Ask the Expert—Health & Wellness 2025
John Richards, Pharm.D.
Professional Village Compounding Pharmacy
After earning his doctorate in pharmacy at the University of the Pacific, John started out at the big chain pharmacies, but wanted a more personal connection with his customers. In 2001, John joined Sacramento’s oldest compounding pharmacy, Professional Village on Arden Way, where he further honed his skills in creating custom medications. John and his wife Melissa purchased the pharmacy in 2004 and are passionate about creating personalized, customer-focused solutions.
What is compounding?
Basically, it’s about finding a solution to a specific problem. For example, if you have a gluten allergy, we can produce a gluten-free medication for you. If you or your loved ones have trouble swallowing pills that are too big, we can make smaller ones, or produce a liquid version. Or instead of standard pain pills, we can create a transdermal cream that you can apply directly to the area you’re treating. We can also create solutions for kids or babies.
Can compounding work for pets, too?
Absolutely. One common problem with cats is they “cheek” their pills, tucking them between their gum and cheek and spitting them out later. We can create creams to rub into the skin inside their ears, which they love. We can also flavor medications for pets so that they taste like chicken, beef or tuna. We make everything for pets, from anti-seizure medications to antibiotics and allergy treatments. We can also create custom doses since pets come in all sizes.
What are the advantages of a small community pharmacy?
It’s really about relationships. We know most of our customers by name. We’ll work directly with your doctor or veterinarian to find the best solution for you, whether you need custom treatments for hormone therapy, pain solutions, allergies or anything else. Compounding is an art and a science, which we’ve perfected for 66 years in Sacramento. That personal touch is what we’re all about.
1701 Professional Dr. Sacramento. 916-483-3455. professionalvillagerx.com
