable talking to their doctor. So having that open communication with their pharmacist, the pharmacist can say you can try another one. By showing the knowledge pharmacists have, I hope I’m helping open up the communication between patients and their pharmacist, and really showcasing our profession on a larger scale.”