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Local pharmacist joins online cardiac venture

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By Ben Sutherly, Staff Writer Updated 12:29 AM Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Local pharmacist Tim Clark, president of Clark’s Rx Pharmacy and Home Medical, has partnered with fellow Kettering Fairmont graduate Dr. Matt DeVane to launch an online nutritional supplement business tied to a cardiac education Web site.

Clark, whose pharmacy chain had sales of $32 million in 2009 and employs 136 people, said more than $100,000 has been invested so far in the Web site business, which launched three weeks ago.

It’s the latest example of Clark’s push to expand its business model. The 71-year-old independent pharmacy chain expanded its focus into retailing home medical equipment in 2002.

DeVane, a practicing cardiologist in the San Francisco area, will provide original cardiac information and advice for the Web site, HeartSmartMD.com.

The content, both written and video, will be narrowly focused on cardiac health and will be written by people “in the trenches,” DeVane said.

“As a cardiologist, I know the kinds of questions people have,” he said.

The site has an e-store through which supplements and other cardiac-related products may be purchased.

DeVane said he and Clark chose to have revenues from an e-store support the Web site’s content rather than advertising. He noted that fish oil alone is a $1 billion-a-year industry. It’s expected to be one of the site’s most popular supplements.

Most products sold on the site will carry the HeartSmart brand, and Clark’s pharmacies will stock a HeartSmart selection of products.

Clark said he and DeVane also are creating their own proprietary formulations .

DeVane is the author of “Heart Smart: A Cardiologist’s 5-Step Plan for Detecting, Preventing and Even Reversing Heart Disease.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7457 or bsutherly@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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