To understand how the Bowmanville Clinic Pharmacy became such an ingrained part of the community it serves, you have to look back at over five decades of expertise, growth, and exceptional patient care. It all began with a bicycle delivery boy who had an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to help others.
Neale McLean, father to current co-owner Marlene, started his pharmacy profession in 1957 as a bicycle delivery boy for a clinic in Lindsay, Ontario. After graduating from the University of Toronto’s pharmacy program in 1965, Neale moved to Bowmanville and established the Bowmanville Clinic Pharmacy in March 1969 in the brand-new medical building at 222 King St. E.—where it remains to this day.
During Neale’s first years in the pharmacy business, he oversaw huge shifts in the medical profession and in pharmaceutical knowledge. What we view as common medical practice (such as keeping patient medication histories, using childproof safety containers, and providing consultations with pharmacists) was just beginning to come into popularity.
In fact, throughout his years owning Bowmanville Clinic Pharmacy, many of the drugs Neale once prescribed were retired for completely new classes of drug and new discoveries. This helped foster a deep sense of continuous learning and dedication to the pharmacist craft that is still felt at Bowmanville Clinic Pharmacy to this day. The pharmacists and technicians at Bowmanville Clinic Pharmacy take extra training in compounding medications in order to be true artists in their profession and better serve their patients.
In 2012, Marlene and co-owner Patty Rice took ownership of Bowmanville Clinic Pharmacy. Both Marlene and Patty have grown up with a deep respect and understanding of the pharmacy profession, and after both graduated from the University of Toronto’s pharmacy program, it seemed only natural to continue their family pharmaceutical legacies. Patty, Marlene, and the entire staff at Bowmanville Clinic Pharmacy are proud and honoured to be practising the profession they love in Bowmanville.
Patty has had connections to the pharmacy profession for as long as she can remember. Her grandfather, Alex McGregor, graduated with a pharmacy degree in 1927 and six years later bought an existing pharmacy, renaming it Alex McGregor Drugs. He owned and operated the store for almost 40 years. A University of Toronto pharmacy graduate (class of 1992), Patty partnered with Marlene as co-owner of Bowmanville Clinic Pharmacy in 2012. She and her husband live in Bowmanville with their three children.
Daughter of founder Neale McLean, Marlene has always been a part of Bowmanville Clinic Pharmacy. During the summers in high school, she would help to unpack orders, stock shelves and look after customers. She was the pharmacy delivery girl for a year at the end of high school. After graduating from the University of Toronto pharmacy program in 1990, she came back to Bowmanville to work in the family business, and partially took over the business in 2012. She earned her designation as a Certified Diabetes Educator in 2013. Marlene, her husband and son are proud to call Bowmanville home.
We are very happy to introduce Ashlee Brunt and are proud to have her here as part of our work family at the Bowmanville Clinic Pharmacy as a pharmacist. Ashlee graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy in 2012 and completed her Post-Baccalaureate Doctor of Pharmacy in 2018 from the University of Toronto. She is a Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist. Ashlee works as a pharmacist in both the community and hospital settings. She is also an Assistant Professor at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto. Ashlee has a passion for mental health and has worked in the areas of forensic psychiatry, dual diagnosis, and neuropsychiatry.
We are happy to introduce Wendy Paul and proud to have her as part of our work family as a Registered Pharmacy Technician. Wendy has been with us at the Bowmanville Clinic Pharmacy for 8 years and has been in the pharmacy business for 40 years. She is also our Front Store Manager.
My name is Carmela Harrison and I’m 21-ish years old (heavy on the -ish part). I am the self-appointed manager of the pharmacy technicians, jack-of-all-pharmacy-trades and am totally AWESOME! No joke, just ask the others!! If we count my younger years of being in pharmacy, I’ve been in the field for 29 years – yes, I started when I was -7!! Now, don’t go doing all the math and taking the fun out of this. I’ve been with my amazing Bowmanville Clinic Pharmacy family for 21 of those years, and to my surprise Michelle and I still get along; just don’t ask me her nickname, lol! That’s me in a nutshell. I could go on, but Marlene asked for a short bio (insert eye-roll here).
We at the pharmacy are happy and proud to have Carm as part of our pharmacy family. We think she’s awesome, too. Shhhh, don’t tell her that!
We are pleased to introduce Kirsten, who is a graduate from the University of Toronto and former classmate of owner Patty Rice. She has been a pharmacist for over 25 years. As a local resident born and raised in the area, Kirsten feels privileged to serve her community by providing pharmaceutical care. We are proud that Kirsten has been part of our Bowmanville Clinic Pharmacy team family since 2007.
We are happy and proud to introduce Sherry Hendriks. Sherry is a Registered Pharmacy Technician and has been part of our Bowmanville Clinic Pharmacy family since 2005. She has an Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences from the University of Western Ontario. Sherry has been a lifelong resident of Bowmanville and lives here with her husband and three children. When she’s not working at the pharmacy, Sherry loves to read and spend time with her family.
We are pleased as punch to introduce Heather, who graduated from the University of Toronto pharmacy program in 2005. She worked in retail and long term care before coming to the Bowmanville Clinic Pharmacy in 2016. Born and raised in Bowmanville, Heather has been a part of this community her whole life. While trying to decide what to do for a career, Heather spent a day at Clinic Pharmacy to see what “this whole pharmacy thing was all about.” She liked it so much she became a pharmacist and, luckily for us, eventually made her way here to join our pharmacy family! She loves the community feel here, and thinks the “people who work here are alright too.” There’s one person that keeps talking about how awesome she is, which she finds a bit odd, but she’s learned it’s best to just agree with her.
We are super excited to introduce Michelle Puddister-Smith. Michelle says – I’ve been with the Bowmanville Clinic Pharmacy for, let’s see, they just celebrated their 50th Anniversary, so, I guess I’ve been here for at least half of that time and I’m a pretty big deal around here. I’m a Registered Pharmacy Technician, master of the compounding lab and sometimes I play accountant, but mostly I enjoy being a pain in Carmela’s behind!
We are thrilled to introduce Linda, who we’ve nicknamed Lulu. Linda/Lulu is one of the newest members of the Bowmanville Clinic Pharmacy family. Linda is a Registered Pharmacy Technician and has a Bachelor of Health Sciences from the University of Western Ontario. She specializes in Home Health Care items and supportive devices. She brings many years of pharmacy experience to the Clinic Pharmacy. Linda says that she strives to attain her co-workers level of awesomeness and says she perhaps comes in an “ish” short but will settle for “alright”.
Lulu, we think you’re amazing!
Jim is one of our pharmacy drivers. We are thrilled to have him as a part of our pharmacy family. Rain or shine, Jim delivers prescriptions to our customers with a smile. He also brings treats to our furry friends. He’s the Dr. Dolittle of Delivery Drivers!
You’ve probably noticed our mannequin at the north door of the pharmacy. We named him Neale after the founder of the pharmacy. Neale McLean, Marlene’s Dad, opened the pharmacy in March of 1969.
