SEATTLE — Thousands of community pharmacists are converging in Seattle this week for Cardinal Health Inc.’s annual Retail Business Conference (RBC).
The pharmaceutical wholesaler said Wednesday that its 23rd RBC, which runs Aug. 7 to 10, features a 95,000-square-foot trade show exhibit floor, where attendees — including independent pharmacy owners, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and other pharmacy industry professionals — can take advantage of buying opportunities with more than 330 exhibitors.
Pharmacy professionals at the event also can access a broad range of continuing education offerings, with 55 courses on topics aimed at helping them improve both their clinical and business operations.
Cardinal Health said it will also highlight its wide array of solutions that help community pharmacies diversify and sharpen their businesses.
This year, RBC’s theme is "Discover New Horizons" to motivate independent pharmacies to find new ways to improve their businesses and deliver quality, personalized care to their patients.
"RBC is the industry’s best opportunity to celebrate independent pharmacy and to encourage owners to discover new opportunities to move their businesses forward," Steve Lawrence, senior vice president of retail independent sales for Cardinal Health, said in a statement. "This event is one of the largest gatherings of independent pharmacy owners in the world, offers more continuing education classes than can be found anywhere else and features the largest trade show floor and more exhibitors than in the show’s 23-year history. It’s an outstanding opportunity for independent pharmacies to learn from their peers and gain valuable insight into how to improve their businesses."
Among speakers at the event, the opening session will Chris Gardner, entrepreneur, author, philanthropist and single parent whose inspiring life story was published as an autobiography, "The Pursuit of Happyness," which became a New York Times and Washington Post No. 1 best seller and was the inspiration for the 2006 movie by the same name. At RBC 2013, Gardner will share his hard-won wisdom and practical guidance to encourage attendees to achieve their full potential and take on new challenges.
Doctor and economist Mark McClellan, who formerly served as administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, will lead the industry session at RBC 2013, titled "Driving the Conversation: A Look at the Future of Health Care in America." His presentation will focus on the important role that pharmacy — and specifically, community pharmacy — can play in shaping that future. McClellan, who also is a former member of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers and senior director for health care policy at the White House, is currently senior fellow, director of the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform, and Leonard D. Schaeffer Chair in Health Policy Studies at the Brookings Institution.
