This Profile in Personalized Medicine highlights Stacy Hightower, CPhT. She is the lead marketer and compounding compliance officer for Las Colinas Pharmacy in Irving, Texas, owned by Jim and Jan Hrncir. They have been a proud PCCA member since 1990.
 

How long have you been compounding?

I have been compounding for approximately 35 years. While I no longer compound on a day-to-day basis, I still maintain my sterile certifications, media fills and annual potency tests on all dosage forms that are compounded.

Did you always want to work in the field of pharmacy? Why? If not, what led you to pursue it as a career? 

No. My dream was to become an elementary school teacher so I could have summers off to show quarter horses nationally. During my senior year at Angelo State University, I knew being a teacher was not for me and that the pharmacy is where I wanted to be. Jim immediately welcomed me back into the pharmacy and knew I would be a great fit for sterile compounding, as I am extremely OCD when it comes to cleanliness and neatness, as well as being methodical in all aspects of my life. I really feel like pharmacy became a career for me when I discovered the compliance side of compounding. I absolutely love the regulatory side of this industry. 

When did you learn about compounding? Why did you start compounding?

 I first learned about compounding from Jim when he was creating one of the very first estradiol gels in the country. Since I was so fascinated by this, he taught me about capsules. Then, it became my job to compound progesterone 200mg capsules, qty 30 — BY HAND-PACKING and weighing each one on a scale. I think every compounder should have to hand-pack capsules at least once to see how good they have it now with all the technology and equipment available at our fingertips. We laugh thinking about how we were compounding before the invention of the capsule machine. To this day, I try to avoid our capsule lab.  

What do you find most fulfilling about compounding?

Compounding lets us create customized medications for any human, young or old, and any type of animal you can imagine. I am fulfilled knowing that we were able to alleviate a patient’s mouth pain after going through radiation. We compound for the new mom who might have severe post-partum depression. We give back to our veterans who might be suffering from severe PTSD and have lost all hope. As a compounding technician, I am most fulfilled when I see our young technicians step up into a role within the pharmacy. I want to always empower our technicians so they know they are “more than just a tech.”

What are some of your favorite PCCA formulas?

I have so many favorites. I could have a favorite formula of the day! My personal favorite is PCCA Formula #12045. As someone who has a severe allergy to citric acids, I have had my fair share of lip and mouth blisters. For me, this formulation slows down the number of blisters that form and numbs the affected area. Feedback we’ve received from customers using this formulation indicates their blister breakout time and pain were greatly reduced.

A second formulation I love is PCCA Formula #12305. This formula is amazing at helping to alleviate dermatitis— including the itching and hot spots —for our pets. This formula is great because we can compound additional APIs into it, such as antifungals and antibiotics. Our veterinarians will even try the ZoSil®base (PCCA #30-4965) first before adding in other ingredients. Veterinarians are sold on ZoSil, especially when I show them photos of our corgi “Porkchop,” who suffers from severe dermatitis/hotspots on his front paws and arm pits. His flareups are easily maintained and stop within 1-2 days.

Marketing Tip – Ask a veterinarian if they have a pet that is resistant to commercially available products and are having a challenging time treating the condition. Offer to make a compound for their particular health challenge. We must help our practitioners think creatively and show them the tools that may help. 

Please share a compounding success story where a person or an animal was significantly impacted by compounding.

My Oprah “Aha!” moment is about a 6-month-old baby boy who was extremely ill. The baby’s parents were told to take him home on hospice to say goodbyes. This baby was suffering from Menkes disease, a rare congenital disorder of copper metabolism with severe multi-systemic manifestations. One of the compounding pharmacists at the children’s hospital reached out to see if we could compound a copper/histidine injection for the baby. After speaking with the PCCA Clinical Services team, we were comfortable and confident we could help him. When we started compounding for the baby, we knew his prognosis and thought this would be a very temporary compound. Much to our surprise and that of his medical team, he lived to almost 3 years old. It was not until his mom stopped in with a thank you card that simply read, “Thank you for being the reason our family got to enjoy and love our son for as long as we did. You are our family’s hero.”

What advice would you give to a new compounder?

Always ask yourself if the compound you just produced is worthy enough to give to your child, parent, spouse or animal. If you have any doubt, never hesitate to seek help and ask a question. Get to know your PCCA account rep or anyone at PCCA — they are a wealth of information. Hold yourself accountable and know that you are changing lives. Find a mentor in the industry. If you are constantly hearing or seeing a person’s name pop up in various places, do not hesitate to reach out and just say hello. Get involved with compounding advocacy groups (they are not just for pharmacists and pharmacy owners).