Easton Bryant's North Century Pharmacy has been awarded the 2023 Excellence in Innovation award.

In accepting the award, he said, "Innovation is one of our core values, so being presented the 2023 Excellence in Innovation award from the Kentucky Pharmacists Association is an incredible honor. I have so much to learn and so much yet to accomplish, but receiving some affirmation from respected colleagues is certainly something special.

"The experience ignited me to be an even stronger advocate for the profession, so I appreciated the chance to be candid with my peers for a brief moment and used the opportunity to encourage pharmacists to listen.

"Listen to what your patients truly want. The status quo isn't working any longer. Bandaid approaches stacked upon one another don't cut it, and they shouldn't. Patients want answers and, as the most accessible health care providers, that gives us both a tremendous responsibility and a tremendous opportunity.

"How can we help them heal with comprehensive approaches? How can we help empower them to get to the root of their issue? People don't know what they don't know.

"And we won't always have all the answers. Nobody does. But we do have the abilities and resources to at least get them one step closer to the answer.

"Sometimes, it only takes a bit of simple education to make a world of difference. Sometimes, it takes a load of active listening. Either way, both are powerful uses of our time.

"Listen. Learn. Give. Care. It just might change a life."

Story Shared from ColumbiaMagazine.com