by PCCA

This Profile in Personalized Medicine highlights Megan Pasookhush, PharmD, MBA, RPh, FAARFM, owner of the Wellness Pharmacy of Cary in Cary, North Carolina. A PCCA member since 2016, Megan attained her Bachelor of Science in Biology from East Carolina University; MBA from Lundy-Fetterman School of Business at Campbell University; PharmD from Campbell University School of Pharmacy; and a Fellowship in Anti-Aging, Metabolic and Functional Medicine through A4M.

How did you start compounding? What led you to PCCA?
During pharmacy school, I was fortunate enough to attend a PCCA Pharmacy Student Boot Camp in Houston, and I just fell in love with the art of compounding. After 12 years of filling up my patients' grocery-size bags with medications in retail pharmacy, I decided that I’d had enough abuse from the large chain pharmacy where I was working and I reached out to PCCA. I got inspired to go back into compounding!

What was your toughest patient problem? How did you solve it?
Usually, the tough patients are the ones with high sensitivity to chemicals and bases. In my experience, these patients have been overexposed to either environmental toxins or chronic mold. Helping them find a topical base can be very challenging. I often will give them samples of different bases to try prior to adding active ingredients. Once, I ended up using emu oil as a vehicle.

What has been your most satisfying patient experience?
I often identify therapy goals with my BHRT patients prior to starting them on their hormones or wellness program. The most satisfying patient experience is when the patient meets or exceeds their goal — when I am a part of their journey to better health and they finally see a difference in their quality of life. Whether it be a mom getting her energy back to take care of her family or a 20-year-old college student who went from not being able to get out of bed to now traveling the world, their stories are constant reminders for me to do better every day.

 What’s the biggest “aha” moment you’ve had as a member of PCCA?
The answers to how to keep growing your business are through continued learning and staying on the cutting edge of information. My biggest "aha" moment was after I received my C4 HRT specialist designation with PCCA. I realized that, in addition to looking inside my organization for opportunities to grow, I needed to also look beyond what I already know and get more education. Through new information, networking and ideas that I got from the HRT program, I implemented what I learned in my practice and was able to keep my business on growing steadily. 

What is your favorite PCCA base and why?  
Atrevis Hydrogel® because my patients are getting incredible results from absorption and I'm getting great feedback from the doctors.

What is your favorite PCCA educational event and why?
International Seminars, because they’re fun and provide great opportunities to meet amazing people.

Don’t miss out on your chance to join us this year at International Seminar 2019.

What advice would you give to compounders new to the industry? 
Be optimistic; the positive energy is contagious!  

What is your personal motto or words to live by?  
"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great."  – Zig Ziglar