ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) announced a pair of personnel moves this month, including the appointment of Jason Ausili as director, pharmacy affairs, effective September 28.

On September 21, Colin Brainard joined the association as its director of federal ­government affairs.

Ausili comes to NACDS from Target, where he served as health quality leader. Among Ausili’s responsibilities at NACDS will be oversight of the association’s efforts to optimize pharmacy care. He also will assist with emerging care models that advance member interests by actively engaging on value-based and performance initiatives to improve patient clinical outcomes.

Additionally, he will lead the association’s efforts to build and leverage relationships with schools and colleges of pharmacy in creating cutting-edge education programs and ensuring that future education accreditation standards best align with tomorrow’s neighborhood care services.

In his new role, Ausili will assist the NACDS Foundation by working to advance its Faculty Scholars program, which trains associate professors in effective methods of community-based patient-care research.

“Jason brings a wealth of theoretical and applied knowledge to the advancement of neighborhood care,” remarked Steve Anderson, president and chief executive officer for NACDS. “He is well grounded in practical pharmacy operations and innovative clinical experience. Together, these skills will allow him to provide effective leadership on issues such as quality metrics and innovative value-based payment models.”

Ausili will report to Kathleen Jaeger, senior vice president, pharmacy care and patient advocacy.

Brainard is now serving as NACDS’ congressional liaison on issues impacting pharmacy, with a focus on the House of Representatives. Brainard will provide counsel to the association on the effective advocacy strategies and tactics on legislative issues and he will develop and maintain relationships with government affairs counterparts in other pharmacy and stakeholder health organizations and coalitions to help advance chain pharmacy ­priorities.

He previously was a senior policy adviser for Republican Rep. Lynn Jenkins of Kansas, a member of the Ways and Means Committee. Brainard also worked for Republican Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina and was an intern for former Republican Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas. Brainard graduated from the University of Kansas.