PCCA Honors Gopesh Patel, RPh, as the 2020 Compounding Pharmacist of the Year

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PCCA has named Gopesh Patel, RPh, of VLS Pharmacy in Brooklyn, New York, and New Drug Loft in New York City, as its 2020 M. George Webber, PhD, Compounding Pharmacist of the Year. This award is presented annually to an independent pharmacist who has demonstrated service excellence to patients, health care providers and pharmacy colleagues. Compounding is the pharmacy method of preparing customized medications to meet each prescriber’s and patient’s unique needs.

PCCA President Jim Smith presented the award to Patel on Monday, October 26, and announced Patel as the 2020 Compounding Pharmacist of the Year on Friday, November 6, during the company’s virtual International Seminar 2020, attended by more than 1,300 compounders in the United States, Canada, Australia and beyond.

“What an honor it is to have someone of Gopesh’s caliber and character blessing the lives of patients in his community and blessing those in the PCCA community,” Smith said. “In 2020, his care and compassion especially stood out through his work with patients afflicted with COVID-19 and their physicians, and his commitment to protect the members of his community with hand sanitizer donations and much more. We're all enriched because of our knowledge of him and our friendship with him.”

A PCCA member since 2009, Patel is the compounding pharmacist-in-charge and owner at VLS Pharmacy and New Drug Loft. He focuses on providing high quality prescriptions and compounded medications, as well as overseeing the state-of-the-art sterile compounding facilities at VLS Pharmacy, which is accredited by the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board through the Accreditation Commission for Health Care. A 1979 graduate of MS University in Baroda, India, Patel has extensive clinical knowledge in hormone replacement therapy, dermatology, urology and IV therapy, which he willingly shares with fellow compounders during his frequent lectures at PCCA educational seminars.

Patel’s philosophy is patient-centered, and this can be seen in the effort that he and the staff undertake to provide only the best products and services to all customers. He takes great pride in the quality of the compounded medications that he prepares and works closely with all staff to instill this same mindset and commitment to excellence. He frequently gives his time within the communities of Brooklyn and the Upper East Side, educating young people about pharmacy compounding.

Patel is also a member of the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York, Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding, American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine and American College for Advancement in Medicine. He is a Preceptor for pharmacy students from Long Island University College of Pharmacy, Touro College of Pharmacy and the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University in Boston. Plus, Patel regularly contributes to industry trade publications including Pharmacy Times.

Patel served a two-year term on PCCA’s Advisory Council 5 (2016-2017) and is a long-time member of PCCA’s Concierge Compounding Program. He frequently attends educational seminars and symposiums to learn new, more effective ways of treating his patients, and his networking with fellow compounding colleagues extends across the country. He is especially passionate about advocating for compounding pharmacy in New York and on Capitol Hill. He recently hosted New York Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke in his pharmacy to share patient access barriers and the role compounding plays in health care.

Prior to International Seminar, Smith presented the honor to Patel on a live Zoom call, where Patel’s family and pharmacy staff also joined him to help celebrate the honor. PCCA Vice President of Public Affairs, Communications, Education and Human Relations Lizzie Harbin and Jerry Beamer, RPh, a PCCA member, fellow Advisory Council member and colleague, also spoke about how Patel has influenced them personally and professionally as a leader in the compounding industry. Plus, Congresswoman Clarke shared her congratulations via video.

“Thank you for this honor. I’m truly humbled by it,” Patel said. “I always want to serve – anyone who has a problem or a difficult time. I like to help them. That’s how my family grew up, that’s what I’m following, and I tell my daughters to do the same. I like teaching and sharing with others, so that we can save lives. My reward has always been helping people feel better.”

The late M. George Webber, PhD, for whom the award is named, was a longtime professor with the University of Houston College of Pharmacy and was instrumental in the formation of PCCA in 1981. He was unwaveringly committed to meeting patient needs and upholding the highest quality and ethical standards, and shared his expertise and love for compounding with his colleagues and his students for more than 40 years.

ABOUT PCCA

PCCA helps pharmacists and prescribers create personalized medicine that makes a difference in patients’ lives. As a complete resource for independent compounding pharmacists and health systems, PCCA provides high-quality products, education and support to more than 3,000 pharmacy members throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and other countries around the world. Incorporated in 1981 by a network of pharmacists, PCCA has supported pharmacy compounding for nearly 40 years. Learn more at pccarx.com.