SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Jill Kelly-Waugh is happy to be the new face behind the counter of the Medicine Shoppe.
In November, she took over as resident pharmacist and owner of the downtown Summerside business on Central Street.
Greg Burton had owned the spot for 17 years.
“I wasn’t really looking to sell then. I was thinking maybe another year or two. But when you’re succession planning, you’re not always going to get people like Jill and her husband, Thomas, making an offer.”
Kelly-Waugh is the only new face.
“I didn’t want to come in and change everything. That was really important to me. I’m learning as I go here, so I’m leaning on the staff that is here. Insuring job security was also a big thing.”
Medicine Shoppe hours of operation
- Monday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Tuesday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Kelly-Waugh worked at the Summerside Superstore Pharmacy for six years as well as the Zellers Pharmacy. Her husband is a teacher at Athena Consolidated School. Both are Summerside natives.
“For me, purchasing this place, was about bringing patient care back to the forefront. I really want to use my skills in patient-centred care more and get back to my roots,” she said.
In her new position, one-on-one interaction is a lot easier.
“I don’t feel that same time constraint. I can easily pull someone into the office to conduct a med review and not have to worry about disrupting patient flow.”
“Something new happens almost every day. But once you find out the difficulties of the situation you walk away and can be like, ‘ok, this is what I learned’.”
-Jill Kelly-Waugh
Kelly-Waugh said if she didn’t make a move for the business, someone else would, and it would have been a missed opportunity.
“Greg has been great through this transition. We’ve worked together to help me get a feel for the business side of things. The wisdom he’s passed on has been key to ensure that I’m meeting the needs of the patients.
“People don’t like change. So reassuring people that the values of this place have not changed, only the face behind the counter, has been big.”
Learning the business side is a new challenge.
“Something new happens almost every day. But once you find out the difficulties of the situation you walk away and can be like, ‘ok, this is what I learned’,” said Kelly-Waugh.
She said her husband, Thomas, helps with a lot of the behind-the-scenes business work.
“It’s 24/7 now, it never shuts off. But that’s something that comes with being your own boss. Being a pharmacist isn’t new to me, but being a business owner is. So, Thomas and Greg’s help has been great.”
Burton said he is confident in Kelly-Waugh’s abilities.
“There was a bit of excitement riddled with a bit of sorrow when I thought about leaving behind the customers and their families that have been in my life for 17 years. But I felt comfortable that Jill was going to provide great care to my customers.”
Burton said it’s the loyal customers who have made the business a success and will continue to do so.
“It’s their support that’s allowed me and my family to prosper. I know they will continue to support the store as Jill continues to serve them.”
