The National Community Pharmacists Association names its National Pharmacist of the Year, and he hails from right here in Louisiana. T.J. Woodard owns Prescriptions to Geaux, which has two locations in Baton Rouge. Woodard, who owns the pharmacy with his wife, was very humble when he learned that he was named national pharmacist of the year by the NCPA.
“These things are just kind of odd for me, but it’s a huge honor. I’d say it’s really more of a reflection of what we’ve been able to accomplish in Louisiana, and it’s being seen nationally,” Woodard said.
Woodard says along with a plaque and a $1,000 Willard B. Simmons award, his alma mater is also benefitting from his honor.
“They donated $1,000 to the pharmacy school of my choice, which was the University of Louisiana at Monroe Pharmacy School, where both my wife and I graduated,” Woodard noted.
Woodard earned his Doctor of Pharmacy from ULM in 2007. He later earned his MBA from LSU in 2011.
Woodard says contrary to popular belief, he and other independent pharmacists are able to effectively compete against the major pharmacy chains.
“Our prices are the same or better, usually; we’re in every little small town in America. There’s several parishes in Louisiana that do not have a chain pharmacy, so an independent pharmacy is their only option,” Woodard explained.
Woodard says the biggest challenge facing independent pharmacists is the current model in which pharmacy benefit managers that also own the big pharmacy chains reimburse them at below their costs.
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