About

My name is Mike Johnston, but you can call me RxMike. Among many other things, I am the Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) who was crazy motivated enough to establish the National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA). I live in Houston, Texas with a spoiled cocker spaniel that I adopted, named Bella.

I began working as a pharmacy technician at the age of 16. After graduating early from High School, I immediately began pursuing a degree in Psychology (University of Houston) and continued to work as a pharmacy technician, in both retail and independent pharmacy practice settings. 

Everything changed, however, in 1999, when I founded the National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA). We began with three members in Northwest Houston and to be honest, I had no idea of what I was doing…I just knew that I wanted to help other pharmacy technicians. 

Within 18 months, NPTA had grown to over 25,000 members, we had launched the first magazine ever published for pharmacy technicians, and our first convention was the largest gathering of pharmacy technicians ever held. I was clearly on a steep learning curve.

NPTA has become a respected and influential organization in the pharmacy industry, of which I have the privilege to serve as Chairman/CEO. In addition to managing the organization,  I now travel across the country speaking, working with political leaders and have had nine books published…but I don’t spend all of my time in the world of pharmacy…

I am certified through PADI as an Advanced Open Water Diver, with nearly 100 logged dives. I have been lost at sea not once or twice, but on three occasions and once had an equipment malfunction that caused me to run out of air, 80 feet underwater. I am fascinated by sharks (of all types) and have enjoyed up close shark encounters on many of my diving adventures. In 2004, I traveled to Glenelg, Australia and completed a week long Great White Shark Expedition with world-renowned shark expert, Rodney Fox. (I have to return, however, since we didn’t find any Great Whites to dive with on that trip).

Okay, the truth is…I’m not actually a vegetarian. I eat fish on occasion, which means that, technically speaking, I am a pescetarian – but most people have never heard of that term, so I just say vegetarian. I did not adopt a vegetarian diet out of any moral or ethical sense of obligation, however I must say that what I’ve learned about the beef, pork and poultry industries since converting has certainly reaffirmed my choice. I really enjoy cooking vegetarian, vegan and raw food meals – the options and flavors are really amazing.

I find gardening to be a great stress reliever (except for dealing with those pesky aphids) and enjoy getting my hands dirty and connecting with the Earth. Store bought produce simply cannot compete with those home grown. Currently, my garden consists of various greens/lettuces, squash, zucchini, onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, peas, peppers, eggplant, red potatoes and carrots. I also have a full herb garden and grow blueberries and strawberries. I am very pleased that Michelle Obama decided to include a garden on the White House grounds again.

If you are still wanting to know more about me…you’re just going to have to wait until Barbara Walters decides to interview me as one of the 10 Most Fascinating People of the Year (and inevitably will make me cry).

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