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pharmacist profile
Changing Lives with MMT
AN INTERVIEW WITH LARRY BOGGIO
Nicole Balan, R.Ph., B.Sc.Phm., MBA., M.Ed.
A
Manager, Pharmacy Practice Programs
re you, as a pharmacist, looking profile), Larry began dispensing methadone over a decade
ago when someone inquired whether his pharmacy
to make a difference in your patients’
lives? Are you interested provided MMT services. Two local doctors and the
in making a difference to future staff pharmacist attended the CAMH training together,
which, Larry noted, helped to build inter-professional
generations through educating youth about addiction? Do
you get excited about partnering with other professionals rapport from the start.
and associations in the community to impact not only your Boggio Pharmacy currently works with over 100 MMT
patients’ lives but the lives of everyone in the community? clients and serves these clients seven days a week. From
If so, please read on, and you will find out how pharmacist speaking with Larry and his other staff pharmacists, it is
Larry Boggio and his pharmacy team are positively affecting
lives in their community though their methadone mainent
from any other patients. To pharmacists who have ap-
clear that in their experience, MMT patients are no differtenance
therapy (MMT) practice.
prehensions about dress, manner, and behaviour of MMT
Many pharmacists are interested in pursuing an MMT dispensing
practice, but may perceive barriers or have concerns. laborative approach to harm reduction, with patient agree-
patients, Larry would explain that he and his staff take a col-
Pharmacy Connection interviewed Larry Boggio about his ments that clarify boundaries and ensure respect is a twoway
street. His patients look on the pharmacist as a health
community pharmacy practice and how he began to dispense
methadone. Larry shared his experiences of how he and care provider who cares about them and is working with
his staff positively affect patient care, engage in the broader
community, and educate for change in youth. Finally, he all their patients to view them.
them, and for them. This is how pharmacists would want
shared many examples of the feedback he has received from Larry’s approach to care extends to the broader community,
where he has established an excellent relationship
his MMT and former MMT patients about how their lives
have changed — which provides him with the professional with the physicians, hospital emergency staff, police, and
satisfaction that all of us, as pharmacists, seek: knowing the schools (including teachers, students, and administration).
tremendous difference we make in the lives of our patients. In fact, he has been instrumental in working with other
Larry graduated from the University of Toronto in health care and non-health care professionals who may
1981, but his career in pharmacy sprouted before university
— Larry was a stock boy in a local community phartions.
Boggio Pharmacy pharmacists have been effecting
have erroneously attached stigmas to patients with addicmacy
in high school. As well, he comes by the profession change by providing educational sessions in the schools that
naturally, as he has two older sisters also in pharmacy. have greatly altered how the community’s young people
He was out of school only about a year and a half before view addiction. Some students have been so inspired that
becoming a pharmacy owner. Always active in his community
and professional associations (see sidebar for full ject of
they are now pursuing graduate-level education on the sub-
addiction.
12 pharmacyconnection • July/August 2009