Ashton Maaraba has an extensive background throughout the retail pharmacy industry that spans over 12 years of service directly related to the industry’s Retail HBC/OTC marketing, Pharmacy Services, Education, Training, Business Development and Operations.
He offers an advanced Pharmacy background and unique knowledge that has benefited a modern day Pharmacy’s and Retailer’s Patient/consumer Services model. In just under two-years under Ashton’s leadership PharmaSmart has transitioned itself into an innovative Pharmacy Services program designed to build effective “Hypertension Management Solutions” for Pharmacy, worksites and managed care facilities.
He has worked with select pharmacy chain and independent groups, pharmacists, technicians and industry leadership to launch and implement on-site long-term pharmacy care wellness clinics and centers that combine innovative Blood Pressure Management Technology & Tools, Patient Care Tracking Systems, Patient/Pharmacist Counseling Programs, Blood Pressure Workshops, Worksite Clinics and the Medical Provider with an effort to build a comprehensive and sustainable disease state management program.
He is implementing a data centered protocol that dissects critical care details in an effort to advance provider intervention. He spearheaded the development and launch of the first Hypertension Management (ACPE) accredited Clinical Education (CE) program that focuses on Role-Play in teaching both Pharmacists and technicians how to effectively administer hypertension management consultation and care to help aid in the discovery and management of a patient that may be suffering from high blood pressure. His strategies have proven to boost retailer traffic and bolster their bottom-line. Internally at PharmaSmart he has orchestrated a complete turnaround in the company’s operations and marketing programs.
Ashton sits on the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (ORBD Committee) and is a standing member of Canadian Association of Chain Drugs Stores (CACDS). He has spent significant time in working with select University School of Pharmacy’s advising on the practical side of the pharmacy student lab experience. His contributions to select State Boards of Pharmacy in both a legislative advisory and board adoption rule capacity round out his industry related experience. In 2010 he was elected to join the Wegman’s School of Pharmacy Advisory Council.
Prior to PharmaSmart Ashton dedicated (8) years at FLAVORx, a medicinal flavoring company helping to transition the company’s primary health care product into a core pharmacy services adherence program; helping to aid a pediatric patients medicinal compliance issues due to taste or smell of a medication. Over the course of that period Ashton developed FLAVORx into a dominant pharmacy services player inside 35,000 retail pharmacy sites across the US and Canada.
He was credited for working with Dr. Fred Abramson at the University School of Maryland. They developed a practical lab experience focusing on flavoring and compounding for both (2nd) and (3rd) year pharmacy students, Kathleen Henson at Texas Tech University School of Pharmacy, The University of Georgia and University of Michigan School of Pharmacy all followed with similar programs spearheaded by Ashton. With the aid of Pharmacy students, both clinical and retail pharmacists including professors of pharmacy Ashton worked to launch the “first” ACPE accredited flavoring program for pharmacists and technicians. His most advanced work during this period contributed as a sitting member of two (2) major industry-related pharmacy organizations. As a member of the National Association Chain Drug Stores (NACDS ORBD Committee) and Canadian Association of Drug Stores (CACDS) Ashton worked to prepare small-and mid-size businesses to market their products better as a more pharmacy friendly program aimed at establishing a greater connection between the pharmacist and patient. In 2008, he left FLAVORx after launching over 35,000 retail pharmacy sites, building both a Pharmacy Services and University Program complemented by a medical detailing bridge to occupy a Senior Vice President post at PharmaSmart International Inc., Ashton resides in Pittsford, NY with his wife and two children.