ITS YOUR BUSINESS – a St. Albans Messenger Feature
Published in the Friday May 10, Edition
Fairfax Pharmacy tapping students as source of knowledge, assistance
Rick and Alana Hogle own community store
Written by Leon Thompson
If you're wondering where lots of local pharmacy graduates get their first taste of field experience, look no further than Fairfax.
Fairfax Pharmacy, the Fairfax Commons store owned by Rick and Alana Hogle, is a teaching site for the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, which opened a Colchester campus in 2009. Fairfax Pharmacy usually plays host to eight students a year that are interested in / retail pharmacy; others might flock toward law or research.
"It's opened up the field quite a bit," Rick said of the Albany school's expansion to Colchester. "For a while, there, we had a real pharmacist shortage in the '90s."
Students placed at Fairfax Pharmacy are in good hands. Rick and his other in-house pharmacist, Judy Feierstein, of Essex, have nearly 60 years experience between them.
"We've seen quite a bit of changes," Rick said, but not only in technology. His profession is moving to a place where pharmacists are using their clinical expertise to assist people on an outpatient basis. One example
is "medication therapy management," which is a complete review of all medications a patient uses - prescription, and non-prescription.
"It's an excellent move," Rick said. "We get to utilize knowledge we have that, up to this point, hasn't been used."
When Rick opened Fairfax Pharmacy in 1991, the town had been without a pharmacy for 30 years. He had been working for a Milton pharmacist for 15 years, when he'd rather work for himself.
After 10 years of working alone in Fairfax, Rick took on a staff. Today, Fairfax Pharmacy employs eight people, including Rick and another staff member that has been with him since the first month he opened.
"I attribute much of my success with this store to my dedicated staff," he said. For the last half-decade, Rick has worked "the bench" three days weekly and manages his own books, which can keep him busy on his days off.
Fairfax Pharmacy is also the local department store. At 2,OOO-square feet, its shelves are filled with over-the-counter drugs, gifts, housewares, baby and pet gear, and more.
"This has all been very rewarding for me," Rick said. "It's nice to do something besides stand behind the bench and fill prescriptions all day. This has a community-center feel to it. It's positive."
Growing up in Mooers, N.Y, Rick, who now lives in Swanton, wanted to be a chemist after he got his first chemistry set in middle school. "I never blew anything up," he recalled with a laugh.
Rick spent the first two years of college majoring in chemistry, when his father suggested the Albany College of Pharmacy. Rick graduated in 1976 and had an internship in Milton, which led to his first job.
Rick had the confidence and ability to open his own pharmacy, but he wondered if he had enough money to survive. "The support from my family was key," he said.
Rick isn't considering retirement. If anything, he might find a student with whom to form a business partnership, which could lead to a successor at Fairfax Pharmacy.
"I can work these hours for quite a while," Rick said. "I have a good schedule."
JUST THE FACTS
owners: Rick and Alana Hogle
address: 997 Main St. (Fairfax Commons), Fairfax
hours: Mon.-Fri., 9-6; Sat. 9-3
phone: 802.849.2101; 800-834-1791 .
email: ric
k@fairfaxpharmacy.com web:
www.fairfaxpharmacy.com facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Fairfax-Pharmacy/108855982469194?fref=ts 
