MEMBER PROFILE
Marco Middleton BRINKLEY FAMILY PHARMACY/ POLK PHARMACY CLARENDON
Pharmacy/academic practice: Brinkley Family Pharmacy/ Polk Pharmacy Clarendon
Pharmacy school and graduation year: I graduated from UAMS as a member of the Class of 2019.
Years in business/years teaching: I have 1.5 years in independent business serving Monroe County
Favorite part of the job and why: My favorite part of being a
pharmacist is the ability to help others and to have an impact on their health and well-being. In rural Arkansas, a pharmacist may be the only available provider for 20 miles and is easily the most accessible. So, having a local pharmacist that the community can trust is of utmost importance. I also enjoy the community of Central Arkansas Pharmacies as we work together to serve our local areas. Following other pharmacies to see how they accommodate their patients allows us to be most effective in Brinkley as we strive to be a pillar to our community. One of those pharmacies reside in Maumelle, Achor Family Pharmacy.
Least favorite part of the job and why: It may sound cliche,
but my least favorite part of the job doesn’t exist. I truly enjoy each area and challenge that we face because I know we are making a difference. I admit some days are tougher than others, and what gets me through those days is knowing that we are positively impacting the communities in which we serve.
What do you think will be the biggest challenges for pharmacists in the next 5 years? Over the next 5 years, I
think that one of the biggest challenges for pharmacists will be PBMs or Pharmacy Benefit Managers which have a large impact on patients access to medications. It is not a new phenomenon, but their impact on the practice of pharmacy has been well documented.
Oddest request from a patient/customer: After delivering
a wheelchair to a patient, I was called back to the residence shorty after leaving. Once I arrived, I was asked to take the packaging and some home trash to the dumpster. I of course agreed to do so, to the delight of the patient. Making an impact on the community sometimes calls for something different than vaccinations and prescriptions.
To best serve our community we must maintain the latest knowledge and information on research available.
Favorite activities/hobbies: I enjoy worshiping God and
spending time with my family. My wife Nicole, daughter Madison (17), and sons Marco Jr. (9) and Morgan (3) keep me busy with all the activities and hobbies that one man can handle. When I am not being a husband, father, or pharmacist I enjoy following college football and other sports.
Ideal dinner guests: As a sports fan I would have to say
Bobby Bowden, Nick Saban, LeBron James, Aaron Rodgers, Michael Jordan, and Jerry Jones.
If not a pharmacist then…: If I were not a pharmacist, I
would be a chemist. Pharmacy is actually my second career. I worked for Novus International, in Little Rock, from 20112019 as a full time Master’s degree chemist. Becoming a pharmacist was so important to me that I worked a full-time job and drove from Clarendon to Little Rock to pursue my dreams.
Why should a pharmacist in Arkansas be an active member of the Arkansas Pharmacists Association?
Every pharmacist in Arkansas should be an active member of the Arkansas Pharmacists Association. This association advocates for moving pharmacy forward in ever changing times. I am proud to be a member and the benefits I see are immense. If you are not a member please take the time to become one. §
Recent reads: As most of my peers, my most recent reads have been literature concerning the COVID-19 vaccinations. 14
AR•Rx
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THE ARKANSAS PHARMACIST
