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Honoring Stan Haywood
I first met Stan Haywood as a student in pharmacy school in 2001. I was excited by the opportunity to spend a month at his pharmacy, Prevo Drug, in my hometown of Asheboro, North Carolina. I remember being quite impressed by Stan and the love and respect his customers and employees had for him. Never having worked in an independent pharmacy, I found the family atmosphere and the amount of time Stan was able to spend with his customers appealing. This experience affirmed that retail pharmacy was the right course for my career. The following year, 2002, I graduated from pharmacy school and went to work for Eckerd Pharmacy. When my son, Carson, was born I took some time off work. In the summer of 2003, I received a call from Stan asking if I would be interested in working for him part-time. By that time, I was ready to return to work, and the chance to
Honoring Stan Haywood A Mentor, A Coach, and A Friend
By Ashley Duggins
work part-time at Prevo Drug was a perfect fit for me. I was thrilled to be joining Stan and his staff! After having my second child, Sydney, in 2006, my part-time job quickly developed into a full-time job.
Always one to think outside the box, Stan was on the cutting edge of pharmacy and was constantly presenting me with new challenges for career growth. These new challenges were exciting and advanced both our profession and our pharmacy. Stan provided me with the opportunity and the freedom to explore new ideas and new projects. He was always supportive and welcomed new ideas. If I made mistakes and got ahead of myself, he would put things into perspective and encourage me to keep going. Stan was so much more than my boss; he was my mentor, my coach and my friend! In 2012 he began talking about retirement and asked if I would be interested in taking over the pharmacy. I was beyond thrilled, as I could think of no greater honor than to carry on the legacy of Prevo Drug. In December of 2013, my husband Ken and I purchased Prevo Drug from Stan. What an amazing yet terrifying day! Always faithful, Stan was with me every step of the way, promising to help me in any way that I needed. Trust me when I say I needed him often! I would call him at least four to five times a day with questions; however, he never got frustrated. He accepted the fact he was on my speed dial! He continued to work parttime for me two days a week. Even though I became more comfortable with my new role as owner, I still needed Stan. Sometimes just his presence at Prevo Drug or in my office would bring me comfort. Like a sponge, I soaked-up his wisdom on every possible occasion.
In July 2017, Stan was diagnosed with stage 4-pancreatic cancer. It was such a devastating blow to so many people; however, he handled it with grace, as he did all things in his life. After he started treatment, he was unable to work. He missed it greatly, as he loved to be with his customers and they with him. Although he did not come to Prevo Drug as often, I would talk to him on the phone, sit with him while he was getting chemotherapy or just have a glass of tea on his back porch. Spending time with him made me feel instantly wiser. His passing has left a void, and I find myself needing him and his wisdom often in both my pharmacy career and in my daily life as well. Stan’s pharmacy was his mission field. He was passionate about advancing pharmacy, but, most importantly, his customers came first. He would always say to me, “When you take care of your customers, everything else falls into place.” In the day of low reimbursement, DIR fees and prior authorizations, Stan’s philosophy was “think about the ‘I cans’ instead of the ‘I cant’s’.” He has big shoes to fill! I do my best to honor him every day and to carry on his legacy. Here is an excerpt from his obituary. A lifetime Tar Heel, Stan graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy. He opened Prevo Drug, Inc., with business partner, Jim Prevo, in 1972. He was the owner and chief pharmacist of Prevo Drugs, Inc., in Asheboro for 40 years and continued to work parttime after selling Prevo. He was a certified compounding pharmacist and a certified diabetic educator with the Greensboro AHEC. He served as a Randolph County Commissioner for three terms, on the Randolph County Board of Health, and on the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy. He worked tirelessly to advance the goals of Randolph County as well as those of the pharmaceutical profession. In April, the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy established the $1.1 million L. Stanley Haywood Recovery Fund. The fund will provide assistance to pharmacy professionals battling substance abuse problems. He has been a member of N.C. Mutual Drug Company since 1972 and has served on both the Mutual Drug Legislative Affairs Committee and the Mutual Drug Retail Advisory Committee. Haywood is a member of the N.C. Association of Pharmacists and was serving his third term as a member of the N.C. Board of Pharmacy.
Ashley Duggins, PharmD is the owner of Prevo Drug in Asheboro, NC. ashley@prevodrug.com
