Yakima’s Best Drug Dealer

The winner of Rite Aid's  nationwide 2011 "Favorite Pharmacist" contest is from Yakima.

Sampathkumaran ("Sam") Trichy Santhanagopalan was nominated by nearly 50 different customers for his service at the Rite Aid store on West Nob Hill Boulevard.  He was selected at random from nearly 12,000 entries, which anually honors Rite Aid pharmacists for their commitment to customer care and service during "American Pharmacists Month."

Sam won $2,500 in Rite Aid gift cards for the honor.  When asked what he will do with it, Sam is candid: "I hadn't even thought about it," he admits, then, without missing a beat: "I really want to give a portion of it to my technicians. They allow me to be much more productive."

Here's what some of the customers entries had to say about Mr. Santhanagopalan:

• "He always makes sure my meds will work well together.... He is the best pharmacist I have ever met," said a 24-year-old woman.
• "Sam is very kind and attentive…. He tells my about my meds in words I can understand," said a 74-year-old woman.
• "[He] treats me with the upmost respect….," said a 48-year-old man.The next time someone asks you who the best drug dealer in Yakima is, you now know the answer!  Congrats, Sam!