Brandi Chane’s path to advocacy is rooted in a story that began long before she ever set foot in a courtroom or a Congressional office. It began behind a soda fountain, where her mother rose from a 17-year-old with an eighth-grade education to become the first licensed and certified pharmacy technician in their community. That same grit and unconventional path runs through Brandi's own story, from filing charge tickets at Davis City Pharmacy at age 12, to critical care nursing, to retail sales and management in Hollywood, to advocacy work that's helped shape federal policy on behalf of independent pharmacies and military families.
She's the kind of leader who believes one voice really can change the system, whether that's fighting for TRICARE reform on Capitol Hill or making sure her mom, now 85 and still a fixture behind the counter, never has to fight alone.
I never set out to be an advocate. I simply kept running into problems that affected people I cared about.
Can you tell us about your career path?
My career has never followed a traditional path, and every chapter has shaped who I am today. I began working at Davis City Pharmacy at 12, filing charge tickets in the office. That experience sparked my love for community pharmacy. My professional career began in critical care nursing and eventually led to travel nursing across the US. I later pivoted to retail sales and management at The Gap flagship store in Hollywood, California. That role led to an opportunity to work with the UCLA Center for Middle East Development, where my experiences working in the Middle East broadened my perspective on healthcare, culture, and leadership.
Each experience left its mark. Retail taught me leadership and how to connect with people. Nursing taught me compassion and how to advocate for those who couldn't advocate for themselves. Working internationally taught me to see challenges through a different lens. Pharmacy ownership taught me resilience. Together, these experiences prepared me for something I never expected: advocacy.
What's the story behind your work with PUTT and TRICARE advocacy?
When I became involved with Pharmacists United for Truth and Transparency (PUTT), I stepped into an arena I knew very little about. I never imagined that an ordinary pharmacy owner from a small Texas town could help influence policy or create meaningful change. Serving on the Executive Board of Directors at PUTT gave me the confidence to find my voice, the opportunity to work alongside incredible advocates across the country, and the realization that one person really can make a difference when they're willing to speak up.
My journey into TRICARE advocacy began not as a policy issue, but as a family issue. My father dedicated his career to military service, first as an Army helicopter pilot, and later as a flight instructor with the Army National Guard. Because of his service, my mother relies on TRICARE for Life. What began as a simple search for a pharmacy that could care for my mom quickly exposed larger barriers facing military families. I realized my family's experience wasn't unique, and I couldn't ignore what I had discovered.
That realization led to the Audit TRICARE campaign, helping elevate concerns before Congress and contributing to proposed federal legislation calling for an independent audit of Express Scripts' management of the TRICARE pharmacy program.
Looking back, every chapter of my life prepared me for the next. Today, all of these experiences come together in one mission: using my voice to help others find theirs and creating meaningful change for independent pharmacies and the communities they serve.
Who has inspired or mentored you in your life or career?
My Mom only had an 8th grade education when she began working as a soda jerk behind the fountain of my pharmacy at the age of 17. Later in life, she earned her GED, attended community college, and became the first licensed and certified pharmacy technician in her community. She eventually became an integral part of the pharmacy's success as the pharmacy manager. Now 85 years old, she has remained a fixture in the pharmacy and daily operations.
In Her Personal Life
What's something on your personal bucket list?
Walking the Pilgrimage of St. James along the Camino de Santiago in Spain. My family immigrated from Northern Spain in the late 1800's, and I would love to experience this journey.
If you had to give your autobiography a title, what would it be?
Leaving the Ladder Down
Growing up, I often heard my grandad and my dad say as they parted ways, "Leave the ladder down." I never understood what they meant until much later in life.
I eventually realized it wasn’t about a ladder at all. It was about making the climb easier for the person behind you.
I never set out to be an advocate. I simply kept running into problems that affected people I cared about. Each challenge demanded a solution, and every solution revealed another obstacle for those coming next. Before I knew it, I wasn’t just solving problems, I was helping create a path for others to follow.
My goal has now become: Share what I’ve learned. Open doors. Help others find their voice.
To me, Leaving the Ladder Down is about turning personal victories into shared opportunities. Success isn’t about being the first to reach the top, it’s about ensuring you’re not the last.
What's a quote, motto, or life lesson you try to live by?
The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away. Your legacy begins when you reach back for someone else.
Brandi Chane's commitment to independent pharmacy isn't just professional, it's personal. What started as a simple search for a pharmacy that could care for her mother, a TRICARE for Life beneficiary and the widow of an Army helicopter pilot, turned into a national campaign to hold Express Scripts accountable and protect military families across the country. Brandi understands that policy failures aren't abstract, they show up at the pharmacy counter, in the lives of people like her own parents.