SAN DIEGO — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation marked its 27th Annual Dinner on August 23 with more than $1.4 million raised to support pharmacy education and advance healthcare innovation.
Held during the NACDS Total Store Expo, the event drew over 500 industry leaders and academic partners to celebrate the Foundation’s expanding research portfolio and commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery. Academy Award-winning actor and advocate Geena Davis headlined the evening.
“Across the country, localized care delivery is gaining momentum. Academic institutions are updating their courses of study to reflect this new paradigm, and research is helping to define new approaches to improve health outcomes,” said NACDS President and CEO and NACDS Foundation Chair Steven C. Anderson. “The NACDS Foundation is committed to supporting that evolution and innovation, and we honor the shared commitment of Foundation sponsors to spark meaningful progress.”
NACDS Foundation President Sara Roszak, DrPH, MPH, highlighted the role of collaboration: “Innovation in healthcare does not happen by chance — it is cultivated through partnership, research, and a shared commitment to better outcomes. At the NACDS Foundation, we are proud to work alongside our colleagues and supporters to advance ideas that can truly transform care.”
During the evening, Dr. Julie Akers, Interim Dean of the Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Studies, received the Foundation’s Cultivating Innovation in Care Award for her contributions to advancing pharmacist-led care.
“I am honored to receive the Cultivating Innovation in Care Award. The NACDS Foundation was pivotal in my research that increased access to quality care provided by community pharmacists,” said Akers. “The NACDS Foundation Faculty Scholars program aided my transition from implementing clinical services while at a chain pharmacy to conducting meaningful research in an academic setting. It is a great resource, and all who contribute to the NACDS Foundation should be proud of the innovation they inspire.”
The 28th Annual NACDS Foundation Dinner will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport during the 2026 NACDS Total Store Expo in Boston, MA.
