Sunday Sessions with The Godfather of Functional Pharmacy: Rite Aid, The Illusion of Job Security, and What’s Next for Pharmacy (and You)

Hey there,

If you’ve been in pharmacy as long as I have, you already know—nothing ever stays the same for long. When I first started out as an intern, online claim adjudication wasn’t even a thing. We’d flip through a binder from the insurance company to look up a patient’s copay—$2.50, $5.00, whatever it was—and that was that.

Dial-up internet came along, and if you remember that screeching sound, you also remember waiting and hoping for a claim to go through. And yes, we kept a typewriter handy for the days the computers crashed (which was more often than you’d think). Looking back, it’s almost wild how much pharmacy has changed—sometimes it feels like we’ve come all the way from the dark ages to now.

But if there’s one thing that’s been consistent? Reimbursements keep dropping. And then, of course, the PBMs showed up.

Now, we’re watching one of the biggest pharmacy chains—Rite Aid—close its doors. Honestly, I saw this coming. I never worked for Rite Aid, but I do have a personal connection: one of my integrative pharmacy trainings was actually sold to them. They were trying to branch out from insurance and build a bigger wellness presence, but honestly? They missed the mark.

After we sold the program, Kay and I visited some Rite Aids in Boise to see how things were going. The pharmacists remembered us from the training, but the vibe was pretty clear: Rite Aid just wanted to boost sales, and the training was something corporate forced on them. They were told to “get it done in a week.”

But if you know me, you know that’s not how I teach. I’m all about actually living the education—especially when it comes to functional and lifestyle medicine. A certificate means nothing if all you did was sit through a lecture. You need to get your hands dirty: review labs, work through patient cases, and start living the training yourself. That’s how it sticks.

Instead, what Rite Aid did was “learn and sell.” But what really works is “learn, experience, practice, connect, implement, scale”—and then do it all over again.

Now, let’s talk about job security. Medicine as we know it is changing—fast. What we know as medicine today, will not be here tomorrow (metaphorically speaking- make sure you show up to work tomorrow 😊 )

We’re only at the start of the AI revolution, and honestly, most new pharmacy grads have no idea how different the job landscape will look in just a few years. Some of the jobs people think they’re training for? AI will take over.

But here’s the thing: there WILL still be jobs. They’ll just look different. And right now, you’re in the perfect spot to start shifting your path, if you want to.

The healthcare system desperately needs leaders—real guides and advocates who understand both traditional and functional medicine. There’s a huge opportunity for those willing to step into that entrepreneurial role. We’re the ones who’ll shape the future of patient care and help people truly heal.

If you’re feeling disconnected, bored, worried about job loss, or just plain frustrated by what pharmacy has become, I want you to know you’re not alone. And I’m opening up my trainings again—from the Fundamentals and Foundations of Functional Medicine, to Beyond the Labs Group Coaching, to my Executive Mentorship for those who want to break out of the old paradigm entirely.

Ready to do something different? Shoot me an email at [email protected] or DM me on social. When you sign up, you’re not just getting another certificate—you’re joining a community that actually lives this stuff and supports each other as we build what’s next in pharmacy. There are new modules, live case studies, and mentorship opportunities coming up that you won’t want to miss.

And if you know me, you also know I only open a few spots at a time—so if you’re interested, stay tuned for updates or reach out to me now to claim your spot.

Let’s make this the year you pivot, grow, and find meaning in what you do again.

Talk soon,
Rob