January 16, 2026
Written by Andrew Haines
Michael "Mike" Mustard spent the majority of his career in community hospital pharmacy. He worked at Parrish Medical Center in Titusville, FL, for 33 years, including 22 years as Director of Pharmacy.
Throughout his career, Mike mastered areas well beyond traditional pharmacy education: finance and budgeting, legal and regulatory issues, materials management, and project management to name just a few. He even oversaw the implementation of the hospital pharmacy's first computer system.
Mike often shares with students that while part of a career can be carefully planned, many paths are shaped by serendipity. He appreciates that pharmacists develop skills across many domains—from clinical foundations to systems and process design to financial and purchasing responsibilities to safety and error reduction.
Mike's Father
Mike attributes many of the skills that prepared him for pharmacy leadership to his father, Bill Mustard.
His father began college studying aeronautical engineering while taking private flight lessons. After earning his flight instructor certification, he was recruited by the US Naval Airforce to train pilots for WWII.
Following the war, he returned to college to complete his engineering degree, remained active in the Naval Airforce, and retired 7.5 years later as a Lieutenant Commander.
Observing his father's leadership skills, along with an engineer's mindset and disciplined approach to problem solving, gave Mike invaluable tools to draw upon throughout his career.
Proud Accomplishment
One of Mike's proudest accomplishments came when he served as Pharmacy Manager for Health First Viera Hospital before and during its opening in 2011.
He was hired to establish the inpatient pharmacy department in a space that was still unfinished. By his second day, he was recruiting staff for a hospital that did not yet exist operationally.
At the time, the department had little more than polished floors and an IV room. Mike recognized the rare, "once-in-a-career" opportunity before him. Within 89 days of his hire, the hospital opened.
During that time, he led the department through accreditation visits from ACHA, the Florida Board of Pharmacy, and the DEA. He recalls working seven days a week and being fully energized by the challenge. He also learned the importance of leaning on his team: "We were adapting all the time."
Later Roles
Following this achievement, Mike spent the final six years of his career as a Quality Research Specialist for Health First Health Plans in the Quality Department. He valued collaborating with a younger manager who genuinely listened to his experience and insights. This role broadened his understanding of health-system operations, especially population health metrics and quality initiatives.
Mike has also served as an expert witness and as a career coach and mentor for FSHP and in his position as a Courtesy Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy.
Outside of Pharmacy
Outside of his formal pharmacy roles, Mike speaks frequently about the non-financial aspects of retirement planning.
He observes...
Most pharmacists have a plan for money, but some can't fathom the idea of not working. Retirement is not a destination but a continual transition. Most of us work incredibly hard for decades to do what is required. Without really realizing it, we develop 'work brain.' In retirement you need to slow your brain down, which is easy to say but can be difficult to actually do. In retirement, you're able to try new things and move on without a sense of failure.
Retirement
In retirement, Mike has focused on giving back. He serves on the Board of Directors of North Brevard Charities, which partners with his church—First Methodist Church of Titusville—to operate a community food bank. He is dedicated to providing food in a way that preserves dignity and self-respect for those they serve.
His daughter, Katie Maples, followed in his footsteps, becoming a pharmacist from the UF College of Pharmacy. She completed a general practice PGY1 residency and a PGY2 in Pain Management & Palliative Care, and now works as a Pain and Palliative Care Coordinator at UF Health in Jacksonville.
Involvement with FSHP
Mike's favorite part of his involvement with FSHP has been connecting with other Directors of Pharmacy.
Earlier in his career, he founded an organization for Central Florida Directors of Pharmacy, valuing the opportunity to learn what was working for others and what challenges were keeping his colleagues up at night.
Observing some contemporaries struggle with retirement has further inspired his passion for helping others navigate this important life transition.