Life & Work with Dr. Jalisa Keyes

Hi Dr. Keyes, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
31 years of experiencing life, and I never imagined my journey to becoming to be what it is to date. Since childhood, I have always excelled academically. I thoroughly enjoyed math, science, and art. This continued into middle and high school where it led me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry with a minor in biological science from the University of Southern Mississippi. I furthered my education by obtaining a doctorate in pharmacy from the University of Tennessee. It was during my last year of pharmacy school, when I realized that outside of achieving my goals, I did not know who I was. Yes, by title or accolade, I am Dr. Keyes, but who am I really at my core? I sacrificed much of my teens and early 20s focusing on achieving these goals. I also worked while in school because I could not afford not to.

Needless to say, I spent less time getting to know myself and more time on my goals to have better years to come.

Now, that those years had arrived, I had to become reacquainted with myself. I did this through therapy. It was a safe space to unpack and process my life. My amazing therapist recommended the book, “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron.

In 2018, I dedicated time outside of my career as a pharmacist to read and spend time doing the exercises in the book. “The Artist’s Way” introduced me to journaling and truly manifesting a life that I desired. One prompt asked me, “what would you be doing if you were not doing what you were doing for a living without considering the opinions of others, money, etc”. Schooling did consume a lot of my life, but I was able to balance it with planned traveling, concerts, and cooking. Expounding more on this prompt, I realized music has always been my thing even as a kid. In my younger and developing years of life, I remember my mom saying to me, “I hope you know your school work like you know the lyrics to these songs”.

Music has always been a way for me to self-absorb and communicate feelings. I did not realize how much music I absorbed since a child nor the unique ways in which I did. I also considered how much I enjoyed creating playlists and watching the TV credits to view who was the music consultant, director, producer, etc. “The Artist’s Way” book really guided me in the most divine ways to becoming a DJ. It was truly something I never considered doing. Not to mention, I did not know many women who were DJing. However, DJing fits my style and personality. I am one who prefers to be ”in the building” or “in the mix” but behind the scenes whether it is cooking, djing, hosting, etc.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The journey has had its challenges, but it has been worth it. Foremost, I knew moving back to my hometown of Jackson, MS in 2018 after completing pharmacy school would be a challenge. My hometown had become a foreign place because I outgrew life and the people there. Even though I knew the move would be temporary, I was not happy about doing so. Strategically, it was the best decision, so that I could study and prepare for boards as well as save up to move to Dallas, TX. So grateful that my dad loved me enough to allow me to move in with him without having to really pay any bills. That allowed me to focus more of my time on studying for the NAPLEX and only working as a pharmacy grad intern when I wanted. I remember telling myself that summer 2018 would be my last summer studying. This is it! Let’s get it!

At the time, the price to take board exams for licensure was over a thousand dollars. I knew that I wanted to ace everything on my first attempt, so I put in endless hours of studying and removed ALL distractions. By August 2018, I was licensed and working as a pharmacist in Mississippi for Walmart. At the time, I was amazed at how much I had grown within that company. I began as a sales associate in 2012 in Petal, MS while attending USM. I worked a sales associate position with the goal of transferring to the pharmacy since my goal was to go to school to become a pharmacist. I did not get an opportunity to work in the pharmacy until I met my mentor, Dr. Andrew Clark. This is how I know “God is real.”

Full circle moment, as stated, I knew I wanted to become a pharmacist. However, I did not know how it would happen being that I did not know any pharmacists that could advise me. Yet, I still applied myself by staying knowledgeable about pharmacy school requirements and deadlines. I knew that if granted the opportunity to be accepted into a pharmacy school, I would succeed at it. I prayed and trusted God on this.

Backstory, Andrew and I met during spring 2012 after I attended a Greek probate with my sorority sisters (A.K.A., Inc.) at Tougaloo College in Jackson, MS. The meeting was divine considering the setting, lol. But, I learned that he, too, graduated from USM, was a part of a fraternity, and was a pharmacist, who also worked for Walmart at the time! Of course, it all seemed so unreal that God allowed me to specifically cross paths with him. God knew this man and I shared things in common that would be beneficial for me. Not only that but, God also knew Andrew would show up for me in the ways I needed to reach this milestone in my life. Andrew truly “paid it forward”. I am grateful for him, and I am incredibly proud of him, for now, owning his own pharmacy in Mississippi! Andrew was truly God-sent, and he opened the door for me to go from working as a sales associate in 2012 to staffing as a pharmacist for Walmart in 2018.

By April 2019, I was in management. I was not the most thrilled about it. Honestly, I never wanted or imagined myself managing. In ways, I felt bullied into it by the Market Director as well as my need for the increase in salary and experience to help with my move to Texas. I felt with more experience I could grow more within the company and easily find a position in Texas.

Little did I know, at the time, I was thinking small-minded. Not to mention, I was growing tired of living in Jackson because I was feeling caged in again. There was no life there for me. I do feel, as though, it was meant for me to revisit, work, and rediscover myself in my hometown before continuing my journey. I, not only, rediscovered things about myself, but I learned to DJ as well. It started out as just a hobby. When my mentor, DJ Young Venom, suggested I get an Instagram account lol, and he booked me for gigs, I then realized I could monetize this hobby into a business for myself.

That was a game-changer for me. I saw that I could make the same pay or twice as much pay as a DJ than I would staffing as a pharmacist. In addition, I could make this pay in half or less amount of time. For instance, I could do a gig for 3-5 hours and make what I make as a pharmacist working 9 to 12 hours per day. With taking on the pharmacy manager position, I gave myself 3 – 5 years in Mississippi before moving to Texas. I relocated to Texas in less than 3 years.

Covid changed the dynamic of my life being a frontline healthcare worker. However, along with the rest of the world, I was able to stop, pause, and reflect on my life and what I truly valued. I processed my life and values with my therapist and by getting to know myself intimately with “The Artist’s Way” book. I realized, though I was doing well financially, life was not enjoyable due to an unhealthy work environment. I felt that work consumed my life. Even with enforcing my boundaries, work seeped into my personal life. The Market Director, who managed my market, did not respect my boundaries regarding work and personal life. It was as if salary meant slavery. He demanded that I answer his phone calls or text even when I am off work whether it’s vacation, personal time, etc. That became overwhelming and intolerable for me.

With the support of therapy, for the first time, in my life, I chose myself and my values by resigning and moving to Texas. I value my time because I can not get that back. I value my peace because that is priceless. I also value my freedom to go, be, and do as I please. Those values contribute a great deal to my happiness! Once I resigned, I felt so much lighter. Although I knew I made the right decision, it was still an adjustment for me not having anxiety about work and all the stress that came with it at the time. I came to realized that no amount of money was worth me continuing to suffocate and overwork myself.

Despite that being a difficult and frustrating time for me, I’m grateful for the experience because it allowed me to grow spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and personally. Due to working hard and saving, I was able to take time off from work when I relocated to Dallas, Texas in April 2021. Things felt so strange, lol. I had this freedom that I prayed for. I was able to wake up and spend my days as I wished, sometimes doing absolutely nothing. It was uncomfortable for me because I never experience not having a job to work, not having to go to school, or not having show up for something. So, I used my freedom and time to reset and focus on myself. It felt amazing, though, at times, I experienced feelings of guilt, self-doubt, failure, and pressure in how and when I would have the balance of being Dr. Keyes and DJ J. Keyes.

As always, I continued to believe in myself and removed from myself the concern of caring what others think about me and how I am choosing to show up in life. As Dr. Keyes, I dealt with constant anxiety due to being a young, black, professional in corporate along with unfairness in treatment and pay. With DJ J. Keyes, I do not experience any of that nor tolerate it. Moreover, DJing allows me to authentically show up as myself while meeting, relating, and connecting with people from all over the world. I am able to give and share myself in the most igniting ways by storytelling through music.

Thanks to DJing, I am, now, managing my own business, Key Access, LLC, and it is so fulfilling. DJing afforded me the happiness, freedom, and fulfillment that I lacked as a Pharmacy Manager for Walmart. Having taken much-needed time from the workforce, I realized that I do not like working for someone else. And, in order for me to work for someone else again, it has to be on my terms and be in alignment with my peace, happiness, freedom, and fulfillment in life. I am eternally thankful that God is allowing me the time, now, to fulfill my passion and purpose with both Dr. and DJ J. Keyes.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Taken from Waka Flocka’s rap song “Oh, Let’s Do it”, when it comes to “drugs and the music, I influence”.

I am a licensed pharmacist in Mississippi and Texas that spins records and specializes in dispensing, administering, and compounding drugs/pharmaceuticals. I am beyond proud of my dynamics and how I embody being a doctor and a DJ.

It is anatomical how I merge science and music. For me, music is medicine, nourishing, and therapeutic. It is medicine for the hearing in the ears, the rhythm of the heartbeats, igniting of the souls, and the adrenaline for increased blood circulation for movement throughout the body!

My direct correlation between music and medicine is chemistry. I prepare drugs and my DJ sets using the same methods of organizing, mixing, blending, triturating, and researching. It is a very organic process for me. Knowing what drugs or songs, in what quantity and dose, and the indication, condition, or occasion for use are key in the treatment of health or for the delivery of an exuberant selection of music. Just as chemicals undergo different reactions where bonds are formed or broken as one chemical is transformed into another, the same is done with music when I creatively change the composition of a song by transition, blends, filtered effects, loops, etc. Whether it is chemistry or a music lab, J has the Keyes for a successful production.

The more experience I gain from DJing various events, I recognize how alike my profession and passion are. Just like I have patients who request or need consultations regarding drug therapy, I have guests at venues who request or consult me to play songs. However, when I was practicing pharmacy in retail, I identified why I enjoy being behind a DJ booth more than a pharmacy counter. Patients arrive at the pharmacy unhappy and angry at their conditions or life and lash out at me or my staff whereas, with DJing, I am warmly greeted and welcomed by strangers who are stepping out to enjoy vibing and grooving to music. As a DJ, I get to entertain a room full of strangers by taking them on a musical journey, making them move and groove, reminisce, fall in love, and forget the cares of the world.

Looking out into crowds and seeing this transpiring really warms my heart.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Yes. I am an open-format DJ that loves and plays all genres of music. It is my desire to DJ more corporate events, especially for my profession. I think it would be so dope to DJ in my white coat for pharmacy and pharmaceutical conferences.

Thus far, I have had the pleasure and opportunity to DJ for the National Civil Rights Museum, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., multi-cultural wedding ceremonies, art shows, book release, birthday parties, clubs, Lexus corporate event, and the American Airlines Center just to name a few.