the North American Menopause Soyears and we have outgrown our
ciety. I was the first pharmacist certismall footprint with positive word of
fied in women’s health through this
mouth.”
organization.” Another important and
For a time, declining insurgrowing field is nutrition therapy. “I
ance reimbursements and increased
am also a certified clinical nutritionregulation of compounding became
ist, which has been pivotal to our
an obstacle to growth, but Worthmission of whole health pharmacy
ing says, “We have overcome these
care, including supplements and
by creating services that patients are
food,” says the pharmacist.
happy with and value. As far as regu
Worthing may have had a
lation, we have been ahead of the
natural aptitude in childhood for his
curve by becoming PCAB accredited
future profession. He reto improve patient safety
lates, “I always enjoyed
and product quality.”
Behind the scenes
science and underThe Pharmacy Comis a high-tech
standing how the world
pounding Accreditation
laboratory that
worked around me as a
Board (PCAB) performs
actually mixes, or
kid. When deciding on a
onsite inspections to
career choice, pharmacy
ensure that a pharmacy is
compounds, the
was a good fit, since it
drugs that make up adhering to best pracrequired knowledge of
tice guidelines to ensure
the capsules and
chemistry and physiolpatients receive a hightablets. Doctor of
ogy. Pharmacy is also a
quality and safe product.
very people-orientated
Worthing proudly attests,
Pharmacy Nathan
profession, which was
“The accreditation is
Worthing notes,
appealing.”
voluntary, so there are
“We see a number
His affinity for
not very many pharmaof patients for hor- cies that carry this seal of
customer relations was
later strengthened by a
quality. We are one of six
monal treatments,
colleague. “The previous
in the state of Michigan.”
pain management
owner of Clark PharThe bottom line,
and veterinary
macy, Olya Lash, was
Worthing reports, is,
medicine.”
instrumental in opening
“People should come to
my eyes to expanded
Clark if they are looking
patient care,” says Worthing. “She
for a pharmacy experience that does
would set up appointments regarding
not solely rely on drugs to keep them
women’s health issues and nutrition,
well. Although I value the power of
which was way ahead of her time in
properly used medications, Clark
the 1990s. I have taken those lessons
works with patients that are interand have built them into our current
ested in looking for alternatives to
vision. We still do the consults and
medications or ways to couple alterhave expanded them to cover almost
native treatments with their current
any health issue.”
therapies. Our clients tend to be very
Clark was started as a traditional enthusiastic about healthy lifestyle
small pharmacy in a medical buildchoices.”
ing in 1980. One of their specialties
at that time was fertility medication
Clark Professional Pharmacy is
that required compounding by a
located at 3280 Washtenaw Ave.,
pharmacist. At that time, there were
in Ann Arbor (next to Washtenaw
very few pharmacists doing that
Urgent Care). For more information,
type of work. Clark took it on, and
call 724-434-7333 or visit Clark
over the years expanded its scope to
ProPharmacy.com.
all practice areas, from alternative
health to veterinary work. He avers,
Martin Miron is the editor of Natural
“Our reputation has grown over the
Awakenings Ann Arbor.
natural awakenings
February 2014
15