At first glance, Renew Compounding Pharmacy might resemble a small-town pharmacy with neighborly charm and prompt service. But step inside, and you’ll find something deeper: an operation where science, compassion and customized care work in tandem to improve patients’ lives.

Owner James Anderson and his colleague Michael Whatley aren’t just pharmacists; they’re problem-solvers, educators and deeply invested community members. For them, compounding is a commitment to creating options where few exist — and building relationships that go far beyond the prescription pad.

The Power of Individualization

Big pharmacy serves medicine for the masses, but we’re individualized. We’re doing things to help people avoid filler issues, dye issues — whatever their specific needs are.

That mindset drives every aspect of the Renew philosophy. Each compound is made with precision, tailored to the individual’s tolerance and condition. Our focus is on effectiveness, safety and customization — not volume or speed.

There’s real satisfaction in knowing you’re helping people in a way they can’t find elsewhere. We’re hands-on. We’re listening, adjusting and building something specific for each person.

A Life-Changing Compound

We’ve helped a lot of patients over the years, but one story stands out. Shortly after completing training at PCCA, I was approached by a friend of my wife whose cancer treatments were making it impossible for her to function.

Her nausea was so intense she couldn’t even watch food commercials. Cooking for her family used to be a joy, but she couldn’t go near the kitchen.

We researched, consulted with PCCA and uncovered a promising formula for use in a hospital setting. After gaining approval from her doctor, we compounded the medication and hand-delivered it.

The change was immediate and dramatic. She was back in the kitchen, spending time with her family and finding small but meaningful joys again.

She told me it changed her quality of life. That’s when I realized what we’re truly capable of doing through compounding.

From Lightbulb Moment to Business Model

That experience helped shape our future. We began leaning into compounding more seriously, eventually deciding to create a compounding-only pharmacy — leaving behind the constraints and distractions of retail operations.

A patient once told me, “You must feel so proud knowing you’re making something with your hands that you can’t get at any other pharmacy.” And she was absolutely right.

Personalized Care in the Face of Policy Threats

As regulatory pressures increase — especially surrounding hormone therapy — we must remain vocal about the importance of preserving patient access to personalized care.

If patients ever lost access to compounded HRT, you’d see chaos. We hear from people all the time about how much better they feel now that they’re on a personalized hormone regimen. You take that away, and it’s not just a policy decision — it’s a direct hit to people’s quality of life.

We’re grateful for advocates like U.S. Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger, a PCCA member and pharmacist, for pushing back against efforts to limit compounding. She knows the impact this has on patients. When someone on Capitol Hill becomes a patient in need of compounded medication themselves, that’s when it finally starts to click.

The Renew Difference

At Renew, the approach is hands-on and highly personal. We know most of our customers by name. They appreciate the speed, the service and the fact that they’re getting a pure, customized product they can actually tolerate.

At Renew, patients get more than a prescription — they get a partner. Whether it’s hormone therapy, allergy-sensitive formulations or hard-to-source treatments, our team is committed to going the extra mile.

This is personalized medicine from start to finish. We don’t just fill a script and move on. We get involved. We care. And that’s what makes all the difference.

Advice for Future Compounders

For anyone thinking about compounding, we say: Come hang out with us. Watch what we do. Ask questions. We’ve had students and pharmacists visit us, and we’re happy to share what we’ve learned.

You also need the right support system. We wouldn’t attempt this without PCCA. Their training, their Clinical Services team and the quality of their ingredients — we rely on them daily.

That trust is especially important when it comes to sourcing. We don’t use unfamiliar suppliers or mystery vendors. I’ve toured PCCA’s facilities. I’ve seen how they test and retest every ingredient. I know what I’m getting when I order from them, and that gives me the confidence to do my part well.