First Air

About First Air

🌎 Step into the world of pharmacy excellence with First Air — Elevating Sterile Compounding Practices. 🌎 This biweekly, 30-minute podcast brings sterile compounding professionals together to share innovative ideas, proven strategies, and real-world experiences. Co-hosts George Smith and Kevin Hansen—respected leaders in the sterile compounding community— with a professional yet conversational tone, the duo will dive into critical industry topics, answer listener questions, and interview pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and executive leaders shaping the future of compounding. Each episode will challenge you to think “beyond the standard” and delivers actionable insights to help you enhance compliance, improve patient safety, and elevate your sterile compounding practice. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to sterile compounding, you’ll gain practical knowledge from voices you trust. 👉 Tune in to First Air to stay informed, inspired, and ready to elevate your practice. Don’t forget to rate and subscribe to First Air—your trusted source for sterile compounding excellence. 👈

Publisher

First Air Podcast

Category

health & fitness · science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

29 Dec 2025

Latest episode

27 Mar 2026

Latest episodes

4 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   27 Mar 2026

   First Air: EP3 - The Aerogen Syringe Conundrum

   🎙️ First Air – The Aerogen Syringe Conundrum Inside the Standard: A new segment for deep dives and real‑world clarity Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode of First Air podcast are our own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Aerogen or any other manufacturer, the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), or our employers. This content is for educational and discussion purposes only. In this episode, George and Kevin unpack one of the most confusing and commonly misunderstood issues in sterile compounding and respiratory therapy: the Aerogen syringe conundrum. 🌬️💉 From regulatory gray zones to workflow pitfalls, the hosts break down how a device designed for inhalation intersects with pharmacy compounding, sterile pathways, and patient safety. This is a must‑listen for anyone working at the intersection of pharmacy and respiratory therapy. --- 🔍 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: · 🫁 What Aerogen syringes are and how they’re intended to function in respiratory therapy · 📜 Which regulatory standards apply when using non‑sterile devices for inhalation therapy · ⚠️ Why using non‑sterile syringes for sterile inhalation solutions creates a real conundrum · 🧭 Practical workflows to maintain sterility and ensure safe dispensing ·  🔄 Strategies to prevent misconnections and medication errors ·  🤝 How pharmacy and respiratory therapy can collaborate to protect patients and streamline care --- ⏱️ Chapters & Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome + recap of last episode’s standards discussion 01:07 – Inside the Standard: Aerogen syringes in compounding 02:20 – NECC’s legacy and why vigilance still matters 03:20 – Barriers from USP <797> that persist today 05:09 – What exactly is an Aerogen syringe 06:33 – Regulatory considerations: USP <797>, FDA, device approval 07:45 – The challenge of non‑sterile devices for sterile inhalation meds 09:14 – The core conundrum: navigating sterility with non‑sterile syringes 11:16 – Why Aerogen syringes are proprietary and safety‑focused 12:23 – Maintaining sterile pathways despite device limitations 14:37 – Compliance + workflow essentials in pharmacy dispensing 15:37 – Sterile compounding and alternative container options 17:34 – Handoff and distribution to respiratory therapy 21:07 – Best practices: labeling, transfer, and administration 22:03 – Final safety considerations + hospital workflow alignment 26:48 – Summary + actionable collaboration tips 29:32 – Upcoming education and professional development 31:45 – Wrap‑up + listener feedback request Making USP <797> as Easy as 123: Overcoming Sterile Compounding Insourcing Challenges and Adult Versus Pediatric Considerations with Patti Kienle, Cindy Brasher and Jackie Jaskowiak - April 14 @ 1300 EDT - https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3881123667887109978 (https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3881123667887109978) Environmental Best Practices - Abby Roth - April 24 @ 1300 EDT - https://www.pppmag.com/webinars/info.php?id=99&source=/linkedin99 (https://www.pppmag.com/webinars/info.php?id=99&source=/linkedin99) State of Pharmacy Compounding - Kevin & George - May 1 @1300 EDT - https://www.pppmag.com/webinars/info.php?id=95 (https://www.pppmag.com/webinars/info.php?id=95)

2. 

   10 Mar 2026

   First Air: EP2 - Passion.

   📋 Summary In this episode of First Air, Eric Kastango shares his journey from a passionate pharmacist to a leading advocate for sterile compounding standards with George and Kevin. 🎙️ Episode Highlights 💊 From Pharmacist to Advocate: Eric Kastango shares how his career evolved from pharmacy practice to becoming a leading voice for sterile compounding safety. 🧪 Evolution of Standards: The episode explores how sterile compounding practices have changed over time and why stronger standards became necessary. 🛡️ Patient Safety First: Real-world safety events helped drive the push for better oversight, training, and accountability in compounding. ⚠️ Learning from the Past: The profession continues to learn from major compounding failures and adverse events. 🔍 Chronic Vigilance: Ensuring sterile compounding quality requires constant attention to processes, environments, and human performance. 🚧 Overcoming Resistance: Implementing higher standards often meets resistance—but progress depends on persistence. 🏥 Stewardship in Sterile Compounding: Pharmacy leaders play a key role in building cultures of safety and accountability. 🔑 Key Takeaways 🧠 Experience drives change – Personal and professional experiences often shape leaders in compounding safety. 🛑 Errors have consequences – Historical compounding failures remind the profession why strict standards matter. 🔄 Continuous improvement is required – Standards, technology, and processes must evolve as risks become better understood. 🤝 Collaboration strengthens safety – Regulators, educators, and practitioners must work together to protect patients. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Eric Kastango and Compounding Pharmacy 01:17 Eric's Journey in Pharmacy Compounding 04:07 The Evolution of Sterile Compounding Standards 08:15 Patient Safety and the Need for Change 13:03 The Role of Education in Compounding 16:35 Personal Experiences Shaping Eric's Passion 19:43 Resistance and Challenges in Advancing Standards 28:20 The Turning Point: NECC and Patient Safety 32:14 Learning from Past Mistakes 38:04 Future of Stewardship in Sterile Compounding 42:10 The Importance of Education and Vigilance 📅 Upcoming Education ·      Training and Competencies for Cleanroom Equipment – Patti Kienle o   Mar 27 @ 1300 EDT by Pharmacy Purchasing & Products o   Registration (https://www.pppmag.com/webinars/info.php?id=98&source=ttp98e2) ·      Environmental Best Practices – Abby Roth o   Apr 24 @ 1300 EDT by Pharmacy Purchasing & Products o   Registration (https://www.pppmag.com/webinars/info.php?id=99&source=/linkedin99) ·      Sterile Compounding Live Virtual Non-HD and HD Training – Mary Nazzal & Melanie Dorey o   May 11 – 15 by Critical Compounding Resources o   Information & Registration (https://www.criticalcompoundingresources.com/sterile-compounding-training) 🚨 Please Subscribe, Like and Share First Air! Tell your colleagues and friends. 🚨 Questions for First Air: ask2@firstairpodcast.com (mailto:ask2@firstairpodcast.com)

3. 

   18 Feb 2026

   First Air: EP1 - Introducing First Air: Trust, Passion, and What's Next

   📋Summary In the inaugural episode of the First Air podcast, hosts George Smith and Kevin Hansen introduce themselves and share their journeys into the world of pharmacy and sterile compounding. They discuss their backgrounds, the importance of patient care, and the impact of their current roles in the industry. The conversation delves into the significance of going beyond standard practices in compounding, the role of leadership in pharmacy, and their vision for the podcast, including future topics and guest appearances. 🔑Takeaways 🌡️ The podcast explores the world of pharmacy and sterile compounding. 🔍 Curiosity drives both hosts in their professional journeys. ❤️ Patient care remains the core of pharmacy practice. 🚀 Going beyond the standard is essential for improving patient safety. 🧭 Leadership plays a crucial role in advancing pharmacy practices. ⚠️ The hosts aim to raise awareness about challenges in sterile compounding. 🎤 Expert guests will join future episodes to share insights and best practices. 💬 Listener engagement is encouraged for topic suggestions. 🌟 The hosts are passionate about making a positive impact in sterile compounding. ⏱️Chapters 00:00 — 🎧 Introduction to First Air Podcast 02:53 — 🧪 Kevin Hansen’s Journey into Sterile Compounding 06:18 — 💡 George Smith’s Path to Sterile Compounding 09:16 — 🔍 The Impact of Curiosity in Pharmacy & Sterile Compounding 12:08 — 🏥 Current Roles and Responsibilities 15:09 — ❤️ The Importance of Patient Care 18:02 — 🚀 Going Beyond the Standard in Sterile Compounding 22:26 — 📜 The Journey to the Standard 24:51 — 🔬 Going Beyond the Standard 27:50 — 🧠 Mindset Shift in Patient Care 29:45 — 🧭 Leadership and Purpose in Sterile Compounding 32:33 — 🌟 Vision for the Podcast 36:37 — 🌱 Raising Up Future Leaders in Compounding 39:51 — 🚀 Official Launch of the Podcast Questions for First Air: ask2@firstairpodcast.com (mailto:ask2@firstairpodcast.com) Subscribe, Rate, Like and Share with your Colleagues! Follow us on LinkedIn: First Air Podcast (https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-air-podcast) Upcoming Educational Links Advanced Compounding in Action: Implementing USP <797> for Complex Workflows February 24, 2026: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EST https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/events/advanced-compounding-in-action (https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/events/advanced-compounding-in-action) FDA Compounding Quality Center of Excellence – “Sterile Drug Compounding” Training Mar 16-18, 2026 (College Station, TX) https://www.train.org/main/course/1123707/live-event (https://www.train.org/main/course/1123707/live-event) Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are our own and do not necessarily reflect those of our employers or the United States Pharmacopeia (USP).

4. 

   29 Dec 2025

   First Air: The Next Chapter in Sterile Compounding

   💥 George, Kevin & sterile compounding ... on a podcast! 💥 Introducing First Air — Elevating Sterile Compounding Practices, the go‑to podcast for pharmacy professionals committed to advancing sterile compounding. Co‑hosts George Smith and Kevin Hansen—respected leaders in the sterile compounding—bring their expertise to every 30‑minute episode, blending professional insight with semi‑casual conversation.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Contact First Air

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.