Ben Ross

Ben Ross, Statesboro Magazine’s Most Fabulous Man of 2023, is a local pharmacist who is impacting the world of medicine by going above and beyond in serving his patients at Forest Heights Pharmacy and the community at large by the exceptional care he offers, the great service he provides and the new medicines he creates and compounds for the better health of all.

Ross grew up in Sylvania, the son of independent pharmacist Virgil “Sonny” Ross.

“I grew up in Dad’s pharmacy,” said Ross. “My first job was delivering medicine to customers. I learned at an early age that I wanted to do just what my dad did, serve the community.”

After graduating with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from UGA, Ross moved to Statesboro with his childhood sweetheart, Lauren, to purchase Forest Heights Pharmacy in 2008. Ben has since become a partner in seven other independent pharmacies in Georgia; Ross Drug in Sylvania, Coastal Drug Company in Midway, Georgetown Drug Company in Georgetown (Savannah), Clark Drug Company in Waynesboro, Pillar Drug Company in Guyton, Crawford & Breazeale Drug Company in Lincolnton, and Thomson Drug Company in Thomson.

Ross was one of the first providers in Georgia to receive and administer the COVID-19 vaccine, subcutaneous Regen-Cov (a combination of monoclonal antibodies), and oral COVID-19 antivirals. He also co-created the company Frontline Nutrition with two other pharmacists to develop immune-boosting over-the-counter supplements, ID-6 and chewable children’s formulation kID-6, to support a healthy immune system. The supplements are sold in 40 states in more than 150 independent pharmacies across the U.S.

“I saw a real need during COVID to come up with an over-the-counter supplement that contained what many doctors were prescribing to boost the immune system,” said Ross. “I worked with Pete Nagel of Midway and Bryce Allfrey of Lincolnton to form a company and create a supplement with Zinc, Vitamins B, C, and D, elderberry and immuno-proteins. We started with a small batch of capsules, which quickly sold out. Now we have a manufacturer, a logo and a website, and we’ve sold over 30,000 bottles.”

Ross credits other independent pharmacists for the success of his new drug. A member of the Association of Independent Pharmacists, a national organization which represents a vast network of providers, Ross was awarded the 2022 Joe Mengoni AIP Pharmacists of the Year Award for his commitment to “Innovation and passion in the practice of Independent pharmacy.”

Each year, pharmaceutical company Upsher-Smith partners with the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations (NASPA) and state pharmacy associations to honor innovators in the pharmacy field. Ross was selected as the 2022 Georgia recipient of the “Excellence in Innovation” award for his creation of ID-6.

In addition, Ross was honored as a member of the UGA Bulldog 100 Class of 2020. He was selected as one of UGA’s 40 Under 40 for 2018. He is a graduate of the Georgia Pharmacy Association’s Leadership Class of 2017. In addition to being Statesboro Magazine’s Most Fabulous Man, Ross is a multi-year winner of the Statesboro Herald’s Best of the Boro contest.

In all he does, Ross wants to be the best that he can.

“I want to be the best husband, the best father, and the best pharmacist,” he said. “I watched Dad and saw him serve his community. I wanted to follow in his footsteps. In many small towns, large chain pharmacies won’t locate because the market isn’t big enough. That’s where independent pharmacists cover the gap in care for rural patients. You don’t just serve the community, you become a part of it.”

"Ross serves Statesboro as a member of Downtown Rotary. He is on the board of directors of YoungLife and Ogeechee Technical College. He serves on the Bulloch County Hospital Authority Grant Committee, is chair of the Statesboro Drug Free Coalition, and is on the advisory boards of Bulloch First Bank and the Citizens Bank of Swainsboro. This year he was tapped as president-elect of the board of directors of the Georgia Pharmacy Association.

Even though he is involved in so many great organizations and seven other pharmacies, Ross spends most of his time in Statesboro.

“This is our home base 100% of the time,” said Ross.

Lauren is the school nurse at Southeast Bulloch Middle School, and Mom to the Ross’ three children: Lanie (12), Lucy (8), and Reed (4).

“I think of our children, Lanie is the most likely to follow in my footsteps,” said Ross.

The girls opened a lemonade stand this past summer to raise funds for the Hearts & Hands Clinic. Another organization in which Ross participates as a pharmacy provider.

“I can tell she already has the heart for it,” he said. S