NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Real change in pharmacy doesn’t happen alone — it happens when voices unite. That’s the purpose behind McKesson Amplify, a support-driven initiative created to strengthen the future of community pharmacy through advocacy. That was made loud and clear at ideaShare 2025, which was held last week at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center.
“Recognizing that a single voice has limits, McKesson Amplify helps raise the collective volume of the profession by empowering state pharmacy associations with direct funding for advocacy efforts,” said Jeanine Singer, senior vice president of national and key accounts and field sales, on the program that was launched at the conference last year in New Orleans.
“These efforts are focused on putting patient care first, supporting independent community pharmacies and sustaining the essential role they play in neighborhoods across the country. By lifting community pharmacies and driving meaningful dialogue at the state and national levels, we help create a ripple effect — one that secures a stronger, more sustainable future for pharmacy,” she added.
Singer said that with this program McKesson is really focused on what pharmacists are focused on, which is building advocacy around their patients. “All advancements should be around covering the patient and, at McKesson, we’re really focused on elevating the role of the pharmacist in the patient’s life, especially as the front door of health care… These pharmacies serve rural areas, underserved areas, and it’s critically important for patient access that we continue to have a robust, independent business and industry. We’re incredibly excited to continue to provide funding to the [state] pharmacy associations so that they can drive their amazing policy work [and] …engagement in the future of pharmacy.”
She explained that at its core, what McKesson has done, and is excited to continue, is what the company has always done, which is show up and help support independent pharmacies at the state and federal level. “We’re a founding member of the Future of Pharmacy Coalition, and we are lobbying for HR 3164, or ECAPs, Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services programs. We believe it’s critically important that patients across the country and in every state receive those critical services from pharmacists and that they can continue to operate at the top of their license. In addition to that, I think the work that Amplify has really amplified the work across the country. We’re working closely with NASPA [National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations], we’re highlighting success in states and ultimately that’s creating better policy, better outcomes and better patient access.”
Singer thinks that the role that independents can play and have always played is being a trusted advisor for patients, helping patients access affordable, real-time care when they need it most, and doubling down on their engagement in local community and advocacy efforts. “It’ll build, there should be a groundswell, and I believe that patients will return to the most accessible point of health care, which is independent community pharmacy.”
She said that not only are pharmacists the front door of health care, they are in some cases the first people to show up when tragedy happens. “And that’s what happened with COVID. We are the first people to show up. I mean, Ken Reed in West Virginia, they couldn’t figure out how to get vaccinations out, and he and his team in their pickup trucks went out into the community. In his session, Raj Chhadua, PharmD, gave the great example of the tragedy that happened with the flooding in Texas and how four independent pharmacies began helping families out.”
Singer said she is excited about what lies ahead. “I’ve been in this industry for 30 years and participation varies and wanes, but […] Amplify is led by pharmacists, [it is] mission driven, [and]… going to be based on the creativity in the communities that it serves. And I can see that community happening on the floor downstairs, and it’s pretty exciting,” she concluded.
