UH NCPA Hosts Independent Pioneer Ed Horton

UH Alumnus and National NCPA Honoree Encourages Students to be Involved in Community, Seek Out Service Niches

UHCOP alumnus Ed Horton, R.Ph., encouraged students to go the extra mile for their patients and their community in his keynote address at the UH Chapter of the National Community Pharmacists Association's 4th Annual Meet and Greet Jan. 16 at the UH Alumni Center.

Owner of Tanglewood Medical Supplies & Pharmacy in Stephenville since 1986, Horton was honored as the National Community Pharmacists Association Williard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year at the organization's national meeting in October 2013. 

Thrall presents Horton with a plaque for his service as keynote speaker at 4th Annual NCPA Meet and Greet.

"Everyone who comes in your pharmacy is your patient, first and foremost," Horton said. "But, they're also your neighbors, your children's teachers and coaches, your firefighters and police officers, your business associates and, in many cases, your friends. You should be involved in your community, whether it's serving on the school board, joining the chamber of commerce or the Rotary, or buying the prize pig at the livestock show. It's good business and good citizenship.

"If a customer comes into the pharmacy and we're out of Pedialyte, we'll run to the grocery store, pick it up and deliver it to their house. A parent with a sick child should be at home taking caring of that child, not having to run around town trying to find something they should have been able to pick up with their medications."

A member of the college's Mading Society of benefactors and the 2007 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient, Horton is a past president of the Texas Pharmacy Association. In addition to membership in NCPA, TPA and APhA, Horton serves on the board of the Alliance of Independent Pharmacists of Texas. Horton is credited for his pioneering approach to independent pharmacy practice by focusing on patient education and counseling to improve medication adherence and health outcomes.

"To survive and be successful in independent pharmacy, you need to look for opportunities to grow and expand your services and always stay on top of your inventory and expenses," Horton said. "Not only do I have a large warehouse for medical supplies and durable medical equipment for patients, over the years I started serving long-term care/nursing homes, hospice, group homes for the disabled, rehab facilities, and many other areas. We've always done compounding, but I also hired a pharmacist who was interested in hormone replacement therapy and that's become very successful as well."

UH NCPA Chapter President Ally Thrall said Horton's innovative practice serves as an inspiration for all pharmacy students.

"I was very appreciative that Mr. Horton took so much time out of his schedule to travel so far to share his experiences with us," Thrall said. "It means a lot to the students when pharmacists, especially our own alumni, come back to teach us. It is really encouraging to see pharmacists who are still so involved in their profession and who are constantly fighting for it.

"I also really enjoyed hearing about his own pharmacy because I hope to have the same connection with my patients one day. Ed is an incredible man and I'm so glad he was able to attend our event!"