The Lake Butler City Commission unanimously approved a proclamation on September 16, designating October 2025 as American Pharmacist Month, recognizing the vital role pharmacists play in community health.
The proclamation, requested by William Garst of the Florida Pharmacy Association, was endorsed by Mayor Melissa Hendrix and the commission, urging residents to acknowledge pharmacists’ contributions to safe, accessible, and effective patient care.
Garst, a retired VA pharmacist and staff pharmacist at Lake Butler Hospital, highlighted pharmacists’ accessibility as the most readily available healthcare providers, delivering critical services such as medication therapy management, chronic disease support, and public health emergency responses.
He emphasized their frontline role during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing testing, treatment, and vaccinations, with community pharmacies within five miles of nearly all Americans.
“Pharmacists ensure optimal medication outcomes and advocate for patient health,” Garst said, noting the presence of over 300,000 licensed pharmacists nationwide.
The proclamation, supported by the American Pharmacists Association and the Alachua County Area Association of Pharmacists, recognizes both visible pharmacists at local pharmacies like Lake Butler Pharmacy, CVS, and Walgreens, and “invisible” pharmacists working in hospitals, nursing homes, and specialized fields like infectious diseases, oncology, and infusion therapy.
Garst introduced Dr. Vithia An, the new director of pharmacy at Lake Butler Hospital since March 2025, who briefly spoke about the hospital’s commitment to treating patients like family, supporting rehabilitation, and serving the community through its emergency department.
Garst thanked the commission for their service and the recognition of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, emphasizing their role in enhancing community health.
“The decisions you make are weighty, and we appreciate your support,” he said.
The commission expressed gratitude for the pharmacists’ contributions, with Mayor Hendrix noting their importance to Lake Butler’s well-being.
