Where integrative care fuels connection

When pharmacist Chinelo (Nelo) Uddoh opened Opal Wellness Pharmacy last year, her primary goal was to reconnect with patients and redefine what people can expect from a community pharmacy. Today, she is well on her way to doing just that by offering tailored pharmacy services that blend compounding, evidence-based natural health products and true patient-centred care.“I really missed being a full-time pharmacist and helping patients understand and navigate healthcare challenges,” says Uddoh, who left a lucrative corporate job in digital health at Deloitte to launch her own independent pharmacy in Ottawa’s south end.Inside the 1600-square-foot pharmacy, Uddoh has built what she calls “a space that feels intentional.” Every detail—from the welcoming aroma of natural essential oils to workstations built for comfort and efficiency—serves its purpose. Drawing on her background in IT, for example, Uddoh equipped the pharmacist station with dual large touchscreens—one for dispensing software and the other for research and clinical communication. Other stations also feature larger than conventional touchscreens that are easier to navigate. “When you’re actively trying to dispense a prescription, you frequently need to go from one task to another. Having multiple screens just makes it easier and less straining,” she says.Roughly 40% of her pharmacy services involve compounding medications, something Uddoh views as essential to individualized care. “We want to help our patients get the most they can out of pharmaceutical interventions,” she explains. “Many people have challenges that can’t be managed with conventional products.” With a keen focus on women’s health and pain management, she’ll send recommendations to patients’ doctors for medications the pharmacy can compound. “I find that physicians are generally open to trying things, especially when they have challenging cases,” she says. For example, “Many patients are able to stop taking oral pain medications they were using for years and find good relief with topical products.”The pharmacy’s emphasis on integrative care reflects Uddoh’s belief that traditional and natural medicine can work together safely when guided by evidence. “We advise patients on how to use natural health products that are evidence-based,” she says. For more complex cases, she collaborates with a naturopathic doctor who shares the space and keeps her updated on new research.Uddo’s confidence in blending these disciplines comes from a diverse professional path. Originally from Nigeria, she first studied biochemistry and microbiology at the University of Nigeria before earning her pharmacy degree at Eastern Mediterranean University in North Cyprus. After immigrating to Canada, she worked her way up from pharmacy assistant to pharmacist at Shoppers Drug Mart, and is currently completing a Master’s in Health Informatics from the University of Waterloo. Her time at Deloitte’s Health Connect Product Factory, building digital-health systems for cancer-screening programs, gave her further perspective on the gaps she needed to fill. “While it’s great to build systems, I saw that we were already short-staffed on the pharmacy front,” she says. “I wanted to be on the ground, helping patients directly.”These days, with one full-time staff member and a rotation of pharmacy and pharmacy assistant students completing placements, Uddoh wears many hats. “We always have people coming through for training, which keeps things dynamic,” she says. “But as a small team, we have to be very strategic about how we manage the workflow and still make time for clinical care.” That includes making good use of technology to streamline administrative tasks.Outside the pharmacy, Uddoh continues to share her experiences with peers. Already active on LinkedIn and Instagram, she is relaunching her blog next year to help others learn how to integrate compounding into everyday practice—even if they’re not compounding pharmacists themselves.“Talking about my experiences as an independent pharmacy owner, and as a woman, is something that I want to continue to do going forward, because I would love to see more women do what I’m doing,” says Uddo who is a mother to two young daughters, ages four and two.Financially, she admits her first year has been about “building foundations” rather than profits. “We’re still trying to get to that point of break-even,” she says. “But people come in and say, ‘The whole street is buzzing about you’ so I know I’m on the right track.” One patient even brought in her grandfather’s World War II pharmacy scale as a gift that Uddoh now displays. “Moments like that make you feel appreciated and remind you that what you’re doing matters.”Perhaps Uddoh’s most coveted offering is her knack for open conversations that make every patient feel welcome at Opal Wellness. Determined to make her pharmacy a safe and welcoming space, she takes the time to engage in meaningful conversations—even with those who hold opposing views. Uddo says she will encourage a vaccine-hesitant patient to share their viewpoint, while also helping educate them on facts around vaccine benefits. “If the breakthrough happens on the fifth visit, that’s still a public-health win,” she says.Looking ahead, Uddoh plans to pursue certification through the Menopause Society of Canada and expand pharmacy services for women in midlife, including helping patients navigate questions and concerns around hormone replacement therapy, and provide evidence-based information to guide treatment. She is also upgrading her compounding capabilities by adding a Level C lab on the premises. “I want to continue to have a pharmacy where women, in particular, receive the care they need,” she says.In doing so, Uddoh continues to develop a pharmacy model that blends clinical expertise with the kind of individualized care that patients seem to be seeking more and more.Rosalind Stefanac is a Toronto writer specializing in business, retail and pharmacy topics.

Where integrative care fuels connection

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