Client Success
Here’s what Dr. Pam Tarlow’s clients have to say
about their experience in her mentorship program, courses,
and workshops over the years.
“After the rotation I felt more comfortable simply being able to recognize what patients are using to support their health, and what to look out for if a patient has certain diseases or is using other medications in addition to these supplements.”
“Prior to taking Dr. Tarlow’s rotation, I was very fresh out of pharmacy school didactics. My knowledge base was limited to what we learned in the classroom, and my pharmacy hands-on experience was just beginning. During Dr. Tarlow’s rotation, I was exposed to a variety of herbal supplements that many patients already use or are interested in using to improve their health. In the classroom, our exposure to these supplements was limited, so I found it immensely beneficial to become more familiar with these products. I appreciated that the rotation focused on attaining knowledge of the safety of these products, and evaluated them alongside conventional medications.”
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“This rotation was important to me to widen my knowledge, especially considering that the majority of local pharmacies our patients frequent have many of these products in stock.”
“As pharmacists, a big part of our role is to improve medication safety. After the rotation I felt more comfortable simply being able to recognize what patients are using to support their health, and what to look out for if a patient has certain diseases or is using other medications in addition to these supplements. I appreciated the empowerment it gave me to connect with patients and be able to educate them on their treatments in a comprehensive and holistic manner.
I found the rotation to be very balanced and I admire the wealth of knowledge and expertise that Dr. Tarlow has. I took this rotation toward the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. My favorite part was looking at evolving research in COVID treatment and what we could do at the time to boost our immunity. Another fun part of the rotation that I enjoyed was a weekly focus we did on nutrition, where we studied the nutritional and medicinal value of select fruits and vegetables from our local farmers’ markets. We all know that these foods are healthy for us, but it was very cool to learn how and look at studies done on their particular benefits.
Prior to this rotation, I had a couple of mini rotations in the community and hospital pharmacy settings. A couple of the pharmacists I shadowed admitted that their knowledge was very limited on herbal supplements. This rotation was important to me to widen my knowledge, especially considering that the majority of local pharmacies our patients frequent have many of these products in stock. I also have members in my own family who traditionally use different herbal products and I wanted to gain the knowledge to connect with them and answer their questions. Since taking Dr. Tarlow’s rotation, I use the counseling points I learned constantly. I work as a Medication Therapy Management (MTM) pharmacist and I conduct comprehensive medication reviews with patients. Oftentimes patients are supplementing their prescription medications with herbal products that are over-the-counter. I counsel on drug-herb interactions when I see them, and answer patients’ questions.
I have certainly become more confident in this area and I attribute that to the experience I gained with Dr. Tarlow. For those considering this opportunity, I strongly recommend it to augment their pharmaceutical knowledge and become a more well-rounded pharmacist.”
Ayah Bany-Mohammed, PharmD
MTM Pharmacist at MedWatchers
“We feel so lucky to be able to offer such a unique and interesting rotation for our APPE students. Dr. Tarlow is a pleasure to work with, offering a highly structured, virtual rotation that challenges our students. Our students often comment about the value of the rotation, Dr. Tarlow’s skills as a preceptor, and how they learned important information about natural products that they didn’t see in school.
As one of our students said, “Once again, I would just like to thank Dr. Tarlow SO MUCH for such a wonderful rotation. You truly made a difference in my life and how I will practice as a pharmacist.””
-Janet H. Cooley, PharmD, BCACP
Director of Experiential Education
Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice and Science
The University of Arizona College of Pharmacy
“I completed the Masterclass in 2021 and I must say - WOW. I am constantly going back to my notes to help my patients in my community pharmacy practice.”
“In 2023, more and more people WANT to support their medication regimens with natural medicines to help achieve optimal outcomes. With so much random informational available online, I offer my knowledge and care to patients so that they turn to me rather than an internet search. I highly recommend this course for all healthcare providers, especially for Pharmacists!
The rotation equipped me with the resources and mindset to analyze foods, supplements and methodologies. I no longer quickly dismiss ideas that aren't mainstream. Instead, I try to reason out why they may or may not work.” Continued below.
“The most surprising piece of information I gained during this rotation is that vitamins have active forms and that some people cannot metabolize the most common commercially available formulations.
The rotation was important to me because healing started with nature. The wonderful accomplishments achieved with synthetics/bio-mimetics has sadly cloaked this fact. I believe accepting the remedies of previous generations, or at least understanding the reasoning behind them, allows us to embrace our cultural heritage.
Personally, this appreciation is fulfilling because it both grounds and unites. When you are comfortable with who you are and where you come from, you are more open to exploring the concepts around you. They become opportunities for growth instead of threats to an identity. Though a variety of materials and methods were used, the goal through human history was the same - health. Speaking professionally, when I respect a patient's background and viewpoint, they're more likely to accept my medical advice. The more they view me as a resource, the more likely they'll be to implement potentially life-saving changes.”
Mona Livgani, PharmD, APh
Community-Based Clinical Pharmacist, Manager, Patient Advocate, Experiential Educator
“…you were very nurturing and patient with me, and your willingness to share your knowledge helped me grow in confidence and feel more comfortable in the area.”
“As a student, I knew I had to take your 4th year APPE rotation when you delivered your didactic lecture on dietary supplements. I was immediately drawn to your approach and expertise in integrative medicine and dietary supplements, which I knew was an area I needed to learn more about. Little did I know that my experience would be such a game changer for me!
Thanks to you, I learned how to approach patients from a more holistic picture and not just focus on one specific disease state or medication. This helped me understand how the health of my patients is interconnected and how various aspects of their lifestyle, including integrative medicine practices, can impact their well-being.
I must say, though, that I was a bit intimidated at first because I had only limited experiences about commonly used products like vitamins Bs or omega-3s. I have not been exposed to glandulars, homeopathic remedies, and principles of functional and integrative medicine, which was something I hoped to learn. However, you were very nurturing and patient with me, and your willingness to share your knowledge helped me grow in confidence and feel more comfortable in the area. One of the things I really appreciated about you was your approach to shared decision making and how you encouraged patients to engage in their own care. This was truly enlightening for me and has helped me to be a better healthcare provider overall. I still employ motivational interviewing during my patient visits today.
Your support and guidance have been invaluable, and I feel much more comfortable managing my patients' dietary supplements in addition to their medications. It's been a game changer for me! Overall, I feel very grateful for my experience with you, and I appreciate the way you created a safe, nurturing environment that allowed me to learn and grow as a student. Thank you so much for being an amazing mentor!”
Tam Phan, PharmD, AAHIVP
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy & Clinical Pharmacy
Mann USC School of Pharmacy
Meet Pam Tarlow, PharmD.
Pam is an Integrative Health Pharmacist with a passion for positively impacting the people who are impacting people’s health: medical and natural medicine doctors practitioners alike. With over 40 years of professional experience as a pharmacist and over 30 years years of experience with natural medicine, she offers healthcare professionals an evidence-informed, patient-centered and collaboration-forward approach to bridging the knowledge and conceptual framework gap that creates roadblocks with their patients.
She serves as a clinical integrative pharmacist at a world-renowned independent pharmacy, and as part of the team of an Integrative Medical Health Group in Los Angeles. She is a lecturer and innovative experiential educator for many local and out-of-state pharmacy schools including University of Southern California (USC), Western University, Chapman University, South Carolina College and University at Buffalo, University of Arizona.She is a faculty member and mentor of the Healthy Aging doctorate program at Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and lectures at Emperor's College. She mentors medical residents at institutions including UCLA and Cedars-Sinai. She is on the Board of Directors for the Greater Los Angeles Pharmacists Association (GLAPhA).
Her primary objective is to help you keep your patients safe, keep the lines of communication open, and navigate the liminal spaces of modern medicine and health with equanimity, curiosity and an open-mind. She offers the training, tools, resources and mentorship to help you jump through the hoops of medical and natural medicine, and support your patients with confidence, ease, and clarity.
