ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Kathleen Jaeger has resigned as executive vice president and chief executive officer of the National Community Pharmacists Association, after just months in the post. NCPA has named B. Douglas Hoey to replace her.
NCPA said Friday that Jaeger is leaving in retail community pharmacy group "to pursue other opportunities." Hoey assumes the CEO position effective immediately.
"I appreciated the opportunity to work with the NCPA Executive Committee and its staff. In the end, we agreed that we wanted to take the association in different directions," Jaeger said in a statement. "I wish NCPA well as it works on behalf of the nation’s dedicated community pharmacists and their patients."
Jaeger started as NCPA’s chief executive on Nov. 1, taking over for Bruce Roberts, who left the association last summer. She joined NCPA after resigning her post as CEO of the Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA) at the end of June.
"We thank Kathleen for her leadership during her tenure with our association," stated NCPA president Robert Greenwood. "She brought many talents and ideas to NCPA. We wish Kathleen all the best in her future endeavors."
Hoey, a registered pharmacist and the son of an independent pharmacist in Bartlesville, Okla., previously was senior vice president and chief operating officer at NCPA. He served as NCPA’s acting executive vice president and CEO for most of 2010, the association said.
"I am excited and honored to lead this outstanding organization, and I am humbled by the trust that NCPA’s Executive Committee has placed in me," Hoey said in a statement. "Community pharmacists play a critical, and growing, role in today’s health care system. They provide trusted medication counseling, adherence services, patient care and other cost-saving services to millions of Americans.
"NCPA’s efforts have a real impact on the ability of community pharmacists to continue serving their patients," Hoey added. "For example, we worked for a court injunction of the AMP rule, preserving Medicaid patients’ access to their pharmacists while saving pharmacies from billions of dollars in devastating cuts. And the enactment of ‘prompt pay’ legislation helped ensure that pharmacies receive timely reimbursement from Medicare Part D plans for their services. At the same time, local pharmacists still face many pressing challenges in both the government and business sectors. These issues wait for no one, not any of us. So I look forward to getting started right away."
Before joining NCPA’s staff, Hoey spent 14 years working in community pharmacies that provided home infusion, long-term care consulting, compounding and full-line durable medical equipment (DME) services. In 2005, he became NCPA’s first COO, reporting to then-CEO Bruce Roberts.
"We’re excited about Doug’s leadership of NCPA and what can be accomplished under his direction," Greenwood commented. "He grew up working in a community pharmacy, has served patients as a pharmacist and has dedicated his career to advancing the ability of community pharmacists to effectively care for their patients."
