New pharmacist settling in at Manchester Pharmacy
Ilyad Basseri (at right) says he’s “nothing without his team,” which includes George (left) and Rose (center) as well as Brittany, not pictured.
In the middle of the coldest winter Manchester has seen in a very long time, Ilyad Basseri arrived from Virginia expecting the stereotypical ‘chilly’ Northern reception he’d been led to expect.
“What I learned very quickly is that ‘southern hospitality’ is alive and well right here in Manchester,” he says with a smile. “In fact, in many ways I think Manchester actually is more hospitable than we are used to in Virginia.”
Ilyad has only recently moved to Ann Arbor and is still learning his way around, but he is enjoying the countryside scenery on his morning commute to Manchester and finding places where he can explore and indulge his love for photography.
“I think winter here is a great time–it’s such a beautiful season,” he enthuses. “I’m really liking it!”
Receiving his undergraduate degree from Old Dominion University and his Pharmacy degree from Hampton University, Ilyad has spent 10 years in pharmacy, starting out as a tech while doing his undergrad work.
“I actually followed in my brother’s footsteps,” he says. “And after I got my Pharmacy degree I went to work for Rite-Aid.”
The differences couldn’t be more stark–and Ilyad loves not only the weather, but the atmosphere he’s found in a small town. “My big thing in pharmacy is customer service,” he says. “I’m very hands-on; issues arise every day and I enjoy finding creative solutions that benefit the customer. And working for Hometown Pharmacies, I am finding there is a lot more opportunity for customer service than I had experienced up to now.
“That’s my favorite part of the job,” he adds. “I have more leeway here to get to know people–both personally and professionally. I love talking to people and I’ve already met some cool characters here in Manchester.”
Ilyad enjoys focusing on educating the patients he works with, and looks forward to helping the community access health care information and services.
“I especially feel strongly about vaccines and want to make sure that patients have access to the correct information about current vaccines,” he says. “Today’s vaccines are not the ones of the past. I’m always surprised to learn how many people believe that the flu shot and the shingles vaccine are ‘live’–and they are not.”
As he looks for ways for Manchester Pharmacy to better serve the Manchester community, he looks forward to hosting a flu clinic during next year’s flu season, and possibly bringing them to the community as well; via churches or the senior citizens council.
He also wants to make sure that the community knows about the special programs that Hometown provides to its local pharmacies, including a 90-day supply of select medications at the low cost of $12.99, which is likely lower than utilizing insurance coverage. They also offer free vitamins for children, for which anyone can sign up.
“There are no catches–no income requirements or anything,” he says. “You get a punch card and parents or grandparents can get free vitamins for their children during the school months, from September to June.”
Making improvements in the store and in the services they offer is another important aspect of Ilyad’s job. “I want to make sure that we can improve our stock so we always have needed medications in stock and patients don’t have to wait,” he says.
If you would like to meet Ilyad and get to know a little more about our town’s new pharmacist, this week will be your opportunity! A Meet and Greet is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 28 from 9 am to 7 pm (regular hours for the pharmacy). Refreshments will be served. Stop in and say hello and see what our local store has to offer.
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