Growing up, I remember regular trips to the pharmacy with my grandmother, who was a diabetic and suffered from every complication of the disease.  She was a double amputee, had vision problems, as well as heart and kidney issues. Those visits to the pharmacy were very often and I got to observe how much she trusted the pharmacist.  From as far back as I can remember, I have always wanted to help others be at their best.  Ultimately, my path led me to becoming a pharmacist. With over 15 years in pharmacy practice, I am viewed as trustworthy and have been able to serve people in various ways.

Owning my own pharmacy has been a dream through which I can help even more people in many more ways. Sozo Wellness Pharmacy is an integrative pharmacy that will empower people to become whole in mind, body, and spirit through health education and accessibility to natural and pharmaceutical therapeutic options.  Sozo Wellness Pharmacy will be located in the Dunbar Community of Fort Myers and will primarily serve this community, as well as the downtown Fort Myers area.  It is important to me to open Sozo Wellness Pharmacy in the Dunbar community because it is the place that contributed so much to who I am today.  I am a 4th generation native of Dunbar and my desire to contribute to growth in the community is deeply rooted.

Sozo Wellness Pharmacy will serve as an advocate for patients as they transition through the healthcare system, which will lead to decreased hospital readmissions and utilization of the local healthcare system.  We will also provide education on the appropriate use of medications and help to decrease barriers related to medication accessibility (cost, lack of understanding, transportation, etc). In the future, urgent care visits will also be available at the pharmacy.  A healthcare provider will provide these services virtually or onsite, as an effort to minimize emergency room visits.

Wellness services provided by Sozo Wellness Pharmacy are affordable mind/body therapeutic options such as meditation classes, massage therapy, and chiropractic care.  These therapies are proven to be effective and reduce medication use, however, they are usually inaccessible to low socioeconomic populations, due to lack of exposure or cost. We will also have affordable, convenient, and healthy foods available such as smoothies, juices and take-out meals.

When Sozo Wellness Pharmacy opens the 2nd quarter of 2021, it will fill a gap that has long been present in this area of healthcare services. Currently, there is no community pharmacy within a 2.5 mile radius of the 33916 zip code.  The opening of this pharmacy has the potential to ultimately improve the health and economic outcomes of the Dunbar and surrounding community for generations.