Insight - Fall 2020

Fall 2020 | 10 Customer Spotlight Richard Edmund, Staff Writer Professional Pharmacy Oxford is the only community pharmacy serving residents in Oxford, NC, a town of roughly 8,000 residents 30 miles north of the growing Research Triangle Region. But that wasn’t always the case. When Gary Bowman, R.Ph., started the business in 1994, his was one of three community pharmacies in town. “Over the years, the other two community pharmacies were bought out by bigger chains,” Gary said. “It’s neat that we’re the only independent in town. We know most of the people; most of the people know us. We go out to eat with them. We go to church with them. It’s a close-knit community.” Gary has a staff of 14 employees, including three pharmacists and five pharmacy technicians. They fill an average of 300 prescriptions a day and serve HME patients in the area. Gary said when he started college, becoming a pharmacist wasn’t initially his plan. “I went to the University of North Carolina not knowing what I wanted to do,” Gary chuckled. “I knew I wanted to do something in the healthcare field, but I wasn’t sure if I would become a doctor. I was talking to someone at the pharmacy school my sophomore year and quickly became interested in serving the community by becoming a pharmacist.” After graduating 35 years ago, Gary went to work for Mast Pharmacies, a small North Carolina chain. He helped transition a pharmacy in a nearby town and worked his Last One Professio