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The Mortar & Pestle

The Mortar & Pestle

By: PCCA - The Leader in Compounding Pharmacy
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A podcast for pharmacy focusing on compounding personalized medicine, nutrition, marketing your business, and all things pharmacy..Copyright 2022 All rights reserved. Chemistry Hygiene & Healthy Living Physical Illness & Disease Science
Episodes
  • 'Just a Technician' Doesn't Exist: Adrianna Rodriguez on Non-Sterile Compounding Leadership | Strive Pharmacy, San Antonio, TX

    'Just a Technician' Doesn't Exist: Adrianna Rodriguez on Non-Sterile Compounding Leadership | Strive Pharmacy, San Antonio, TX
    Mar 26 2026
    Host Erin Michael welcomes Adrianna Rodriguez, CPhT, Non-Sterile Lead Technician at Strive Pharmacy in San Antonio, Texas, for an inspiring conversation about pharmacy technician excellence and the evolution of the profession. In this episode, Adrianna covers:
    • Her journey from high school dropout to certified pharmacy technician and compounding leader
    • Transitioning from retail pharmacy (Walgreens) to specialty compounding
    • Leading non-sterile compounding operations at one of the fastest-growing pharmacies in the country
    • Quality assurance: triple-checking processes, USP 795/800 compliance, and minimum weighable quantities
    • Creating custom formulations including suppositories, capsules, topical compounds, and rapid-dissolve tablets
    • Why "just a technician" doesn't exist—and the expanding scope of pharmacy technician practice
    • Staying current with continuing education through PCCA, APhA, NPTA, and industry newsletters
    • Her memorable patient impact story: creating a custom prednisone tablet troche for a pediatric patient
    Additional Links: PATH: PccarxPCCA Tech Summit PCCA Core Compounding training: PccarxPCCA CORE Compounding PCCA Technician Summit/Symposium : AppleLive from the 2025 PCCA Technician Summit with Tiffany Kofroth, CSPT, CPhT-Adv & Mindy Stephens April 29-30 PCCA Compounding Technician Summit: PccarxPCCA Tech Summit Past Episodes: AppleCommon USP 800 Questions and Misconceptions with Matt Martin AppleThe New USP 795 with A.J. Day & Matt Martin AppleTech Talk: Mike Johnston the Accidental Technician
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    35 mins
  • HRT Game-Changer for Women's Health with Sara Hover

    HRT Game-Changer for Women's Health with Sara Hover
    Feb 13 2026
    FDA Removes Black Box Warning on Estrogen: HRT Game-Changer for Women's Health After 23 years, the FDA removed the black box warning on estrogen products—a landmark decision transforming hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women. In this episode of the Mortar and Pestle podcast, hosts Mike De Lisio and Sebastian Dennison discuss this breakthrough with Sara Hover, Senior Director of Clinical Services at PCCA. What You'll Learn:
    • Why the 2002 Women's Health Initiative study was flawed and created decades of HRT concerns
    • The timing hypothesis: why age matters when starting hormone replacement therapy
    • Synthetic vs. bioidentical hormones and their clinical differences
    • Oral estrogen delivery systems and safety implications
    • Shared decision-making between patients, prescribers, and pharmacists
    • Why compounded HRT solutions matter for patients who don't fit commercial products
    • Hormone testing modalities and why multiple testing methods are essential
    • Vaginal estrogen's role in preventing UTIs and hip fractures
    • How pharmacists can educate providers and patients on HRT safety
    Topics Covered: Black box warning removal, hormone replacement therapy, bioidentical hormones, menopause management, compounding pharmacy, women's health, estrogen, patient monitoring, HRT dosing strategies Perfect for: Compounding pharmacists, healthcare providers, and anyone seeking evidence-based information on hormone replacement therapy. Links: The FDA Removes the Black Box Warning on Estrogen: What Pharmacists Need to Know (2025 Update) Why VersaBase Cream Is Your Best Choice for Women's HRT The Vaginal Microbiome, Menopause & HRT A Personalized Approach to HRT for Perimenopausal Women Backed by Science: Anhydrous VersaBase® HRT Optimizing the Patient Experience with the Right HRT Base: Insights from the Webinar
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    28 mins
  • Methylene Blue Topical Formulations and Advanced Dermatology Compounding Strategies with Nat Jones

    Methylene Blue Topical Formulations and Advanced Dermatology Compounding Strategies with Nat Jones
    Jan 29 2026
    In this episode, discover innovative dermatology compounding formulations featuring methylene blue for anti-aging skincare. Clinical pharmacist Nat Jones discusses PCCA's USP-grade methylene and the need for quality. Methylene blue may play a role in collagen stimulation, hyaluronic acid production, and UV protection. Also, learn about bio-peptide cream bases, research on carbamazepine and plaque psoriasis as well as research on losartan and hypertrophic scars. Explore evidence-based topical treatments that may be appropriate for patients in compounding pharmacies. Perfect for pharmacists seeking advanced dermatological formulation strategies and cosmeceutical applications.

    Learn more by visiting our blog: Methylene Blue: Something Old and Something Blue

    Working with Methylene Blue: Best Practices for Compounding and Cleanup

    Methylene Blue: From Textile Dye to Potential Clinical Wonder
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    26 mins
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