Meet Shawn Burke, creator of Ithaca’s compounding pharmacy

Shawn Burke, the youngest of three children born to his Auburn, New York, parents, first visited Ithaca as a young hockey player. Even as an elementary schooler, he loved coming to Ithaca and could tell that Ithaca was an open, friendly community, when his parents drove him down for tournaments.

Shawn is founder and creator of Nature’s Apothecary, located on South Cayuga Street, where this young pharmacist creates custom compounded medications, sanitizers and salves to meet his customers’ specific needs.

“People come for non-opioid pain management, and I can work with doctors and veterinarians to create creams, topicals and medicine in liquid form or pills to relieve nerve pain, fibromyalgia or other challenges,” he said. “Prescribers have requested special formulations for hormone imbalances or erectile dysfunction. I not only work with the physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, veterinarians to compound what they prescribe; I can also assist with client counselling and arrange free delivery.”

If a patient has the right medication, Shawn can create that medication in a different form (make a pill into a liquid, for example).

“I can help doctors and parents change the flavoring for a child or make a topical cream rather than a pill,” he said. “Some parents have prescriptions their children won’t swallow; I can put children’s medicine in lollipops or gummy bears. I work with the prescribing professionals and the patients to find a solution that safely meets everyone’s needs.”

Even as a kid, Shawn knew he wanted to help people. At 18, Shawn also knew he would have to work his way through school to become a pharmacist, his chosen profession.

When he wasn’t studying, he was working at Kinney Drugs (nine years).

“I spent any time I wasn’t in classes or in the pharmacy, studying,” he said. “I gave up weekend recreation to make it work. I figured I could achieve this goal if I were willing to do the hard work. And I was. My family and my good friends have all been supportive. I feel the universe has taken care of me, and I am taking care of others now. ”

Following graduation at Monroe Community College, Shawn continued working in pharmacies while he completed his pharmacist education at the Albany College of Pharmacy. After graduation, Shawn worked in Rite Aid’s pharmacies for four and a half years, which provided him an introduction to different communities.

All Shawn’s training and work experiences reaffirmed that pharmacists play a critical role helping people. But he also knew he wanted to concentrate on wellness, rather than on sickness. Shawn wanted to create a pharmacy which could customize prescriptions sent to him, so that people and animals would have more options for enhanced health. And it turns out Ithaca is the perfect setting for Shawn to bring this dream to life.

“My father worked in construction all his life, and he and my mother, who ran a preschool program, were hard-working and creative,” he said. “When I found this wonderful site next door to Hawi (Ethiopian Restaurant) and the Christian Science Reading Room, my father helped me design and build this pharmacy from the ground up. I built the vintage furnishings and my brother designed the logos and graphic designs.”

Now, people can stop by, meet Shawn and have consultations on a wide array of solutions.

“Their doctors can call in prescriptions,” he said. “Prescribers’ offices can call or fax in prescription or utilize electronic prescribing, sending the prescription directly to my computer system. I work hard to be sure community members’ medicines are as palatable and as affordable as possible.”

Shawn spoke about a particular case that sparked his goals.

“One day, a woman came in desperate about her husband’s pain from bone cancer,” he said. “Later, she told me with tears in her eyes how my customized cream reduced her husband’s suffering. At that moment, I realized I had found my purpose in life. Healthy formulas can make a difference if they are available in a format that works for the patient. Helping people with my pharmaceutical experience and my embrace of alternative medicine has changed people’s lives.”

When an Ithacan recently sought a specialist’s guidance in New York City at Cornell’s Weill Medical School, the prescribing doctor created a special mix based on the patient’s longtime problem.

The physician’s staff, who had never been to Ithaca, knew about Nature’s Apothecary with no prompting. By the time the Ithacan got home from work, the prescription cream was already in the works.

She told Shawn the composition was miraculous. She had finally found something that relieved the daily pain and disfigurement, thanks to her Cornell specialist and thanks to Shawn.

Available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Shawn Burke looks forward to becoming an integral part of the Ithaca community. Over time, he will scale back his additional work in pharmacies in this region to increase his availability in Ithaca.

For more information about pharmacist Shawn Burke and his compounding pharmacy, see NaturesApothecaryIthaca.com.