More than two years after Juneau’s only compounding pharmacy closed its doors, a new one is taking its place — literally.
Earlier this week, Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, or SEARHC, announced the opening of its new Mendenhall Valley Pharmacy. It’s located at the exact same location Juneau’s longtime Ron’s Apothecary Shoppe once called home.
“SEARHC is trying to fill a void for a lot of the communities in Southeast,” said Mike Dow, the health consortium’s system director of pharmacy. “The prescriptions that we would compound are open to any provider, so it’s not limited to SEARHC providers, and we will be able to mail those out to the various communities.”
Ron’s Apothecary closed its doors in late 2023 after nearly 50 years of service. It was Juneau’s only compounding pharmacy and one of just a handful across the state. Compounding pharmacies make customized medications on site, specific to individual needs and health concerns.
When Ron’s closed, Dow said patients in Junau and other Southeast Alaska communities had to look elsewhere to get their personalized medications, like Anchorage, Soldotna, or the Lower 48. Soon, Dow said, residents will be able to get their specialized medications right in the Valley. SEARHC’s new pharmacy will begin offering compounding services on Sept. 8.
SEARHC also has a non-compounding pharmacy at its Ethel Lund Medical Center in Lemon Creek.
“There’s a lot of expansion and growth that’s happening in the Valley, and we wanted to be where it would be convenient for folks to come over on a lunch break, or before or after work, and not have to run all the way downtown,” Dow said.
Thad Mowdy is the pharmacy manager for the new Mendenhall Valley Pharmacy and used to work at Ron’s. He said he’s excited to be back at the location. He said, similar to Ron’s, the new location will also have a storefront filled with over-the-counter medications and health and wellness products.
“I’ll oversee day-to-day operations and then also training up my staff for the compounding services,” he said. “That way, products and everything are consistent with how they used to be made at Ron’s as well.”
SEARHC has been rapidly expanding its services in Juneau and Southeast Alaska. In the past three years, it’s acquired Southeast Medical Clinic, Juneau Youth Service and several other clinics throughout the region and recently opened a new urgent care facility in downtown Juneau.
