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Healthy Dose® with Anthony Bolus, Pharm.D.

Healthy Dose® with Anthony Bolus, Pharm.D.

By Samford University's McWhorter School of Pharmacy

In partnership with Samford University's McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Healthy Dose® is a monthly podcast that offers expert advice for healthy living. Hosted by Anthony Bolus, Pharm.D., each episode addresses a topic that relates to our health and wellbeing. New episodes are available on the third Tuesday of every month.
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To Flavor or Not to Flavor: Getting Kids to Take Their Medications

Healthy Dose® with Anthony Bolus, Pharm.D.Dec 16, 2020

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Today we will talk with Dr. Cherry Jackson, professor of pharmacy at Auburn University’s Harrison School of Pharmacy and clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral neurobiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Jackson will discuss everything about mental health from what it is, how to help to manage it, and the role that COVID-19 has played in worsening mental health. We’ll also introduce you to the new emergency phone number to dial in the case of a mental health emergency… 9-8-8! 

Feb 19, 202431:18
Pharmacy In Peril: What's Really Happening Behind the Counter Part 2

Pharmacy In Peril: What's Really Happening Behind the Counter Part 2

We will continue on the second and final part of our Pharmacy In Peril: What’s Really Happening Behind the Counter Series as now we will learn from a front line pharmacist how these fees and reimbursement models from drug insurance companies, in particular the pharmacy benefit managers otherwise known as PBMs, are causing pharmacy services to suffer and overall your safety as the patient is at risk! Today we bring back Dr. Patrick Devereux, pharmacy manager and company president of Family Medical Services, Inc. which is comprised of four independent pharmacies in central AL as he gives us an unfortunate update how the current payment structure from PBMs mostly related to DIR fees are doing since the last time he spoke with us in 2020 and showcases to us what the DIR hangover of 2024 is all about. These fees have only gotten worse and continue to rob pharmacies of services and rob patients of appropriate care.  

Dec 12, 202324:05
Pharmacy in Peril: What’s Really Happening Behind the Counter

Pharmacy in Peril: What’s Really Happening Behind the Counter

Community pharmacy practice has been in the news quite a bit lately due to walkouts happening across the nation. Tensions are also rising about the decade long flawed payment scheme in our nation, initiated by drug insurance companies, which is paying pharmacies less than what it costs pharmacies to dispense the medication. This backward business takes away significant dollars from pharmacies and has already led to many pharmacy closures over the years… putting patient safety and your individual health at risk! Today we bring in the current chief executive officer and executive vice president of the American Pharmacists Association, Dr. Michael Hogue, as part of special two part series sharing perspectives and expertise on the status of community practice today and how these fees and payment structures from PBMs are causing serious side effects to pharmacies near you which will affect all of us if the problem is not fixed in time. 

Dec 01, 202324:41
Triple the Threat, Triple the Protection

Triple the Threat, Triple the Protection

Tune in as Dr. Allison Hill, Pharm.D., RPh, director of Practice and Professional Affairs at the American Pharmacist Association (APhA), discusses the triple virus threat– COVID-19, RSV and flu– that you may encounter when returning back to school or back to the office this fall, as well as what defenses you can employ to protect yourself and others from these bugs! She also discusses the latest updates on the COVID-19 vaccine, including the new variant vaccine coming out later this month, along with the importance of receiving an annual flu vaccine. She will also give us information on a brand new, recently approved RSV vaccine that is now available for public use and can be easily obtained from your healthcare provider or local pharmacy. 


Nov 27, 202318:26
Fighting COVID-19 and Other Viruses from Over-the-Counter

Fighting COVID-19 and Other Viruses from Over-the-Counter

In this month's episode, host Anthony Bolus talks to Maryam Iranikhah, Pharm.D., BCGP, FASCP, a professor at Samford University’s McWhorter School of Pharmacy. Together, they discuss everything you need to know about vitamins essential to boosting immune health in the fight against COVID-19 and other viruses, including vitamin D, Vitamin C and Zinc.

Feb 24, 202119:48
COVID-19 Vaccinations: Myths vs Facts

COVID-19 Vaccinations: Myths vs Facts

In this month's episode, we bring back Michael Hogue, an alumnus of Samford's McWhorter School of Pharmacy and dean of Loma Linda University’s School of Pharmacy in Loma Linda, California. He currently serves as president of the American Pharmacists Association, and he brings his expertise as a member of the CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine work group to help us understand these vaccines in more depth: What is myth vs. what is fact related to them? What adverse reactions people can expect between dose 1 and 2, and why it is important to lift the sleeve and get the shot?

Jan 20, 202134:09
To Flavor or Not to Flavor: Getting Kids to Take Their Medications

To Flavor or Not to Flavor: Getting Kids to Take Their Medications

When caring for children, there are unique challenges, including dosage form, flavoring, patient cooperation and education. In this month's episode of Healthy Dose, host Anthony Bolus talks to Sam Blakemore, Pharm.D, M.B.A., the pharmacist manager at PedsRx Pharmacy Solutions, which is an independent pharmacy located within Children’s of Alabama. He shares some tried and true tips and tricks related to children’s medications.

Dec 16, 202022:16
Diabetes, DSMES and DPP: What It Can Mean to Me

Diabetes, DSMES and DPP: What It Can Mean to Me

In this episode of Healthy Dose, host Anthony Bolus talks to Jan Kavookjian, Ph.D., M.B.A., a behavior scientist teaching at Auburn University’s Harrison School of Pharmacy and the incoming President-Elect of the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES). November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, and millions of Americans are diagnosed with diabetes and pre-diabetes each year. Left undiagnosed or untreated, it can increase one's risk of heart attack, kidney disease, blindness and nerve damage to the feet—not to mention the large health cost burden to you and the overall health care system. One important and overlooked aspect of managing diabetes is the benefit of healthy lifestyle education programs. In their conversation, Bolus and Kavookjian, who also teaches patients through East Alabama Medical Center’s National Diabetes Prevention Program, discuss what lifestyle change programs are available in the fight against diabetes.

Nov 19, 202027:50
DIR Fees: The Hidden Pharmacy Side Effects Of Your Medications

DIR Fees: The Hidden Pharmacy Side Effects Of Your Medications

October is American Pharmacists Month. In this episode, we shine a light on an issue affecting many pharmacists called DIR Fees. These penalties have exponentially increased over the years, adding economic stress to community pharmacists across the country. Not only is this threat very real for pharmacy closings, but your overall safety as a patient is at risk as well.

Host Anthony Bolus talks to Patrick Devereux, Pharm.D., RPh, pharmacy manager and president of Family Medical Services, INC. which is comprised of four independent pharmacies in central Alabama, and goes into further details on DIR fees, how they are calculated and why they are problematic today.

Oct 20, 202029:25
COVID-19, Part 2: Treatment Strategies & Future Vaccines

COVID-19, Part 2: Treatment Strategies & Future Vaccines

In this episode, Anthony Bolus talks to Michael Hogue, Pharm.D., FAPhA, FNAP, dean of Loma Linda University's School of Pharmacy and president of the American Pharmacists Association. Hogue serves on the COVID-19 Vaccine Workgroup with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and together, Bolus and Hogue discuss potential treatment strategies for COVID-19 and the types of vaccines that may be coming soon.


Sep 16, 202033:21
COVID-19, Part 1: How it Spreads & Ways to Prevent It

COVID-19, Part 1: How it Spreads & Ways to Prevent It

With its first episode of Season 1, our host, Anthony Bolus, discusses COVID-19 with Jeff Kyle, Pharm.D., BCPS, the vice chair and director of experiential education at Samford University’s McWhorter School of Pharmacy and a clinical pharmacy specialist at a local medical center in the Birmingham area. Their discussion covers the basics of COVID-19, including who it affects, how it spreads, and the symptoms, complications, and preventative ways to combat it.

Sep 16, 202019:49
From the Archives: The Shingles Vaccine

From the Archives: The Shingles Vaccine

First published on Novembe 28, 2017: On this episode of Healthy Dose, Dr. Anthony Bolus visits with Dr. Michael Hogue of Samford's McWhorter School of Pharmacy, discussing shingles and new vaccine available to prevent this painful condition.

Sep 16, 202013:58
From the Archives: Pharmacy School 101, Part 2

From the Archives: Pharmacy School 101, Part 2

First published on November 14, 2017: On this episode of Healthy Dose, Dr. Anthony Bolus continues his discussion with Jon Parker, director of admissions at Samford's McWhorter School of Pharmacy. They discuss pharmacy school preparation, admission and pharmacy school programs.

Sep 16, 202014:45
From the Archives: Pharmacy School 101, Part 1

From the Archives: Pharmacy School 101, Part 1

First published on November 7, 2017: On this episode of Healthy Dose, Dr. Anthony Bolus covers the education that makes a pharmacist with Jon Parker, director of admissions at Samford's McWhorter School of Pharmacy. They discuss pharmacy school preparation, admission and pharmacy school programs.

Sep 16, 202012:21
From the Archives: Scoliosis & Screening

From the Archives: Scoliosis & Screening

First published on October 24, 2017: On this episode of Healthy Dose, Dr. Anthony Bolus discusses scoliosis with Angela Jones Doctor, B.S.N., RN, CPN, a nurse from Children’s of Alabama. Jones helps run the scoliosis screening program for many children in Alabama, defines scoliosis, and explains who is at most risk and what to do if your child has positive screening.

Sep 16, 202007:36
From the Archives: Health Care Communication

From the Archives: Health Care Communication

First published on October 13, 2017: On this episode of Healthy Dose, Dr. Anthony Bolus discusses problems with communication across the health care spectrum, along with Patrick Devereux, Pharm.D. of FMS Pharmacy. Dr. Devereux shares a new innovation to try and help his patients share their drug histories with other health care providers.

Sep 16, 202010:32
From the Archives: Opioids & Pain Management, Part 2

From the Archives: Opioids & Pain Management, Part 2

First published on October 3, 2017: On this episode of Healthy Dose, Dr. Anthony Bolus discusses opioids with Dr. Jake Galdo, an assistant professor and the director of the Community Pharmacy Residency Program at Samford University's McWhorter School of Pharmacy. Bolus and Galdo discuss the benefits and risks, including the potential for addiction with pain medications.

Sep 16, 202011:19
From the Archives: Opioids & Pain Management, Part 1

From the Archives: Opioids & Pain Management, Part 1

First published on July 26, 2017: On this episode of Healthy Dose, Dr. Anthony Bolus talks pain management with Dr. Jake Galdo, an assistant professor and the director of the Community Pharmacy Residency Program at Samford University's McWhorter School of Pharmacy. Bolus and Galdo discuss the causes of pain and various therapies and medications to relieve pain.

Sep 16, 202010:05
From the Archives: Zika, Part 2

From the Archives: Zika, Part 2

First published on July 25, 2017: On this episode of Healthy Dose, Dr. Heather Hogue, Pharm.D., EP, director of emergency preparedness and response at the Jefferson County Department of Health, returns to Healthy Dose to discuss how long the virus will stay in your system once you are infected. Dr. Hogue also has healthy tips on keeping mosquitoes away from your home or your body.


Sep 16, 202009:29
From the Archives: Zika, Part 1

From the Archives: Zika, Part 1

First published on July 18, 2017: On this episode of Healthy Dose, Dr. Anthony Bolus speaks with Dr. Heather Hogue, Pharm.D., EP, director of emergency preparedness and response at the Jefferson County Department of Health, on new information regarding the Zika virus. Dr. Hogue will help to answer the questions of who this virus can affect, the number of reported cases in Alabama and Jefferson County, along with what precautions to take if infected or traveling to an area where Zika is more prevalent.


Sep 16, 202008:18
From the Archives: Drug Pricing

From the Archives: Drug Pricing

First published on July 11, 2017: On this episode of Healthy Dose, Dr. Anthony Bolus speaks with Dr. Patrick Devereux of FMS Pharmacy on runaway drug pricing. Certain medications of seen dramatic increases in cost, and Dr. Devereux explains how this can be harmful to patients and pharmacies...and how they can fight back.


Sep 16, 202012:59