Employee Spotlight: Ashley Hancock, Cpht

Role: Certified Pharmacy Technician

How long have you worked with Mac’s Hometown Pharmacies? I’ve been with Mac’s for 14 years! I was hired in 2011 after completing my rotation hours here as part of the pharmacy technician program—and I loved it from day one.

What inspired you to work in the pharmacy field, and what do you enjoy most about your role? I’ve always been passionate about helping others, especially in the Knoxville neighborhood where I grew up. What I enjoy most about my role at Mac’s is the opportunity to build personal relationships with our patients. It truly feels like I am  making a difference in our community.

Can you share a memorable experience from your time working here? One moment I’ll never forget was when a patient accidentally drove through the pharmacy. A Ford Explorer came barreling through the building, all the way to the pharmacy counter! It was scary, but thankfully no one was seriously hurt. Definitely a moment that brought the team even closer together.

What advice would you give someone considering a career in pharmacy? Like any role in the medical field, your heart has to be in it. It’s not always easy, but it’s incredibly rewarding. Over the years, I’ve had several high school students shadow me, and I always tell them: if you love helping people, this is a great path.

How do you spend your time outside of work? Outside of work, I’m all about making memories with my three wild and wonderful kids—Elijah (15), Autumn (10), and Colt (7)—and my husband, Andrew. We’re always up to something fun as a family! Andrew and I will celebrate our 16th wedding anniversary this July. 

If you could recommend one product from our pharmacy, what would it be? Definitely our jams and jellies! Not only are they delicious, and if Ms. Brenda is around, you’ll also get a mouthwatering recipe to go with your purchase. She’s full of tasty ideas! 

Raspberry Jam Crescent Rolls

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line your baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. Line your crescent rolls on your baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roll them out individually. Fill each crescent roll with 1-2 tablespoons of preserves. Roll them up slowly.  Cook at 350 for 15 minutes until golden brown.Sprinkle with powdered sugar once they have cooled. Enjoy nice and warm!

Employee Spotlight: Morgan Campbell, Cpht

Role: Pharmacy Technician

How long have you worked for Mac’s Hometown Pharmacy?I graduated from Clinton High School and immediately enrolled in the Pharmacy Tech program at Roane State. I joined the team at Mac’s Oak Ridge as soon as I completed my training, and have been here for 10 months.

What inspired you to work in the pharmacy field, and what do you enjoy most about your role?I really enjoy patient interaction. Occasionally, I make deliveries to patients’ homes, and it’s so heartwarming to see just how much our free home delivery service helps them. The joy on their faces when they have a visitor is incredibly rewarding.

Can you share a memorable experience you’ve had while working at our pharmacy?  One of my favorite aspects of my job is participating in community events at Mac’s Pharmacy. Seeing Santa Mickey, Dracula Mickey, and all the kids and families dressed up is just adorable. I get to see such a strong sense of community during these events.

What is one piece of advice you would give someone considering a career in pharmacy? Don’t give up! I started pharmacy tech school right after high school, and one of the toughest challenges was learning to pronounce all the medication names. Spelling has never been my strong suit, so mastering both spelling and pronunciation was difficult. However, working in a pharmacy every day has provided me with invaluable hands-on experience, making a world of difference in my confidence and skills.

How do you like to spend your time outside of work? What are your hobbies or interests?Outside of work, I’m gearing up for an exciting milestone—I’m set to marry my high school sweetheart, Peyton Kendrick, this May. We met during my sophomore year at Clinton High School. I also enjoy spending time with my family and my adorable dachshund, Bartholomew, who will be celebrating his 1st birthday on April 13th!

If you could recommend one product from our pharmacy that you believe everyone should try, what would it be and why?I highly recommend everyone take a good Vitamin D supplement (2000 units). Many people are deficient in vitamin D, and adding this small dose can alleviate a variety of symptoms. It can boost mood, support immune function, and contribute to better bone and muscle health. Vitamin D really can make a significant difference in overall health!

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: SONYA LONG

Title: Certified Pharmacy Technician, Cpht

How long have you worked with Mac’s Hometown Pharmacies?
I actually started at Lowe’s Drugs and Home-Healthcare back in 2008 and later started my journey with Mac’s Pharmacy in 2010. I then had the opportunity to transfer back to my original store at Lowe’s back in 2017. With the merger with Lowe’s Drugs in 2024, I am excited to continue doing what I love at City Drug!

What inspired you to work in the pharmacy field, and what do you enjoy most about your role?
Similar to other careers in the health field, pharmacy technicians help other people. As a Pharmacy Technician, I am able to assist with maintaining patient safety, help people manage their healthcare needs and make a difference in people’s lives daily. Being a pharmacy technician allows me to take my own passions and make a direct impact on a patients health, which is incredibly fulfilling.

Can you share a memorable experience you’ve had while working at our pharmacy?
One of the best things about my job outside of helping patients is my co-workers. When we first found out about my son’s disorder, Rett Syndrome, Mac’s Pharmacy supported our family in many ways such as organizing fundraisers by selling tshirts, bracelets and merchandise to help with medical costs and travel for our family. They willingly dedicated their personal time, energy and love to show support for us. I am beyond blessed to get to work for such an incredible company and an amazing group of people that are not only my co-workers but family!

What is one piece of advice you would give to someone considering a career in pharmacy?
Pharmacy technicians can find careers in various settings such as retail pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, compounding pharmacies, home healthcare and even pharmaceutical companies. Although all these pharmacy settings play important roles, do your research and shadow the different areas and find the best placement for you as you consider making a pharmacy technician a career.

How do you like to spend your time outside of work? What are your hobbies or interests?
I have a 13 year old special needs son, Cortland, that keeps me on my toes. I spend most of my time outside of work making memories with him by watching movies, baking cookies and going on adventures such as cades cove, going on mom-son dates and enjoying theme parks!
One of my biggest priorities in life is self-care. I enjoy running every day, spending 30 minutes each day studying the Bible and working on my overall mental and physical health.
I am involved in several different groups including being a special needs leader at Rio Revolution church as well as volunteering with activities such as helping hands and special needs prom. I have also been a board member for a special needs group called Blount County Luke 14 for the last 2 years.

If you could recommend one product from our pharmacy that you believe everyone should try, what would it be and why?
I would definitely recommend a probiotic, I personally love superior probiotics. Probiotics, beneficial bacteria, offer potential health benefits including supporting digestive health, boosting the immune system and potentially aiding in weight management and mental health.

Employee Spotlight: Bruce Adkisson, PharmD

Role: Pharmacy Manager at Mac’s Pharmacy Oak Ridge

How long have you worked with Mac’s Pharmacy Oak Ridge?   I have been with Mac’s a total of 6.5 years.  I  had the pleasure of opening Mac’s Oak Ridge in September 2019. I graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 1993 and went on to earn my Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of Tennessee. With 25 years of experience as a pharmacist, I am proud to be part of the Oak Ridge Community.

What inspired you to work in the pharmacy field, and what do you enjoy most about your role?  I enjoy helping others and knowing that I’m contributing positively to their lives. Bruce strongly believes in the importance of patient satisfaction and excellent customer service, understanding that the best way to accomplish this is through teamwork and effective communication with each customer. I want them to feel comfortable approaching me with any questions they may have.

How do you like to spend your time outside of work? What are your hobbies or interests? I enjoy quality time with my family and taking bike rides. One of the cool things about working in a family run independent pharmacy is the ability to work with and mentor Jackson and Conner, two of my three sons who work part time at the store with me.

Can you share a memorable experience you’ve had while working at our pharmacy?   It really has been a joy to see the community rally around my technician who has been sick with cancer this past year. That technician has been with me since we opened in 2019 and she has been instrumental in helping grow this store. The generosity of the community last fall was over whelming. It showed me that the community cares as much about us and we do about them.

What is one piece of advice you would give to someone considering a career in pharmacy?  I strongly advise anyone contemplating a career in pharmacy to gain practical experience either in a hospital pharmacy or retail pharmacy prior to beginning their education. This experience will help you determine if this career path is the right fit for you.

If you could recommend one product from our pharmacy that you believe everyone should try, what would it be and why?  I highly recommend the vitamin line from Solutions RX. Their supplements are top-notch and cater to a variety of needs, whether it’s for sleep issues, memory enhancement, leg cramps, or general multivitamins. There’s truly something for everyone!

Macs Pharmacy West Knoxville

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: KRISTI HAWN, PHARMACIST

How long have you worked with Mac’s Hometown Pharmacy? I have been with Mac’s Hometown Pharmacy for about eight years. My journey began during Pharmacy School with an internship at Mac’s North Knoxville, followed by a year-long residency there.  I initially started out in Mac’s Long Term Care Pharmacy and eventually transitioned back into retail pharmacy, and became a PIC (Pharmacist in Charge) in 2021.

What inspired you to work in the pharmacy field? And what do you enjoy most about your job?  My uncle, Dr. Jeffrey Summers, inspired me to pursue a career in pharmacy. I always knew I wanted to work in healthcare, and during high school, I worked at my uncle’s doctor’s office. It quickly became clear to me that while I loved medicine, I wasn’t fond of the more graphic aspects of healthcare. What I truly enjoy about my job is the ability to impact people’s lives positively through medicine.

Can you share a memorable experience you’ve had while working at our pharmacy?  One of my most memorable experiences was during my clinical internship when I visited a patient’s home to review her medication after her hospital discharge. She was understandably confused about her new medication regimen, as some medications had been added while others were removed. I was there for 2 hours but I will never forget how rewarding it was to help her understand how to take her meds correctly, knowing it would significantly improve her health.

How do you like to spend your time outside of work? What are your hobbies or interests?  Outside of work, my four-year-old daughter, Kayleigh, keeps me pretty busy, and we are looking forward to the arrival our baby boy, Carter, who is due on March 12th. My family also owns Whimsy Cookie, and my husband, Cody, has recently opened a baseball facility focused on performance training in Sevierville.

If you could recommend one product from our pharmacy that you believe everyone should try, what would it be and why? I highly recommend a quality probiotic for gut health. Probiotics can help restore the balance of good bacteria in your gut, aiding digestion and alleviating issues like constipation, diarrhea, bloating, and gas. A healthy gut microbiome not only boosts overall immunity but also reduces inflammation and helps maintain regular bowel movements.

Voted Knoxville’s Best Community Pharmacy in Cityview Magazine’s Best of the Best 2022Cityview Magazine Knoxville’s Best of the Best 2022 | Story by Elisa Crawford  |  Photography by Nathan Sparks

Voted Best Pharmacist: Matthew Crawford  |  Voted Best Community Pharmacy  |  Voted Best Compounding Pharmacy

Building a Legacy:  Growing up, the family business was something I knew I wanted to be part of. I’d watch my father, Mac Wilhoit, go above and beyond for the business, his patients, and the community he had grown to know so well through his work. It was part of our lives, and I knew that at some point I’d want to be involved. I knew that what my father built the pharmacy on was much bigger than medication. For years, I watched him and my brother, Mike, grow the business into what it is today. Mike, now CEO of Mac’s Hometown Pharmacies, has expanded into 10 locations, servicing Knox, Anderson, and Blount counties. I’ve been fortunate to have been part of that growth for the last decade, as well, today as Director of Business Development for Mac’s LTC Pharmacy.  Walking alongside me has been my husband, Matthew, who placed first for Pharmacist in Cityview’s 2022 Best of the Best. Matt and I met in high school, and he pegs my father, Mac—who placed second in this year’s Pharmacist category— as the reason he became a pharmacist in the first place. “Mac showed me an article about how being a pharmacist was a great career path. He asked if I wanted to come work for him for a summer to see what I thought,” he recalls. “It was the best decision I could have made.” Matt quickly fell in love with the patients and interactions, and over the course of the next decade plus, he stepped foot into every position there from clerk and delivery driver to technician and pharmacist. Matt is now owner of two Mac’s Pharmacy locations.

It is about so much more than medication at Mac’s Hometown Pharmacies. Relationships are at the core of our business. Matt recently put it best: “Community pharmacies are the front line of healthcare. We’re the most accessible form, seeing our patients three to four times as often as primary care physicians might. “We get in depth into issues the patients are having, their medications, disease states, and more. We develop these relationships and rapport that have given us opportunities to take care of them. This is only possible because of how we’ve set up our brick-and-mortar based style of care.”

Community
At Mac’s, we make an investment in our community. I have watched as patients hug Matt in tears because they know they can count on him, on us. “We want to give that old time hometown pharmacy vibe,” he says. “We want to be more than where you pick up your prescriptions.” At Mac’s, we strive to always offer services to our community to better the health outcomes of our patients. We have free medication management packaging (MacPacks) to help with medication compliance, free kids vitamins, community education, and so much more. We even offer free delivery to Knox, Anderson, and Blount counties, which has been an enormous help to so many of our patients who find it difficult to leave their homes. We built this program to make it easier for our neighbors.

A New Space 
In June, we opened our newest brick-and-mortar location in West Knoxville. We’d been circling this community for years, waiting for the right time—and location—to present itself. Eventually it did, and it’s been a joy to watch this location grow over the last six months, especially for Matt who grew up in this neighborhood. “This is our community,” he says. “Mac’s Hometown Pharmacies’ family of locations is simply an extension of how we take care of it.” We look forward to serving you in the future at one of our locations and helping you in your wellness journey.

VOTED #1 (Gold): Community Pharmacy, Compounding Pharmacy, Matthew Crawford, PharmD