(Left to Right) Eric Wright, system director for Geisinger; Justin Heiser, chief operating officer of Thrifty White Pharmacy and the 2023 NACDS Regional Chain Conference chair; Holly Freishtat, senior director of Feeding Change for the Milken Institute; William Bleser, assistant research director for Health Care Transformation for Population Health, Social Needs, and Health Equity at Duke University’s Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy; and Howard Byck, senior vice president of Corporate and Sports Alliances for the American Cancer Society, at the NACDS Health and Wellness Stakeholder Forum in Washington, D.C. on March 1.

WASHINGTON – On March 1, National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) member representatives and other health and wellness leaders convened in Washington, D.C. to advance pharmacy’s collaborative role in the broader healthcare ecosystem — and to discuss the new and innovative ways in which the industry can work together with other healthcare providers and stakeholders to better serve the nation.

Specifically, NACDS’ Health and Wellness Stakeholder Forum brought together members and collaborators to explore how pharmacies — some of the most accessible and trusted health and wellness destinations — can further contribute to meeting the needs of the “whole person.”

Judy Monroe, president and CEO of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Foundation (left), and Cat Oakar, special assistant to the President for Public Health and Disparities, The White House (right), at the NACDS Health and Wellness Stakeholder Forum in Washington, D.C. on March 1.

“This special Forum – which brought together community leaders, NACDS members, and collaborators nationwide – continued the momentum behind leveraging the value of pharmacy and the power of partnership,”said NACDS president and CEO Steven Anderson. “We are thrilled by the strong engagement and discussion, and we are appreciative of the presenters who demonstrated all that is possible in health and wellness innovation. NACDS looks forward to continuing the conversation, and to supporting NACDS-member retailers as they work collaboratively to deliver broader approaches to health and wellness and to improve individuals’ lives.”

Key presenters included:

• Rina Shah, group vice president of Pharmacy of the Future & Healthcare Segments for Walgreens and “NACDS 2023” Advisory Group chair, who kicked off the discussion by illustrating pharmacists’ proven role as part of an interdisciplinary team approach to Americans’ care;

• Judy Monroe, president and CEO of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation, who thanked NACDS and its members for their continued focus and progress on the goals set forth by the Biden Administration during the September 2022 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health;

• Cat Oakar, special assistant to the President for Public Health and Disparities, The White House, who applauded pharmacies’ ongoing efforts to end hunger, improve nutrition and health, and reduce disparities – and who noted the work that remains to achieve these ambitious goals by 2030;

• Howard Byck, senior vice president of Corporate and Sports Alliances for the American Cancer Society, who described how pharmacists — “the cornerstones of communities” — are true partners in the effort to communicate what behavioral changes can be made to help prevent cancer;

• Holly Freishtat, senior director of Feeding Change for the Milken Institute, who challenged attendees to think about what innovative partnerships can be formed to help address nutrition insecurity;

• William Bleser, assistant research director for Health Care Transformation for Population Health, Social Needs, and Health Equity at Duke University’s Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy, who presented on existing programs that have been successful in helping to address food insecurity – and potential opportunities for pharmacy engagement;

• Eric Wright, system director for Geisinger, who detailed the value of an integrated health delivery system – particularly when it comes to improving health outcomes for vulnerable and aging populations; and

• Justin Heiser, chief operating officer of Thrifty White Pharmacy and the 2023 NACDS Regional Chain Conference chair, who talked about integrating more healthcare professionals into value-based arrangements to enhance patients’ access to broader health and wellness services.

Rina Shah, group vice president of Pharmacy of the Future & Healthcare Segments for Walgreens and “NACDS 2023” Advisory Group Chair, at the NACDS Health and Wellness Stakeholder Forum in Washington, D.C. on March 1.

The March 1 Forum was hosted by the Association as part of the “NACDS 2023” initiative and to continue the momentum behind NACDS commitments made during the September 2022 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health.

“NACDS 2023” refers to the Association’s approach to serving retailer and supplier members as they bring a “total store, total person” vision to health and wellness – in the pharmacy and beyond. NACDS hosted discussions on these future-focused themes at a “satellite event” in collaboration with the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health last September — reminding policymakers and collaborators that broader health and wellness solutions also can be found as close as the nearest pharmacy.