Area pharmacist receives special company award

~Plaque presented Aug. 31

CHARLESTON - Richard Logan, an independent pharmacist who practices at L&S Discount Pharmacy in Charleston, has received special recognition by the AmerisourceBergen Drug Company. In a recent newsletter published by the company, Dr. Logan was announced as the recipient of this year's Good Neighbor Pharmacist of the Year for the North Region.

Logan was nominated by Julie Walker, an account manager for AmerisourceBergen. In the nomination, Ms. Walker said that Logan "serves his community and profession with dignity and compassion for the good of his patients and profession."

Logan is more than a pharmacist, he is also a deputy sheriff for Mississippi County. He became involved in law enforcement in 1992 when a close friend of his was elected county sheriff. The new sheriff realized the county did not have sufficient staff to address a growing drug problem, and still serve the county's day-to-day needs.

According to his nominator, Logan was asked to attended law enforcement academy and became a deputy sheriff to help protect the community he was already keeping healthy. Because of his expertise in this area, Logan has been invited to lecture to many different groups on topics ranging from drugs and drug abuse to women's self defense and child safety.

Logan also serves on the infant mortality board in Mississippi County. This is a mandated program managed by the Department of Social Services designed to better identify how and why children die and, ultimately, to develop prevention strategies that encourage changes that will save lives.

In recognition for his community achievements, Logan has been invited on several occasions to serve as master of ceremony for the Lions Club Man and Woman of the Year community awards. He is also a recipient of the award.

"Logan demonstrates unwavering commitment to the health of the residents in his community through his service at L&S Pharmacy," according to the news release announcing the award. During the past year, the pharmacy has held Diabetes Days and mini health fairs. These events are designed to keep patients up to date on the most current treatments for their disease states, and keep them involved in their own healthcare.

Very involved with community pharmacy at the regional and national levels, he currently serves as a regional advisor for Good Neighbor Pharmacy in the North Region and serves as a leader to the "cluster" group of Good Neighbor Pharmacies in the Southeast Missouri area.

During the 2006 AmerisourceBergen Healthcare Conference, Logan was the instructor for a continuing education course on methamphetamines.

Logan is quoted often in regional and national forums. Included are the NCPA's America's Pharmacist magazine, the Missouri Pharmacist magazine, National Public Radio, the North Region Good Neighbor Pharmacy newsletter and the NCPA Pfizer Digest for 2006. As well as being quoted in articles, Logan is a board member of the National Independent Pharmacy Coalition and very active in legislative matters that pertain to community pharmacy. Activities which in the past year have proved to be very necessary to help save community pharmacies from the increasing challenges they face.

Logan was presented with a plaque commemorating the award on Aug. 31. Representing AmerisourceBergen in the presentation award was Pade Pritchard, director of retail sales; Tom Donofrio, retail program manager; and Julie Walker, the account manager who submitted the nomination.