When Shahida Choudhry, Pharm.D., founded her Palms Pharmacy in 2016 in The Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms, she already had a decade of Publix pharmacy experience under her belt and knew exactly what she did and didn’t want her independent pharmacy to be.
What Dr. Choudhry didn’t want was to just fill prescriptions; her goal was to bring back the welcoming vibe of the old-school neighborhood pharmacy. At Palms Pharmacy, it’s not just about getting your meds — it’s about being part of a community where the employees know your name and the prescriptions you need because you’re a familiar face, not just another line item. Since Palms Pharmacy first opened eight years ago, Dr. Choudhry’s team has grown to a total of 16 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
“My vision was to give back to the community and help our patients,” Dr. Choudhry explains. “We’re focused on your overall wellness and helping you get off medications that you might be able to replace with natural supplements.”
She adds, however, that she will never tell you to stop taking a medication your doctor has prescribed for you. Instead, she will make suggestions to bring back to your doctor if she thinks that there is a better way to achieve the same goal. “This is a passion project of mine that’s evolved over the years,” she says.
A proud alumnus of Long Island University (LIU) in Brooklyn, NY, Dr. Choudhry earned both her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degrees from LIU.
Her Palms Pharmacy offers personalized, on-site compounding services, creating primary care provider-prescribed creams, topicals, mouthwashes, etc., while outsourcing items like semaglutide for weight loss to trusted, high-quality sterile pharmacies.
“We make sure that your compounded medications are affordable,” she says. “Compounding is important, and we want to ensure that you have access to the meds you need.”
In addition to those meds are Palms Pharmacy’s private-label supplements (photo on next page), available both in-store and online at Shop.ThePalmsPharmacy.com. Among the many supplements are a variety created to help kids with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).
“We have a lot of parents who have told us the ADHD supplements have really helped their children,” Dr. Choudhry says. “It’s important to know that helpful supplements like these are available.”
Independent, But Not Alone
Dr. Choudhry is proud of her relationships with other independent pharmacy owners, not just here in the Tampa Bay area, but across the country, as a brand ambassador for independent Health Mart pharmacies.
Speaking of independent pharmacies, Palms Pharmacy has been nominated for the 2024 Health Mart Pharmacy of the Year. There are more than 5,000 independent and locally owned neighborhood pharmacies allied together under the Health Mart banner. In order to win the award — which will be announced at the McKesson ideaShare convention in New Orleans, LA, in June, a Health Mart pharmacy has to be judged to have best-in-class clinical practices, be an outstanding Health Mart brand ambassador, be a community leader and independent pharmacy advocate and exhibit excellent financial performance.
The Health Mart franchise is owned by Health Mart Systems, Inc., which is part of McKesson Corporation.
Additionally, Dr. Choudhry was named number six among the 50 Most Influential Leaders in Pharmacy by the Pharmacy Podcast Network, as voted on by her peers.
“It’s a North American recognition,” she says. “It’s my third year in a row of being in the top 10. It’s an honor, and I think it’s pretty crazy that my peers have voted for me.”
Dr. Choudhry, who also is often a presenter or featured speaker at many pharmacy conventions, was recently in Washington, D.C., fighting for pharmacy benefit reform, to help pharmacists become recognized as health care providers and help get new Medicare reform laws passed.
“We’re just trying to make some kind of positive changes,” she says.
Wellness Now! Telehealth Care
In an expansion of her commitment to her patients, Palms Pharmacy is now partnering with Wellness Now! to provide telehealth care appointments to help patients with a variety of needs. However, Dr. Choudhry says Wellness Now! is starting by offering patients interested in weight-loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy (semaglutide) or Mounjaro and Zepbound (tirzepatide) that their primary care physicians won’t prescribe (usually due to insurance restrictions), to be able to have telehealth appointments with licensed nurse practitioners who are able to prescribe these medications. Then, Palms Pharmacy is happy to fill those prescriptions for you.
Dr. Choudhry says that when the coupons for affordable Wegovy and Mounjaro were pulled two years ago, many patients were left unable to afford their prescriptions. She decided to find other ways to get these meds.
“We’re giving patients another option and it’s very important that the prescriptions are affordable,” she says. “We found options for them starting at $100 per month. Wellness Now! is a great option for patients.”
The licensed nurse practitioners evaluate each patient’s medical history and future goals to determine the best course of treatment for their personalized health care plans. If deemed appropriate, patients will receive a prescription to help facilitate weight loss — compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide options.
Also coming soon to Wellness Now! are Men’s Health appointments, with the intention of increasing testosterone naturally. “This is a different approach than just throwing testosterone at patients,” she says. “We have to find the root cause of why the testosterone is dropping. We’re also going to offer erectile dysfunction (ED) compounded medications that are more natural, not just the blue pill.”
In addition, Wellness Now! also will offer dermatological telehealth appointments and Dr. Choudhry says she will soon be making an exciting announcement about them.
Locally-Sourced Retail & Outstanding Reviews
In addition to over-the-counter medications and a huge selection of natural supplements that she is happy to describe for Palms Pharmacy customers, Dr. Choudhry also hand-curates a selection of unique gift items. These include whimsical cotton candy and marshmallow candies and other sweets and snacks, as well as locally-made soaps, candles and natural local honey. She regularly attends natural product expos to source new products and collaborates with local independent creators. And, her prices are always competitive with, if not less expensive than, what you’ll find in a large chain store.
“People think a small, independent pharmacy is more expensive, but it’s really not,” she says. “We really want to be competitive. We’re like a hidden gem.”
Her customers and patients agree. In one of more than 400 5-star Google reviews, customer Kimber B. highlights some unique findings in her Google review:
“Excellent service. The pharmacist is very knowledgeable and helpful. The staff is polite and attentive. The retail items are great quality and yes, I’m a sucker for the cotton candy.”
Another customer, Deborah B., expresses her appreciation for the exceptional service she has received in her 5-star review: “They are efficient, friendly, and so helpful. Our pediatrician recommended them to us, and we drive across town because of the quality customer service and efficiency of this pharmacy.”
Anniversary Celebration April 19
On Friday, April 19, 3 p.m.-5 p.m., Palms Pharmacy is throwing an 8th anniversary bash with a food truck providing free food. Attendees can snag tons of freebies and great giveaways. “I just love what I do,” gushes Dr. Choudhry. “Do you have days when you don’t want to go to work? That’s not me. I absolutely love my job!”
When not at the pharmacy, this dynamic Wesley Chapel resident, her husband Irfan, her son Eisa and her daughter Sarina love to travel.
Palms Pharmacy (17008 Palm Pointe Dr.) is open Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Call (813) 252-9063 or text the secure text-only line: (727) 513-3210. For more information, see the Wellness Now! or visit ThePalmsPharmacy.com.
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