When I opened Sprucewood Pharmacy in Lloydminster, Alberta, compounding wasn’t just an untapped opportunity — it was a missing piece in our community’s care. Patients were already coming in with prescriptions for custom medications, but we had to outsource them. I knew there had to be a better way. That’s what set me on the path to create a lab of our own and start solving problems directly, right here at home.

A Path Built on Collaboration

What drew me to compounding was its creativity — and the chance to offer real alternatives for patients who couldn’t get what they needed off the shelf. Early on, I reached out to a colleague and my PCCA rep, both of whom encouraged me to dive in. At the time, there wasn’t a single compounding pharmacy in Lloydminster. That made the decision easy — we had an opportunity to offer something truly valuable to the community.

PCCA was instrumental in helping me get started. Their team guided me through designing a lab that met Alberta’s new USP standards and supported me every step of the way. That support hasn’t stopped. Over the past seven years, they’ve been a steady source of education, regulatory guidance, product innovation and clinical support — all of which have helped me grow and specialize, especially in areas like hormone replacement therapy.

Compounding, at its core, is collaborative. It’s a daily conversation between pharmacists, patients and physicians. And when people in the community start recognizing your expertise, they begin to seek you out — not just for a prescription, but for help solving problems.

Moments That Matter

One of the most rewarding parts of this work is seeing the impact it has on people’s lives. I think about Linda, who came to me after a series of severe urinary tract infections that just wouldn’t respond to antibiotics. I ran a hormone panel and, working with her physician, recommended BHRT and vaginal estriol. I also identified Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and we started her on low-dose naltrexone (LDN). The change was dramatic — her energy came back, the infections stopped and she felt healthy again.

Another example: our growing group of pediatric patients with congenital heart disease. These kids receive complex care in major urban hospitals, but when they come home, they often need medications in formats that don’t exist commercially. We’re able to compound those medications locally, making their daily lives easier and reducing the burden on families who already have so much to manage.

These aren’t flashy stories, but they’re meaningful. They’re why I do what I do.

Building Trust and Visibility

In a community like ours, word of mouth is everything. And the feedback we hear most often is that we’re “the pharmacy that offers alternatives.” That reputation didn’t happen by accident. We’ve held lunch-and-learns with local physicians, spoken at community events and shared what compounding can do, particularly around BHRT and pain management. I also provide hormone consults in collaboration with physicians and nurse practitioners, which has led to more referrals and stronger relationships across the board.

Compounding has shaped my career in ways I never expected. Thanks to the training and resources from PCCA, I’ve been able to expand my scope, challenge myself and bring new value to the patients I serve. It’s a field that keeps you curious, and that’s what makes every day worth it.

For Anyone Considering Compounding

If you’re a pharmacist or technician thinking about getting into compounding, here’s my advice: Do it. It’s an evolving, dynamic field that rewards curiosity and keeps you growing. Every day presents new challenges — and new chances to make a difference.

And if you’re wondering about my go-to PCCA base? MucoLox™, hands down. Mixed with VersaBase® Cream, it’s been a game changer for our vaginal estriol patients — they find it easy to use and effective, which improves compliance.

At the end of the day, compounding is about relationships. It’s about being the one who says, “We can figure this out.” And for me, that’s the most rewarding part of the job.