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IRVING, Texas — This week, McKesson Corp., Health Mart, and Health Mart Atlas welcomed nearly 2,700 attendees including independent pharmacies at the 2024 McKesson ideaShare conference in New Orleans. Attendees discovered new ways to innovate and thrive through three days of engaging sessions, more than 30 continuing education courses, peer-to-peer connection opportunities, and from 150 exhibitors from across the industry. In addition, Dreier Pharmacy was awarded Health Mart Pharmacy of the Year.
Throughout the event, McKesson leaders and industry partners recognized the vital role community pharmacists play in their communities. Beyond dispensing medicines, their ability to deliver personalized patient care and foster trusted relationships with community members help to advance health outcomes. It is imperative to support and protect the profession so pharmacists can continue providing critical services for their patients.
“McKesson has a longstanding history as an essential advocate and partner for community pharmacies to sustain, grow, and improve their business’ economic health and efficiency,” said Crystal Lennartz, president, Health Mart and Health Mart Atlas. “With a focus on profitability and community impact, we offered the latest business and clinical education. This year’s event aimed to inspire independents with new solutions and services, ignite advocacy actions, and recharge to meet the challenges of today’s pharmacy landscape.”
Introducing: McKesson Amplify to Strengthen the Collective Voice of Pharmacy
During the event, a new initiative, called McKesson Amplify, was announced. This McKesson-funded sponsorship program creates a streamlined path for state pharmacy associations to secure funding for advocacy efforts that best serve independent pharmacists, their profession, and their communities. Guided by McKesson’s core belief that the patient comes first, McKesson Amplify is intended to help protect critical pharmacy services and elevate the pharmacy profession by strengthening the voice of the industry.
Jeanine Singer, SVP, National and Key Accounts & Field Sales, McKesson.
“McKesson Amplify is our advocacy funding endeavor to drive lasting change for the independent pharmacy profession,” said Jeanine Singer, senior vice president, National and Key Accounts & Field Sales, McKesson. “We believe pharmacists’ voices are one of the most important in the conversation. Together, we have an opportunity to collectively elevate the profession and strengthen the support of pharmacy across the nation.”
Additionally, several special guests took the stage to raise awareness on policy matters, ways to activate advocacy efforts within communities, and new engagement opportunities. Special guests included:
• Douglas Hoey, pharmacist and chief executive officer, National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA)
• Michael Hogue, PharmD, FAPhA, FNAP, FFIP, executive vice president and chief executive officer, American Pharmacists Association (APhA)
• Krystalyn Weaver, PharmD, JD, executive vice president and chief executive officer, National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations (NASPA)
• State Senator Shane Reeves, PharmD, for the 14th District of Tennessee and pharmacy owner
Dreier Pharmacy Awarded Health Mart Pharmacy of the Year
During the meeting, Health Mart presented the 2024 Pharmacy of the Year award, which recognizes a pharmacy for clinical and business excellence, commitment to leading a healthy community and advocating for independent pharmacy.. Attendees chose the winner during a live onsite vote from a selection of three finalists.
Pictured Jeanine Singer, SVP, National and Key Accounts & Field Sales, McKesson (left); Dreier Pharmacy co-owners Jessica Dreier-Huntington, RPh, Tim Dreier, RPh, and Jana Dreier; Crystal Lennartz, president, Health Mart and Health Mart Atlas; and Scott Miller, president of Strategic, Community, and Specialized Pharmacy, McKesson (right).
This year’s title was awarded to Dreier Pharmacy of Shawano, Wisc., operated by Tim Dreier, RPh, and his sister Jessica Dreier-Huntington. The building that houses Dreier Pharmacy has been a pharmacy—and community staple—since the late 1800s. Dreier Pharmacy has served the town of Shawano for two generations and is only years away from a third generation as Tim’s daughter, Avery, is in pharmacy school. Striving to be a healthcare access point where family values meet innovation, the family has dedicated themselves to the profession of pharmacy, allowing the business to stay profitable and expand its offerings since 1967. This includes serving as preceptors for two pharmacy schools in Wisconsin, and sharing tried and true pharmacy practices with the next generation.
Additional finalists were Creswell Health Mart Pharmacy and Hayden Pharmacy.
Save the Date Building off the success of this year’s annual conference, McKesson ideaShare will take place in Nashville from July 10-13, 2025.
