PHARMACIST SPOTLIGHT: ASHLEY BREHME, PHARMD

Ashley Brehme started her journey into pharmacy when she was in high school. Her chemistry class did a section comparing acetaminophen and ibuprofen, and from there, she was hooked.

Originally from Manchester, Iowa, Ashley graduated from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy in 2012 with her PharmD and a certificate in public health. While in school, she worked at Walgreens pharmacies and interned at Blakesley Drug over summer vacation. As graduation approached, Ashley reached out to the owners of Blakesley Drug and was hired as a pharmacist. Here, she quickly became a PIC, and after five years of working at Blakesley Drug, she bought the pharmacy and opened Brehme Drug.

For Ashley, community engagement is vital, as she lives and works in the same community. She is a part of a local volunteer community, the Manchester Planning & Zoning Commission, and is on the Manchester Enterprises Board. Additionally, during COVID-19, the Brehme pharmacy team went above and beyond what was expected. Not only were they integral in vaccinating their community by providing vaccinations to the local American Legion and using that space to hold large vaccination clinics, but they also made and donated hand sanitizer to local law enforcement and schools, showing how dedicated they were to keeping their communities safe. Additionally, they found a way to bring a little joy to their patients during the pandemic with events like “COVID Spirit Week,” that featured theme days like “COVID Hair Day,” and helped celebrate the Easter holiday with their T-rex mascot, T-Rx. In Ashley’s words, “Brehme Drug is going to great lengths to keep our community healthy and smiling!”

Brehme Drug’s motto is “fearless pharmacy,” and they are not afraid to innovate. As a member of CPESN and Flip the Pharmacy, Brehme Drug is currently implementing a Medication Synchronization program to better care for their patients. So far, they have over 350 patients in the program and are working to add more. In addition to this work, Ashley’s goal for Brehme Drug is to be a center for healthcare in Manchester. She wants to go beyond dispensing and is hoping to expand their immunization program, start a test and treat program, and launch patient education classes. This forethought has not gone unnoticed, as Brehme Drug was awarded Retail Management Solutions’ “Climb Ascender'' Award for going above and beyond in their community and being innovators of care.

Ashley has been an active member of the Iowa Pharmacy Association (IPA) over the years. Most recently, she took part in an IPA pharmacy visit, welcoming IPA staff to meet her pharmacy team and showcase all of the amazing things Brehme Drug is doing to fill the needs of the community. When looking towards the future, Ashley thinks pharmacists are in the prime position to make change in patient care. She encourages all pharmacists to share what they do, voice the obstacles they face, as well as the outcomes they achieve. Ashley wants all Iowans to know how impactful pharmacists can be as part of the care team.

Thank you, Ashley, for your commitment to advancing pharmacy practice and serving your community! ■ www.iarx.org/join_renew