Kansas City, KS — Pharmacy closures across the U.S., including in Kansas City, are leaving communities in crisis. After the Duchesne Clinic closed, more than 1,000 patients had to find new providers, and nearly 400 have turned to Pharmacy of Grace.
KCUR interviewed one of the Duchesne patients who is now coming to Pharmacy of Grace. Our co-founder John Yost explained what is driving many of the closures.
https://pharmacyofgrace.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Up-To-Date.webp560560Pharmacy of Gracehttps://pharmacyofgrace.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Pharmacy-of-Grace-Logo-v2.jpgPharmacy of Grace2024-11-10 17:50:312024-11-11 09:59:10POG Interviewed about Pharmacy Closures on KCUR’s Up To Date
Kansas City, KS — Pharmacy of Grace is honored to announce the Dr. Gary L. Grunewald Legacy Advanced Community Pharmacy Rotation, named in memory of an esteemed educator and mentor who devoted more than five decades to the training and development of pharmacists and medicinal chemists. Pharmacy of Grace is founded and staffed by many of his former students, and this is a wonderful way for us to honor his memory. Pharmacy of Grace hosted an event Thursday November 7th, 2024 to unveil a plaque and officially name our student rotation program in his honor.
“Dr. Grunewald was more than just our Medicinal Chemistry professor; he was a genuinely kind person who always made time for his students, said Michael Fink, Pharmacy of Grace Vice-President of Clinical Operations and Pharmacist-in-Charge. “You’d often see him around Lawrence, especially at KU sporting events, and always with a friendly smile. I’ll always remember him fondly.”
Pharmacy of Grace founder John Yost also remembers that despite being vision impaired, Dr. Grunewald would perfectly draw chemical structures on the blackboard. He was a significant influence in his field of medicinal chemistry, but also had a positive influence on students’ lives, smiling and greeting them in the hallways. “He taught hundreds of future pharmacists and trained many PhDs who went on to have a significant impact on drug development and research,” said Yost.
Dr. Grunewald has already left a remarkable legacy at the University of Kansas, where he joined the School of Pharmacy in 1966 as one of the pioneering faculty members of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry. We continue to honor his memory through this student rotation program, which will continue to inspire future students. Pharmacy of Grace dedicated the plaque in honor of Dr. Grunewald at an event Thursday November 7th.
Dr. Grunewald was more than a professor—he was a leader and a mentor who influenced the pharmacy world on a national scale. His impressive list of accolades speaks to his commitment and expertise. He served as national chairman of the American Chemical Society’s Division of Medicinal Chemistry, was recognized as a Distinguished Fellow of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, and became a Fellow of the American Chemical Society. His induction into the ACS Division of Medicinal Chemistry Hall of Fame highlights his profound impact on the medicinal chemistry community. In addition, Dr. Grunewald was a founding board member of the Medicinal and Bioorganic Chemistry Foundation, a nonprofit organization devoted to educating medicinal chemists.
Upon his passing in 2023 at age 85, Dr. Grunewald’s legacy lived on through the creation of the Gary L. Grunewald Charitable Fund, established through his estate with the Douglas County Community Foundation. This act of generosity continues to support efforts that reflect his values and dedication to pharmacy education, including the work being done at Pharmacy of Grace—a pharmacy proudly founded and staffed by many of his former students. The Dr. Gary L. Grunewald Legacy Advanced Community Pharmacy Rotation is a testament to his vision and his enduring influence on the profession.
Goals of the Rotation Program
This rotation offers an enriching experience for future pharmacists, aligning with the values Dr. Grunewald embodied throughout his career. The program’s objectives include:
Patient-Centered Care: Students will collaborate with patients to create comprehensive, evidence-based care plans that consider social determinants of health, cultural beliefs, and health literacy. These plans will be monitored and adapted to ensure effectiveness and affordability.
Interprofessional Collaboration: Participants will work as part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team, sharing medication-related expertise and communicating effectively with other health professionals to address patient needs.
Pharmacy Operations: The rotation provides practical experience in fulfilling medication orders and overseeing pharmacy operations, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
Professional Development: Students will create and implement a plan for continuous professional growth, emphasizing lifelong learning and professional integrity.
Foundational Skills: The program focuses on cultivating professionalism, strong communication skills, and a deep understanding of foundational pharmacy knowledge—qualities Dr. Grunewald instilled in all his students.
Pharmacy of Grace is deeply proud to carry on Dr. Grunewald’s legacy through this rotation. It is a fitting tribute to a man whose life’s work was dedicated to improving the profession of pharmacy and supporting the next generation of healthcare professionals. His impact will continue to resonate for years to come, as students who pass through this program uphold the same high standards he championed throughout his remarkable career.
Here are a few photos from the event. The entire photo album from the event can be found here on our Facebook page. Make sure to like and follow us, and help spread the word about Pharmacy of Grace.
Dr. Gary L. Grunewald Charitable Fund Board of Trustees (from left to right):
Tim Caldwell, Dan Flynn, and Mike Rafferty
Gene Hotchkiss (former Senior Associate Dean of the KU pharmacy school) and wife Kari.
From left to right back row: POG VP of Clinical Operations/Pharmacist-in-Charge Michael Fink, Trustee Tim Caldwell, POG Co-Founder John Yost
From left to right front row: Trustee Dan Flynn, POG Co-Founder Sara Yost, Trustee Mike Rafferty.
The event included unveiling the plaque that marks the official naming of the Pharmacy of Grace rotation program in honor of Dr. Gary L. Grunewald.
Dinah and Apurba Dutta (students of Gary, interim chair and associate professor Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Kansas.)
Watch the video from our event here or on our YouTube page:
https://pharmacyofgrace.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Grunewald-Blog-Post.png7501000Pharmacy of Gracehttps://pharmacyofgrace.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Pharmacy-of-Grace-Logo-v2.jpgPharmacy of Grace2024-11-08 14:12:332024-11-10 17:23:16Celebrating the Legacy of Dr. Gary L. Grunewald: The Advanced Community Pharmacy Rotation at Pharmacy of Grace
Kansas City, KS — Imagine waking up every day, battling an unseen enemy that drains your energy and clouds your future. For millions of Americans, this is the reality of living with diabetes.
Diane Marquez knows this struggle all too well. She was struggling with constant thirst, fatigue, and sleepless nights. It wasn’t until she found herself in the hospital with a blood sugar level of 500 that she realized the truth: she was diabetic. “This was my wake-up call,” she said. She knew she needed to take charge of her health.
Recognizing Diabetes Awareness Month
November is Diabetes Awareness Month and at Pharmacy of Grace, every day we see the burden that the cost of diabetes medications can place on patients. Our mission is to alleviate some of that stress by ensuring those in need have access to affordable insulin and medication. We aim to help diabetes patients avoid the difficult choice between purchasing life-saving medication and providing groceries for their families. Our goal is to ensure that all patients can prioritize their health, in an affordable and stress-free way.
Since January 2024, we have dispensed 2,197 diabetic prescriptions to 564 patients. Of these, 1,695 prescriptions (77%) went to 465 patients (82%) living below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). More than half of those prescriptions (57%) were for patients living in extreme poverty (100% below the FPL.)
Understanding Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
In people with Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas doesn’t produce insulin while people with type 2 diabetes produce insulin, but their bodies don’t use it properly and over time may also produce less insulin. Those with type 1 must take insulin injections or use an insulin pump every day to survive, while type 2 can be treated with lifestyle changes like exercise, weight loss, and a healthy diet, as well as medications. Both type 1 and type 2 can lead to serious complications, such as heart attack, stroke, kidney damage, and vision loss.
Why is insulin so expensive?
Drug costs are higher in the United States than in any other country. There are a few reasons for this:
Limited competition that makes up 90% of insulin sales
Manufacturing process
Lack of pricing regulation
Generally, prices for drugs decrease within 20 years, but for insulin, prices remain as high as 100 times the cost of production, according to Yale School of Medicine.
Diabetes patients struggle to afford their life-saving medication because of these factors. Diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate in the United States, and according to the CDC’s (Centers for Disease Control) National Diabetes Statistics Report for 2022, cases of diabetes have risen to approximately 37.3 million.
“If I can afford it, I can stay healthy.”
With the help of a dietitian, insulin, and Metformin, Diane began to learn about proper nutrition and how to manage her condition to be there for her grandchildren. “Listen to your body,” she advised. “Once I started listening, I started loving myself.”
She praises Pharmacy of Grace for helping her be able to afford her medication on an on-going basis. “Pharmacy of Grace is so worth it because I can afford it, and if I can afford it, I can stay healthy,” Diane shared. With support for both uninsured and underinsured patients, Diane emphasized, “If you are underinsured, check out Pharmacy of Grace. They’re very knowledgeable and hand-held me through the process with every form and answered all my questions. Their customer service isn’t just a 10; it’s above and beyond. Everyone is here to serve the patient.” Diane’s journey shows the importance of accessible healthcare and reminds us that sometimes, the first step to healing is simply asking for help.
At Pharmacy of Grace, we’re determined to help those in need and proud to have created affordable plans for uninsured and underinsured patients. Support our mission by donating or spreading the word about our affordable insulin through our Grace Meds Program. Help diabetes patients in need today.
https://pharmacyofgrace.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/POG-Blog-Post.png7501000Pharmacy of Gracehttps://pharmacyofgrace.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Pharmacy-of-Grace-Logo-v2.jpgPharmacy of Grace2024-11-05 16:04:232024-11-05 16:16:41Diabetes Awareness Month: Because of Pharmacy of Grace “I can Stay Healthy!”
