Beloved Pharmacist Returns to Malden

Steve Hankins
shankins@dddnews.com

A face familiar to most every Maldenite has returned to town after a brief assignment at a neighboring community. Pharmacist Bryan Harris is on staff at missouri Delta Medical Center's (MDMC) Malden pharmacy, which opened its doors Tuesday, April 1.

MDMC Director of Pharmacy Chris White welcomed Harris, who has helped countless clients since his Early days at Overturf Pharmacy. "Believe me," White said. "You have no idea how lucky I was to be able to get him," the director added. "We're very fortunate to have Bryan here."

Harris, a 1986 Malden High School grad, continued his education and graduated from The University of Missouri at Kansas City before he returned home and assumed the pharmacist's role at Overturf Pharmacy in July 1990. "Believe it or not, I worked here at Malden for a few months," Harris said. "Before they shipped me to Gideon.”

Fortunately for folks at Malden, that assignment was temporary.

"Overturf had a pharmacy at a doctor's office, Dr. Valerie Smith's, for several years," Harris noted. "I wasn't there for real long. Maybe a year or so," he added. "Then I came back to Malden."

Harris stayed at Overturf Pharmacy of Malden until Walgreens bought the business and built a large, modern, full-service store at the corner of Douglass and W. Main Streets, where Harris was employed until the store closed. When that facility shuttered a few years back, Harris' services were in demand.

Known for his friendly smile, cordial demeanor, and soft-spoken ways, Harris next was employed at John's Pharmacy and returned to Gideon to work at its North Main Street location. Harris was missed by his community as much as he missed serving folks at Malden.

"This is home," Harris said of Malden. "Every time I go to Walmart, I see somebody who says, 'Hey! I'm coming back to you.' "Well, come on," he invited. "If we can help, just let us know."

White said although the pharmacy is in its infancy, its doors are open and his staff, Harris and Portageville Pharmacist Keileigh Forrester, along with Malden's Emily Northern and Dexter's Cassie Cummings, is available and prepared to serve the community.

The pharmacy is conveniently located directly adjacent to Missouri Delta Regional Medical Center Malden Primary Care Clinic at 412 W. Broadwater Rd. Phone 573.901.5001, White said. Delivery will be available soon, White noted. "We're taking baby steps, just getting the doors open," White said. "We're looking at a delivery process, so that should happen in the future."

And Harris is back on his home turf.

"I'm glad to be back in Malden," Harris said. "Come see me and we'll fix you up."