Hidden Gems: Meet Josie Ross of Phillips Family Pharmacy

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Josie Ross.

Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Upon finishing pharmacy school, I was given an opportunity to work in a big box pharmacy for a few months. I had no intention of opening a pharmacy, but after that internship, I was bound and determined to open a pharmacy that employees loved and patients felt like family. I opened Phillips Family Pharmacy in 2013.

Since then, we have been serving Riverside, Missouri, and surrounding communities for over a decade now. My motto since day one has been to treat every patient like family. I have had a passion for helping patients, which is a big reason why I opened my pharmacy ten years ago. A few years after Phillips Family Pharmacy opened, we started non-sterile compounding (which is a way to produce unique dosage forms of medications based on patient preferences and restrictions), and from this, I developed a passion for women’s hormone health.

I saw a trend with women being on depression and anxiety medication and got very curious about how I could help in different ways. This was the start of my three additional years in functional medicine school. I wanted to be able to provide the best care for my patients possible, so I received my certification in dosing bio-identical hormones through C4 at PCCA and A4M Functional Medicine Endocrinology Fellowship. Through this fellowship, I had a HUGE “ah-hah!” moment and began to heal my health: my adrenals, detoxification pathways, hormones, and gut health.

Since the first day we opened the pharmacy, we wanted to be able to provide healthcare services to our patients that are customized to meet their needs and add functional medicine to our extensive list of services (compounding, free delivery, hospice, medication bubble packing, and MTM services). Functional medicine has truly changed my life and my family’s. I am passionate about teaching each patient to do the same!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It In no way has this been a smooth road, owning an independent pharmacy is very tough these days with low to negative reimbursements, DIR fees, and insurances forcing patients to big stores.

The journey has been unique in that I do not give up easily. I am passionate and driven, and I know I am making a difference in my community, which is why we are still here today.

I appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Phillips Family Pharmacy?
We are Phillips Family Pharmacy-11 years in business, multiple year winners of Best Pharmacy in Kansas City, Women in Business license, and we do everything from compounding, we have our line of supplements, free delivery within 10 miles, mailing, hospice, and long term care, bubble packing medication, pharmacist consultation and functional medicine.

What sets us apart is that we are truly family-owned; my brother and mother help with deliveries, and my sister is a technician. Most proud of my hormone certifications and line of supplements. We are also different because we care about patients and their families.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
BEST–super Bowl champions, GO CHIEFS, doesn’t feel like a big city, Midwest charm, the people, and lots of stuff to do and see. Least–not really anything except limited restaurants north of the river.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.phillipsfamilypharmacy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/functionalpharmdjosie/
• Facebook: @phillipsfamilypharmacy