As a boy, Allen “Rusty” Cassidy always thought he’d be a dentist.

“Whenever I graduated from high school, I had two front teeth that were silver from when I was a child, so I went to the dentist so many times that I really wanted to be a dentist,” he laughed. “But when I got to college, my grades didn’t allow me to be a dentist, so the reality is I changed that to a pharmacist and it worked out.”

He worked as a pharmacist for the K&B drug store chain for 11 years before opening Cassidy’s Pharmacy, an independent pharmacy in his hometown of Jennings in 1995.

On Friday, Cassidy was recognized by State Rep. Troy Romero as the Louisiana Pharmacists Association 2022 Pharmacist of the Year. Romero presented Cassidy with a resolution from the House of Representatives recognizing him for receiving the highest honor bestowed by the Louisiana Pharmacists Association.

“I never really practiced pharmacy for awards or recognition, I’ve always just loved the practice of pharmacy and the passion that I have to take care of people has been the utmost epitome of my profession,” Cassidy said.

“It has been more than rewarding to take care of the Jennings community,” he said.

Cassidy said it has been especially rewarding to take care of his former teachers and his late mother.

“It has been a rewarding career and I look forward to continuing to take care of the community of Jennings,” he said.  “I am proud of my staff and I have some employees that have been with me for over 25 years. I have a loyal staff that has been the backbone to be able to let me get out of my store and go to Baton Rouge and fight the fight that pharmacists fight.”

As a pharmacist, Cassidy uses his voice to combat drug abuse and fight for independent pharmacies who struggle with larger chain pharmacies.

Romero acknowledged Cassidy’s career and efforts in presenting the resolution, referring to him as the “gold standard among pharmacists.”

“Rusty possesses an inspiring degree of humility and credits a great deal of his success to the employees of Cassidy’s Pharmacy,” Romero said. “He avoids automating his pharmacy’s operations in a way that would replace employees.”

Two of his employees have been with him at the pharmacy since its opening, he said.

Romero said Cassidy prioritizes his customers’ experiences at his pharmacy and is “fiercely loyal” to his customers and works tirelessly to ensure they do not go without their medications.

Cassidy is a past president and board members of the Louisiana Pharmacists Association and a member of the Calcasieu Pharmacists Association. He was appointed the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy for 12 years and has served on many committees at the local, state and federal level of government to discuss issues related to the pharmaceutical field with legislators.

He has received awards on numerous occasions for his work, including the Merck Sharp Dohme Award, University of Louisiana at Monroe Meritorious Award, Louisiana Pharmacists Association Independent Pharmacists of the Year and Wyeth Bowl of Hygeia Award.