The right medicine: Duquesne U. takes a stand for neighborhood health

Duquesne University's Mylan School of Pharmacy has written the perfect prescription for the city's Hill District.

The university, which has been training pharmacists for more than 80 years, announced Thursday that it will open a drugstore to fill a need that has existed since 2000, when the last pharmacy closed its doors in the neighborhood. This is good news for residents who have had to travel to Downtown, Oakland and farther away to have their prescriptions filled. Some have to rely on delivery services, which sometimes charge a fee and make the cost of medicine higher.

Renovations to the building at 1860 Centre Ave., in the Triangle Shops complex, will begin soon and the store is expected to open late this year. When it does, pharmacists will be on duty six days a week. The store will be staffed by a director, licensed pharmacists, Duquesne faculty members and student pharmacists. Duquesne hopes to operate with federally qualified health centers so it can offer affordable medication. In addition, private consultations, health and wellness education, health risk assessments and other services will be available.

In choosing to use its expertise to provide this valuable service, Duquesne University is proving itself to be a very good neighbor.