ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has made a pair of new appointments to its government affairs team.

Joining NACDS are Julie Philp as director of federal government affairs and Joel Kurzman as a director of state government affairs.

Philp will advance NACDS’ policy advocacy efforts by building and maintaining relationships with members of Congress and their staff and by tracking key health care developments on Capitol Hill. Among other positions, she previously served as director of government relations for the Association of Community Pharmacists.

Kurzman will collaborate with state associations, NACDS members, and state lawmakers and agencies in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin. He formerly was senior policy manager for Abbott Laboratories in Illinois.