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How can technology and AI transform operations without losing the personal touch that defines community care?

In this episode, Scotty Sykes, CPA, CFP®, Ollin Sykes, CPA, CITP, CMA and Austin Murray sit down with AJ Asgari, CEO of Drugstore2Door to unpack the evolving role of technology in independent pharmacy.

We cover:

• Why digitizing pharmacy services is no longer optional for growth
• How AI can enhance patient interactions and streamline daily operations
• Practical strategies to bridge the gap between convenience and customer service
• Ways automation reduces repetitive tasks while freeing staff for higher-value work

More About Our Guest:

AJ Asgari is the CEO of Drugstore2door and Multi-Pharmacy Owner in Norman, Oklahoma.

A dynamic entrepreneur, AJ's journey began immediately after graduating from pharmacy school, where he purchased his first pharmacy using nothing but grit, goodwill, and work ethic. That bold first step set the tone for a career defined by resilience, growth, and vision. Over the years, he expanded into multiple pharmacy acquisitions, startups, and sales, while also venturing into consulting, real estate, investing, and even serving as a banking board member.

His entrepreneurial path ultimately led to the creation of drugstore2door, a company dedicated to empowering independent pharmacies with a strong online presence. By bridging the gap between traditional community pharmacies and the digital marketplace, drugstore2door helps owners stay relevant and competitive in the modern era.

Today, he continues to champion independent pharmacy by blending innovation with mission-driven leadership, driven less by profit and more by impact, collaboration, and the pursuit of long-term sustainability for pharmacy owners nationwide.

Stay connected with AJ and Drugstore2Door:

AJ Asgari LinkedIn

Drugstore2Door Website

Drugstore2Door Facebook

Drugstore2Door Instagram

Drugstore2Door YouTube

Drugstore2Door LinkedIn

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More on this topic:

Podcast: Relationships That Scale

Podcast: Reinventing Revenue Streams

Podcast: Becoming a Pharmacy Gladiator4

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As a pharmacist, serving your community means putting your advocacy hat on and stepping into unfamiliar territory.

One of the largest untapped resources that can really drive change towards PBM reform is using your existing patient base to show legislators the importance of PBM legislation.

In this episode, Scotty Sykes, CPA, CFP®, Bonnie Bond, CPA, MBA, and Austin Murray, sit down with pharmacist and owner of Table Rock Pharmacy, Jessi Stout, to explore the grassroots advocacy efforts driving Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) reform in North Carolina.

We cover:

• How to engage customers in advocacy
• Why local advocacy is critical for independent pharmacies
• Real-world stories that bring the PBM issue to life for legislators

More About Our Guest:

Jessi Stout is the owner of Table Rock Pharmacy in Morganton, North Carolina and winner of the 2025 Cardinal Health's Community Leadership Award which celebrates independent pharmacists going above and beyond for their community.

A dedicated advocate for independent pharmacy, Jessi was once uninvolved in politics, has become a strong leader in the fight for PBM reform and combines her role as a local pharmacist with her passion for patient care, ensuring her voice and the voices of her patients are heard in legislative conversations that shape the future of pharmacy.

Table Rock Pharmacy was one of the first pharmacies in North Carolina to offer the yellow fever vaccine and was the only pharmacy in the region offering the REGEN-COV and EVUSHELD injections while they were authorized to treat COVID-19.

Additionally, during Hurricane Helene, Table Rock Pharmacy remained open, despite power outages and fallen trees. Transactions were recorded by hand to ensure patients could still get their prescriptions. At one point, they transported a generator by wheelbarrow to keep critical medication frozen. During this time, Stout also spoke out against audits being performed by Optum Rx. A social media post went viral, and this attention resulted in audits being paused for hurricane-affected areas.

Learn more about Jessi and Table Rock Pharmacy:

Table Rock Pharmacy Facebook

Table Rock Pharmacy Instagram

Table Rock Pharmacy Website

Table Rock Pharmacy TikTok

Table Rock Pharmacy YouTube

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Bonnie Bond – CPA LinkedIn

Bonnie Bond – CPA Twitter

More on this topic:

Podcast: Becoming a Pharmacy Gladiator

Podcast: Pharmacy's Never Ending Story

Podcast: Pharmacy O

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As a pharmacy owner, it often feels like you’re fighting battles against systems designed to work against you.

Few battles loom larger than the fight against Pharmacy Benefit Managers whose opaque practices have chipped away at margins, patient trust, and sustainability for independents.

In this episode, we have two very special guests on the front lines of PBM reform: Dared Price, President of OreadRx and Price Pharmacies and Mark Cuban, legendary entrepreneur and co-founder of Cost Plus Drugs.

Scotty Sykes, CPA, CFP®, Bonnie Bond, CPA, MBA, and Austin Murray sit down with Mark Cuban Dared Price to explore how transparent models are reshaping the future of drug pricing and pharmacy benefit management.

We cover:

• The real impact of spread pricing, rebates, and hidden contracts on pharmacy owners
• How Cost Plus Drugs is cutting out middlemen to bring transparency to patients and pharmacies
• Why OreadRx’s transparent PBM model could change the game for independents
• What a fair reimbursement ecosystem might look like and how owners can prepare

And more!

Stay connected with Dared Price, OreadRx, Mark Cuban and Cost Plus Drugs:

Dared Price LinkedIn

OreadRx Website

OreadRx Facebook

Cost Plus Drugs Website

Cost Plus Drugs LinkedIn

Cost Plus Drugs Facebook

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More resources about this topic:

Podcast - Pharmacy’s Never Ending Story: PBM Reform Act and Medicare Drug Pricing Changes

Podcast - Pharmacy Ownership Through Time

Podcast – The State of PBM Reform

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We're seeing an uptick in pharmacies starting their own insurance agencies which can be a great way to get paid for work you're already doing.

But there's a lot of complexities and compliance elements to consider.

In this episode, Bonnie Bond, CPA, MBA, and Austin Murray sit down with Seth Schlegel, Owner of Independent Community Broker Network to explore the evolving strategies for generating revenue around insurance consultation in a rapidly changing healthcare environment.

We cover:

• Maximizing Patient Profit Centers
• Revolutionizing Patient Care with Low-Cost Solutions
• Ensuring compliance in offering insurance consultations

More About Our Guest:

Seth Schlegel is the Founder of Independent Community Broker Network and is a healthcare strategist with deep expertise in helping providers reimagine financial and patient models for the modern era. He is passionate about creating sustainable solutions that balance revenue growth with meaningful patient outcomes, ensuring pharmacies and healthcare practices can continue serving their communities for generations to come.

Learn more about Seth and ICBN:

ICBN Website: https://www.myicbn.com/
ICBN LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/icbn-independent-community-broker-network/

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Scotty Sykes – CPA, CFP Twitter

Bonnie Bond – CPA LinkedIn

Bonnie Bond – CPA Twitter

More on this topic:

Podcast: Relationships That Scale

Podcast: Becoming a Pharmacy Gladiator

Podcast: The Evolution of Pharmacy Accounting and Tax

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Growing your pharmacy without losing your people along the way can be tricky but not impossible.

On this week’s episode of the Bottom Line Pharmacy Podcast, we tackle one of the most pressing challenges multi-store pharmacy owners face today: People operations at scale.

In this conversation, we have a full crew of Sykes team members featuring Scotty Sykes, CPA, CFP®, Bonnie Bond, CPA, MBA, Austin Murray, Marketing Director and Tyler Davis, Director of People Operations, to unpack the realities of managing HR in a multi-store pharmacy world.

We cover:

- Why transitioning to multi-store operations creates new compliance hurdles
- How engagement programs and stay interviews strengthen retention
- Why recognition matters just as much as (or more than) compensation
- Why investing in HR early can be key to sustainable growth
And more!

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Scotty Sykes – CPA, CFP Twitter

Ollin Sykes, CPA, CMA, CITP LinkedIn

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Pharmacy has come a long way and so has pharmacy accounting and tax.

From handwritten ledgers and neighborhood storefronts to advanced technology, diversified revenue, and expanded clinical services.

And through all these changes, Sykes & Company has seen it all.

In this episode, Scotty Sykes, CPA, CFP®, Bonnie Bond, CPA, MBA, and Austin Murray sit down with Ollin B. Sykes, CPA, CMA, CITP, Founder and President of Sykes & Company, P.A. trace the evolution of independent pharmacy and accounting and tax.

We cover:

- The Sykes difference
- How Sykes' over 4 decades of experience working with pharmacies has shaped the industry
- Technology and it's impact on both pharmacy operations and accounting practices
- New revenue opportunities beyond dispensing prescriptions
And more!

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Scotty Sykes – CPA, CFP Twitter

Ollin Sykes, CPA, CMA, CITP LinkedIn

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Building a thriving team in today's pharmacy landscape starts with you.

But what exactly does good leadership look like? Is leadership a learnable skill that can be developed over time?

In this episode, Scotty Sykes, CPA, CFP® and Bonnie Bond, CPA, MBA sit down with leadership expert Kelley Babcock to explore how effective leadership can make or break independent pharmacies. From self-management to team development, Kelley shares practical strategies that empower pharmacy owners to lead with clarity, energy, and purpose.

We cover:

- Why leadership is an inside job that starts with managing yourself
- How coaching-style leadership can transform team performance
- Strategies for building a high-performing, engaged team culture
- Time and energy management tips for every pharmacy owner
And more!

More About Our Guest:

Kelley Babcock is the Founder of Leadership Growth Formula and has made it her mission to learn the secrets of leadership and share them with independent pharmacists everywhere. Bringing over three decades of proven experience as an in-the-trenches leader of high-performing teams, Kelley has successfully managed $40 million in revenue for a Fortune 500 company and later doubled the revenue of a small business development company while serving as its COO. Under her leadership, that organization also grew its employee base fivefold, a testament to her ability to scale both people and performance.

Beyond her professional achievements, Kelley is proudly married to her husband Tim for 40 years, a devoted mom to two adult children, and a “pandemic puppy parent” to a spirited malti-poo. A Florida native through and through, she combines business acumen with a deep commitment to family and community.

Want to learn more about Kelley and Leadership Growth Formula? Click below to check them out!

Kelley Babcock LinkedIn
Leadership Growth Formula Website
Leadership Growth Formula Facebook
Leadership Growth Formula LinkedIn

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More on this topic:

Podcast: Building a Super Culture in Your Pharmacy

Podcast: Pharmacy Leadership Amplified

Podcast: Becoming a Pharmacy Gladiator

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How do you tackle one of healthcare’s biggest challenges from behind the pharmacy counter?

That’s the question at the heart 💙 of this week’s conversation.

In this episode, Scotty Sykes, CPA, CFP®, Bonnie Bond, CPA, MBA, and Austin Murray sit down with rockstar Pharmacist Dr. Amina Abubakar, PharmD, AAHIVP for a compelling discussion on how community pharmacists can step up as frontline advocates in dementia prevention, early detection, and caregiver support.

We cover:

• Why dementia care is a growing opportunity and responsibility for pharmacies
• How pharmacists can build relationships that lead to collaborative care
• The future of pharmacy as a community-centered, problem-solving profession
• And more!

More About Our Guest:

Amina Abubakar graduated from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy University of the Sciences in 2005. She is the owner and manager of Avant Pharmacy & Wellness Center formerly known as Rx Clinic Pharmacy in Charlotte, NC, and the founder of the Avant Institute.

She is an internationally recognized award-winning clinical pharmacist, Certified HIV Specialty Pharmacist, a preceptor to UNC Chapel Hill residents and students from several schools of pharmacy. Recently, Amina was bestowed the honor by the National Community Pharmacists Association as 2020’s Independent Pharmacist of the Year and also received the 2020 Bowl of Hygeia from the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists for outstanding service to the community.

She has fostered an environment that showcases the impact of community pharmacists on patient care by collaborating with medical providers and expanding pharmacist-led clinical services in her community. Her desire to help others advance the pharmacy profession inspired her to found the Avant Institute to offer training to pharmacies across the country on the practical application of clinical pharmacy services through developing sustainable physician collaborations.

Currently, she shares her passion for pharmacy advancements with pharmacists, patients and policy makers all over the country through Pharmacogenomics. She was invited to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and to the FDA to discuss the role of pharmacists in pharmacogenomics.

Stay connected with Amina:

Amina Abubakar LinkedIn

Avant Pharmacy and Wellness Website

Avant Pharmacy and Wellness Facebook

Avant Pharmacy and Wellness LinkedIn

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Scotty Sykes – CPA, CFP LinkedIn

Scotty Sykes – CPA, CFP Twitter

More resources:

Podcast: Elevate and Collaborate

Podcast: Pharmacy’s Never Ending Story: PBM Reform Act and Medicare Drug Pricing Changes

Podcast: Pharmacy Ownership Through Time