NACDS Chairman Alex Gourlay, co-chief operating officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance, and president of Walgreen Co. (far left) and NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE, (far right) presented special awards to NACDS RxIMPACT participants (left to right) who have attended every NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill since it began in 2009: Missouri Pharmacy Association’s Ron Fitzwater, Rite Aid’s Gary Jacobi and Mike Podgurksi, and Mark Polli of Retail Business Services, an Ahold Delhaize Company.
Washington, DC – The presence of more than 450 advocates from all 50 states, reaching every Congressional office, says a lot about pharmacy’s engagement in the public policy process. In addition to posting these record-setting numbers, the 2018 NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill made another powerful statement, by serving as the venue for the announcement of several grassroots and political awards and recognitions.
The NACDS RxIMPACT grassroots advocacy program and the NACDS Political Action Committee (NACDS-PAC) recognized important milestones and bestowed honors during the NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill Welcome Dinner on March 7 – prior to a high-energy day of advocacy on March 8.
The NACDS RxIMPACT program recognized 14 Pioneers in attendance at this year’s event. The Pioneers are those who attended the first NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill in 2009, and registered by an early deadline to help build momentum. Those Pioneers participating in the 10th Anniversary event included:
- David Cippel, president, Klingensmith’s Drug Stores Inc.
- Kermit Crawford, RPh, president and COO, Rite Aid Corporation
- Chris Dimos, RPh, president, Retail Solutions, Health Mart
- Ron Fitzwater, CAE, MBA, chief executive officer, Missouri Pharmacy Association
- Peter Hilsenrath, PhD, chair in healthcare management and professor of economics, University of the Pacific Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
- Jack Holt, RPh, president, Hi-School Pharmacy Services LLC
- Gary Jacobi, RPh, pharmacist, Rite Aid Corporation
- Rebecca Lichucki, MBA, CPhT, director, clinical services, MarkeTouch Media, Inc.
- Daniel J. Miller, senior vice president, Pharmacy Operations, Rite Aid Corporation
- Craig Painter, executive chairman of the Board, Kinney Drugs, Inc.
- Mark Polli, RPh, director, pharmacy compliance and regulatory affairs, Retail Business Services, an Ahold Delhaize Company
- George J. Riedl, senior vice president and president of health and wellness, Walmart
- David Vucurevich, RPh, chief operating officer, Genoa Healthcare
- Michael Wunder, Director, pharmacy operations, Quick Chek Corporation
Also recognized were those advocates who have attended every NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill over the past decade:
- Ron Fitzwater, CAE, MBA, chief executive officer, Missouri Pharmacy Association
- Gary Jacobi, RPh, pharmacist, Rite Aid Corporation
- Mike Podgurski, RPh, vice president, pharmacy services, Rite Aid Corporation
- Mark Polli, RPh, director, pharmacy compliance and regulatory affairs, Retail Business Services, an Ahold Delhaize Company
NACDS presented the 2017 and 2018 NACDS RxIMPACT Key Contact of the Year Awards. The 2017 awards were presented this year given the cancellation of the 2017 event due to a late-winter storm that closed Capitol Hill offices. Key Contacts focus on providing trusted insights and information to particular members of Congress, becoming go-to experts on health and wellness topics.
- The 2017 NACDS RxIMPACT Key Contact of the Year Award went to Anthony Provenzano, PharmD, vice president, pharmacy compliance and government affairs, Albertsons Companies. Provenzano distinguished himself through extensive letter-writing to members of Congress; by coordinating 11% of all NACDS RxIMPACT Congressional pharmacy tours and other in-district and in-state events in 2017; by participating in Key Contact PLUS training; and by recruiting new program participants.
- The 2018 NACDS RxIMPACT Key Contact of the Year Award went to Mark Polli, RPh, director, pharmacy compliance and regulatory affairs, Retail Business Services, an Ahold Delhaize Company. In addition to participating in every NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill, Polli has provided leadership in continuously growing his company’s advocacy team to reach more Capitol Hill offices. He has provided excellent leadership as a reliable Congressional pharmacy tour coordinator, he is active on the NACDS Policy Council and he is trained in the Key Contact PLUS program.
NACDS also presented the 2017 and 2018 NACDS RxIMPACT Leader of the Year Award – the recognition provided to entire companies. - The 2017 NACDS RxIMPACT Leader of the Year Award was presented to Discount Drug Mart. Steve Ferris, government affairs director, accepted the award. The company was recognized for extensive engagement in the NACDS RxIMPACT Votes get-out-the-vote program during the 2016 election cycle. Through the program, the company hosted informative events for hundreds of pharmacists, implemented a staff communications program and promoted voter registration information and deadlines.
- The 2018 NACDS RxIMPACT Leader of the Year Award was presented to Walmart. George Riedl, senior vice president and president of health and wellness, accepted the award. The company has been represented at every NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill, and has tripled its participation level – such that it now accounts for six teams that make rounds on Capitol Hill. The company has accounted for 10% of all NACDS RxIMPACT Congressional pharmacy tours and other in-state and in-district events over the past decade.
NACDS-PAC presented it’s Chairman’s Inner Circle Award. NACDS-PAC supports pro-pharmacy and pro-patient Congressional candidates, on a bipartisan basis. NACDS-PAC presented two awards, based on 2017 activities, to:
- Mike Duteau, vice president of business development and strategic relations, Kinney Drugs, Inc.
- Ed Kaleta, vice president of federal government relations and U.S. public policy, Walgreen Co.
