ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has appointed Kevin Nicholson as vice president of public policy and regulatory affairs, a newly created position.
NACDS said Monday that the promotion, effective immediately, expands Nicholson’s scope of duties in policy leadership, federal regulatory advocacy and staff management. He previously was vice president of government affairs and pharmacy adviser.
"Throughout his 12 years of service at NACDS, Kevin’s rock-solid knowledge and keen policy insights have assisted NACDS in shaping pro-patient and pro-pharmacy issue positions. He also has advocated reliably for these positions in testimony before Congress and federal agencies and in liaison with community pharmacy’s partners in patient care," NACDS president and chief executive officer Steve Anderson said in a statement. "All of this experience, plus his highly professional personable approach to his work, will contribute to his success in his new role."
Nicholson continues to report to Carol Kelly, senior vice president of government affairs and public policy at NACDS.
The association noted that Nicholson takes on added for the strategic direction of public policy and regulatory affairs activities. He leads a seven-person expert staff responsible for legislative and regulatory health care policy analysis at the federal and state levels and serves as the primary liaison to federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of Defense TRICARE program.
Nicholson joined NACDS in June 2001 as director of regulatory affairs. He was promoted to vice president of pharmacy regulatory affairs in September 2005 and later was named vice president of government affairs and pharmacy adviser. Also in his 24-year career in community pharmacy and health care, he practiced pharmacy for Brooks Pharmacy and for Kroger Co. He also has held positions at NDC Health Information Services, now part of McKesson Corp., and WebMD Corp.
