“Making a Difference One Person at a Time” is the motto of the Chancy Drugs family of pharmacies, and Emily Josey Hunt, RPh, Ph.D., practices that motto every day.

Hunt said the extra care and concern she and the other pharmacists and staff take with each customer creates a unique environment at Chancy’s.

One example is the free pre-packaged medication service they provide.

“The package tells you what pills are in each and the time to take them. It really helps our patients keep track of their medications,” Hunt said.

Other services include compounding of various medications, such as nausea and pain meds. Compounding allows the medication to be taken in a different way, such as rubbing on the wrists or in a lollipop.

For Hunt, who has been with Chancy Drugs since the Valdosta location opened in July 2012, her passion is pharmacology, the science of the origin, nature, chemistry and effects of various drugs, particularly natural and non-synthetic drugs.

After graduating with her pharmacy degree in 1995 from the University of Georgia, she returned to obtain a doctorate in pharmacology, graduating in 2001. Since that time, Hunt has worked at several drug stores in the area, raising her three young children, and also taught for a time at Valdosta State University in the nursing program. But working with natural pharmaceuticals led her to Chancy’s.

“They have me over the nutraceuticals area for all four of the stores, and I work with patients with a variety of illnesses.”

Nutraceuticals include vitamins, herbal medicines and protein supplements. Her dissertation was on the effects of St. John’s Wort, an herbal medicine used in the treatment of depression, and she is very knowledgeable in women’s issues as well.

Hunt works with women who are in the pre- and post-menopausal stages of life, utilitizing BHRT, or bio-identical hormone replacement therapy.

“We determine which hormones are lacking and replace them, through creams or capsules, back into the body in their natural state, not synthetic.”

She also works with women with infertility issues, as well as a number of other illnesses, with nutraceuticals.

Chancy’s originated in Hahira, and has branched out in recent years to Adel, Lake Park and Valdosta. Hunt splits her time between stores, spending one day a week in Lake Park.

Chancy’s offers monthly diabetes and heart healthy classes, and flu shots will be available in about two weeks.