Ritesh Patel, Pharm.D., CDE is a board-certified Diabetes Educator, Clinical Pharmacist, and innovator at Avance Primary Care in Raleigh, North Carolina.
As a clinician, Dr. Patel is driven by his passion to help his patients and move the pharmacy profession in the forward direction. He practices evidence-based medicine but is also a trained compounding pharmacist, which allows him to be a problem-solving pharmacist. Dr. Patel strongly believes in preventative health and practices this by getting to know his patients so he can provide lifestyle suggestions and consults on dietary and vitamin needs. Dr. Patel is also a preceptor for pharmacy students and pharmacy technician students. As an educator, he trains his students to start thinking outside the box and to always go above and beyond for every patient. He feels an obligation to teach and pay back to the new generation of healthcare professionals. Dr. Patel hopes that each student that comes to his programs takes with them the infinite possibilities they have to help fellow patients and that sky is the limit on how we can grow as healthcare professionals. He strongly believes that clinicians need to practice while keeping this statement in mind, “You should always do the right thing, you should always do your best, and always keep the patient first.”
Dr. Patel’s interest in the field of pharmacy started at a very young age. His grandfather owned an independent pharmacy since the 1950′s. He has seen firsthand how an independent pharmacy can be a true wellness partner in the local community. His goal is to bring that community pharmacy service back to our communities, where taking care of people is the rule and not the exception.
Dr. Patel started in the pharmacy profession as a pharmacy technician in the US Army. While in the US Army, he wanted to pursue the field of pharmacy as a pharmacist. He continued on with his passion in pharmacy at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy. Now, as a veteran, giving back to the community is a goal for him. Dr. Patel is on the board of several charities and advisory boards. He actively participates and helps with the TIPS fundraiser for the Autism Society of North Carolina. Dr. Patel resides in Raleigh, NC and tries to support his ACC teams but is still a Gator at heart. He enjoys spending time with his wife and two energetic boys. When his wife is upset with him, you can find Dr. Patel at the nearest golf course.