Toledo this week welcomed a Black-owned pharmacy in the Junction community.
Anthony Pattin turned on the “Open” sign to the Junction Family Pharmacy, 1339 Dorr St., inviting the community to upgrade its medication experience with an independent pharmacy.
After more than 15 years experience in pharmacy as a professor at the University of Toledo, Wayne State University, and the University of Buffalo, Mr. Pattin chose to relocate home to Toledo to use his expertise to fight health disparities in community pharmacy.
“Actually going to New York and just being back in that space again, it let me know that I really want to do it,” Mr. Pattin said. “I thought about staying in New York and doing it, but I thought it would be great to come back with my family here, making it more of a family affair, be able to work with them, and also with my own community.”
Opening a new pharmacy in his hometown also helps to address the pharmacy desert left by Rite Aid’s departure.
“I was thinking of waiting maybe a year to do this but then this really pushed it forward,” he said. “With [them] leaving, it just leaves a big hole and people from here have to travel all the way out.”