SAN DIEGO — The 2025 National Association of Chain Drug Stores Total Store Expo opened Sunday with a strong message about advancing pharmacy and healthcare access at a time of mounting pressures on the nation’s healthcare system. In a packed ballroom during Sunday morning’s Business Program, NACDS leaders outlined new priorities, a sharpened planning process, and a call to action for members.
Why TSE Matters
Rick Gates, NACDS Chair and chief pharmacy officer at Walgreens, highlighted the event’s role in driving collaboration and innovation: “What I’ve always loved about this event is that it’s where partnerships start, where innovations emerge, and where good conversations turn into real opportunities.”
NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson added that the Expo’s growing reach reflects the association’s vitality: “Many of you are new to NACDS. I think that illustrates what a vibrant and robust organization NACDS has become. It bodes well for the future of our industry, and for this great association.”
A New Planning Approach
Since taking on the Chair’s role in April, Gates said he has been “listening, learning, and building a plan that reflects what matters most” to members. He described the outcome of a 100-Day Plan that included conversations with retailers, suppliers, and industry partners, as well as visits to member headquarters and stores.
That effort, he explained, has led to a new planning framework centered on four priorities: “outside expertise to accelerate planning and future-proof our approach; defined ROI so every member can see NACDS value clearly to them; focused and impactful reimbursement policies that are achievable; and a retooled Retail Advisory Board that is more action-driven and member-led.”
He pointed out that the strategy builds on a record of results: “We’ve already proven that when we act together, we can expand the scope of practice across multiple states, win meaningful reimbursement changes, and block harmful legislation before it takes root.”
Serving Members and Patients
Anderson underscored that NACDS is driven by its members: “This association reflects the membership: forward-leaning, bold, and always searching for better ways to meet the challenges, and better ways to serve.”
He also highlighted the growing role of pharmacies, emphasizing their expanded health and wellness services, including preventive care, screenings, immunizations, and nutrition counseling. Many pharmacies lead wellness programs, enabling people to make informed health decisions. Additionally, they leverage technology to provide more personalized and efficient care, both in-store and beyond. By advancing automation, robotics, and AI, they aim to optimize operations, reduce costs, and remain competitive, ultimately empowering pharmacists to focus on patient care.
Anderson pointed to initiatives that highlight NACDS’ impact, including the Milken Institute’s “Advancing Health through Expanded Access to Pharmacy-Based Care” project, the association’s early leadership in Surescripts, and current work in artificial intelligence: “NACDS has an important role to play, through collective power: telling the story, pushing the issues, and bringing about game-changing innovation.”
Urgency in a Time of Strain
Both leaders addressed the ongoing challenges facing pharmacies, from closures to reimbursement pressures. They cited forthcoming survey results showing that 83% of Americans would be concerned if their local pharmacy were to close, and that 97% agree action is needed to prevent such closures.
Gates and Anderson reaffirmed NACDS’ advocacy for meaningful reimbursement and pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reforms across government.
Technology as a Driver
Technology was also in focus, with Peter Diamandis, founder of the XPRIZE Foundation, delivering the keynote address. He urged the industry to embrace transformative innovation rather than settle for incremental change.
A Shared Call to Action
Closing the program, Gates urged members to take ownership: “Don’t wait for the roadmap, help us build it. Don’t assume someone else will make the call or send the email; do it yourself. And don’t think for a second that your voice doesn’t matter, because together it absolutely does. We can modernize faster. We can elevate community pharmacy. We can drive unified advocacy that changes laws and that changes lives. But only if we do it with purpose. Only if we do it with partnership. And only if we do it with a plan that works in today’s world, not just on paper. Making change in pharmacy is not a spectator sport. Your role is simple but not easy: show up.”
Anderson delivered a final note of optimism: “That’s the mission of NACDS — to be the face of neighborhood healthcare that America needs and expects us to be, and to usher in a brighter day for healthcare and a vibrant total-store environment for you to serve consumers as you are called and inspired to do. Despite the challenges, there is a real reason for optimism. Together, we can turn uncertainty into progress and challenges into breakthroughs. The strength of NACDS — and the strength of this industry — is its resilience, its innovation, and its heart. Let’s keep pushing forward together, united in purpose and bold in action.”
