Pfizer Consumer Healthcare’s George Leone, Rich Rezek and Steve DiPietro

American Greetings’ Kimberly Elliott, Rod Sturtridge and Tim Tillia

Paris Presents’ Debbie Alsup and Bob Wiltz with Alva-Amco’s Terry Riddel

RelayHealth’s Valerie Mondelli and Kathy Mathias flank Ahold USA’s Raymond McCall

Coty’s Michael Curella and David Russell with CVS’ Judy Sansone

Rite Aid’s Jocelyn Konrad and Dan Miller flank Walgreens’ Paul Zagami and Leslie Higgins

Allergan’s Mike Reed and Actavis’ Marc Falkin

AmerisourceBergen’s Steve Iampietro and ECRM’s Michael Castillo

Johnson & Johnson Consumer’s Troy Collins and Jorge Mesquita

Upsher-Smith’s Jim Maahs and Scott Hussey flank Jeff Foreman of Smith Drug and Kian Kazemi of Mallinckrodt

P&G’s Tom Bechard with CVS Health’s Christina Cacchioli and Eueal Dagne

Hershey’s Brent Cotten, Gwen Andrews and Thomas Joyce

Kantar’s Bryan Gildenberg; Edgewell Personal Care’s John Hill, Tim Grosskopf and Michael Law; i-Health’s Nick Rini

This year’s NACDS Foundation Dinner, the 17th annual, raised $1.9 million, which will be earmarked for the foundation’s patient-centered care research agenda.

More than 87 companies from a range of industries sponsored the event, held Thursday evening in Manhattan. Hy-Vee Inc. was the premier sponsor.

The evening’s program emphasized the research portfolio of the NACDS Foundation, including strategies to prevent hospital readmissions by improving patients’ understanding of their medications; the use of medication management in emerging health care models (such as accountable care organizations and medical homes) to improve patient outcomes; and efforts to improve the detection and treatment of flu and strep.

Media personality Megyn Kelly, anchor of Fox News Channel’s “The Kelly File,” shared her views on national and world events as well as her experiences as a journalist in her keynote address.

Also at the dinner, Ali S. Khan, M.D., retired assistant surgeon general and current dean of the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), received the 2015 NACDS Foundation Excellence in Patient Care Award for his commitment to health security, global health, community health and emerging infectious diseases. During his 23-year career as a senior director at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kahn led and responded to numerous high-profile domestic and international public health emergencies, including ebola, avian flu and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). He was also one of the main architects of the CDC’s public health bioterrorism preparedness program.

“We are pleased to recognize Dr. Khan’s distinguished career in advancing public health as the recipient of the NACDS Foundation Excellence in Patient Care Award,” commented NACDS Foundation president Kathleen Jaeger. “Known as one of the main architects of the CDC’s public health bioterrorism preparedness program, his commitment to patient care is extraordinary. We are grateful for his continued service in educating future leaders in public health.”

In concluding the dinner, Jaeger noted, “Without the generous support of its benefactors, the NACDS Foundation could not continue our mission of engaging in research and education to benefit patients, improve outcomes and help advance public health. We are deeply grateful for your continued commitment to and engagement with the work of the NACDS Foundation.”