Meet Andrew Cloutier | PharmD/Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrew Cloutier and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrew, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Freedom to improve people’s lives. Owning an independent pharmacy gives a pharmacist the chance to work at the top of their license without having to satisfy corporate interests. And that means better care to the community. An independent pharmacy can pivot immediately when the community needs it. No going through a chain of command when you have a new idea that would better patients’ health, just to be denied. In today’s world, pharmacists yearn to take more time out of their day to apply their knowledge and personalize the care they can give. Independent pharmacies make that a priority.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Andrew has been a community pharmacist for 17 years. His desire to care for the health of others began during his 4 years in the US Army as a Medic. Pharmacy was a way for him to continue in the health sciences, and with the encouragement from peers, he received his PharmD from the University of the Pacific in California. His jump into owning his own pharmacy felt like a natural move for him since years of experience taught him that excellent patient care comes from the ability to spend time with the patient with the focus on outcomes and not numbers.

Shelley started her career in corporate wellness in 2000. She took time off to homeschool their two children who are now both graduated from high school. Shelley’s background in lifestyle change through fitness and nutrition seemed to be a perfect match for what they wanted to accomplish in the pharmacy. They wanted to give people the option to improve their quality of life in the midst of a condition by offering people a way to reduce their need of medications by incorporating lifestyle changes through fitness, nutrition and health coaching. Therefore she developed a wellness component in the pharmacy to help make care less fragmented.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Ada Michigan is a suburb of Grand Rapids. I would definitely have people come in October. The color changes here in the Fall are spectacular. Visiting here gives you a quiet relaxed experience filled with old covered bridges and a quaint warm “I’m home” type of feeling. Don’t get me wrong. You can go into the city and eat at unique restaurants and attend a symphony but the real draw for us is the slow pace yet modern vibe of Ada. Each season (we have all 4) gives you a rhythm to life that just drips with contentment.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Really our shoutout goes to our parents. They raised confident visionary people who filled our worlds with love and support.

Website: www.adavillagepharmacy.com

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