NCPA President Lea Wolsoncroft, owner of Remedies Pharmacy in Hoover, Ala., began her term on Tuesday with a renewed focus on the expanding role of pharmacists in public health, as well as a celebration of pharmacy in our communities.
“In the ever-evolving landscape of health care, it's easy for our patients to get lost in the maze of big corporations and chain stores, but I firmly believe that the heart and soul of our profession can be found right here in the independent pharmacies that dot our neighborhoods,” she said in her inaugural speech delivered during the House of Delegates meeting at the Orange County Convention Center during the 2023 NCPA Annual Convention in Orlando.
“We are trusted health care providers, friends, and pillars of support for our patients,” she continued. “We know them by name, and we understand their health care needs. We are committed to their care, and for me, this is the foundation of our hope for our profession.”
Wolsoncroft is a graduate of the Samford McWhorter School of Pharmacy, where she served as treasurer and NCPA student chapter president. She opened her first pharmacy, KidsMeds, in 2002, with her husband, Tom, while pursuing nontraditional tracks that focused on educating physicians and the community about pharmacy practice, as well as the unique role the profession plays in community wellness.
In 2018, she opened Remedies Pharmacy in Hoover, about 15 miles south of Birmingham, in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and a stone’s throw from Oak Mountain — Alabama's largest state park. Remedies specializes in pediatric, pet and custom compounding, in addition to standard dispensing and free delivery, to offer community patients a range of options.
"Patients inspire me. They are the reason we practice pharmacy with options to design personalized treatments," she told the Hoover Sun recently. "I love research, but most of all I love to make a difference in people's lives."
Wolsoncroft has designed pediatric compounds for diaper rash cream and reflux, which are both more effective for worried parents and more enjoyable for their children. She has also developed a low-dose atropine for children with myopia, as well as immunity-boosting budesonide slurries for eosinophilia.
"As a small business, Remedies can pivot and start new programs quickly and help our communities instantly," she told a Samford interviewer in February. "[And] as community pharmacists, we're able to spend more time with our patients and offer services that they need."
