Pharmacy Podcast Network

In this episode, Sheila Arquette, President & CEO of NASP, speaks with David G. Mitchell, PharmD, MBA, CSP, FCPhA, Assistant Chief Pharmacy Officer of Specialty Pharmacy & Home Delivery and Ruth Chen, PharmD, MHA, Manager of the Specialty Pharmacy Hub at UC Davis Health in Sacramento. They look at how UC Davis Health has built and scaled one of California’s most integrated health-system specialty pharmacy programs. Dr. Mitchell shares how being embedded within clinics, care teams, and the EHR enables specialty pharmacy to deliver differentiated clinical and operational value while navigating payer, policy, and access challenges in a rapidly evolving landscape. Dr. Chen discusses why a focused rare disease strategy is essential for health-system specialty pharmacies. She walks through the challenges that existed prior to implementing a centralized rare disease hub model and how those challenges shaped the development of a coordinated, pharmacy-led approach that supports patients and providers across complex therapies. Together, this conversation highlights how structure, strategy, and leadership enable innovation, workforce growth, and improved patient care.

The Pharmacy 50 Awards are back for the 2025 season, celebrating the people who are pushing the profession forward through leadership, innovation, advocacy, education, and patient care. In Part 3 of this 4-part series, we spotlight an incredible group of pharmacy professionals and industry leaders representing the full spectrum of pharmacy—from independent practice and health systems to digital health, specialty pharmacy, philanthropy, and beyond.

This series is designed to recognize the voices shaping the future of pharmacy and to inspire the next wave of leadership across healthcare.
 

Maurice Shaw, PharmD — Social Media Influencer

Katarina (Kati) Forbes, PharmD — Social Media Influencer

April Nguyen, PharmD — Technology & Digital Health

Mike Johnston, CPhT — Pharmacy Technician

Paul Shelton — Long term Care Pharmacy

Pat Lavella, BS Pharm — Independent Pharmacy

Mark Cuban — Advocacy, Policy, Regulation or Government

Sue Ojageer, PharmD — Social Media Influencer

Sammy Yafai, PharmD — Health System Hospital Pharmacy

Saam Ali, MR Pharm — Technology & Digital Health

Richard Dang, PharmD — Academia & Pharmacy Educator

Trent Twomey, BPharm — Advocacy, Policy, Regulation or Government

Independent pharmacies are dispensing more prescriptions than ever—but too many are seeing their profits shrink month after month. In this episode of This Week in Pharmacy, hosts Todd Eury and CEO of MatchRx Johny Kello sit down with Saeed Dinno Director of Pharmacy for a group of independent pharmacies in MI. For a practical, plain-English breakdown of one of the most overlooked metrics impacting pharmacy profitability: GCR, let's dive into this!

This episode isn’t about policy debates, compliance theory, or vendor hype. It’s a real-world conversation designed to help pharmacy owners, managers, and buyers understand how everyday sourcing and dispensing behaviors directly influence margin—often without anyone realizing it.

Saeed explains what GCR actually measures, what it does not measure, and why two pharmacies filling the exact same prescription can end up with completely different financial outcomes. From convenience buying and emergency orders that become routine, to default NDC selection and a disconnect between the buyer and the bench, the episode highlights the subtle habits that quietly erode profitability over time.

More importantly, the conversation delivers actionable steps pharmacies can implement immediately. Saeed outlines the core disciplines that improve performance—smarter buying strategy, better alignment between purchasing and dispensing, and simple operational guardrails that don’t slow workflow. The focus is not on “working harder,” but on working differently.

The episode closes with a clear, clip-worthy takeaway: one specific action pharmacy leaders can take this month to start moving the needle.

If you’ve ever wondered why your pharmacy is busy but the numbers don’t reflect it, this is an episode you’ll want to listen to twice—and put into practice the very next day.

Second segment of TWIRx is with Jonathan Adly, CEO of TJM Labs, to discuss his powerful new book, The Innovative Pharmacy: How to Build an 8-Figure Pharmacy One Idea at a Time. At a time when independent pharmacies are being squeezed by rising labor costs, shrinking reimbursements, and increasing operational complexity, Adly delivers a refreshing message: success is still possible—but it requires innovation, clarity, and execution.

Jonathan shares why this book is not a “one-size-fits-all” business blueprint, but a collection of real-world frameworks inspired by hundreds of high-performing pharmacies across the U.S. and Canada. We explore the principles behind sustainable growth, including identifying your ideal customer, building scalable systems through automation, simplifying operations, and playing offense when the math works.

This conversation is a call to action for pharmacy leaders ready to build smarter, faster, and stronger—one bold idea at a time.

This episode of TWIRx is sponsored by MatchRx, TJM Labs, Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC) and Sykes & Company.

On this episode of Executive Dose, sponsored by Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC), we tackle one of the most pressing challenges facing independent community pharmacies today: workforce shortages and talent management.

Bill Drilling, owner and Pharmacist-in-Charge of Drilling Pharmacy in Sioux City, Iowa, shares four decades of real-world experience leading a landmark independent pharmacy and developing sustainable teams in a changing labor environment.

Joined by Kelli Stovall, RPh, EMBA, Vice President of Clinical Programs and Pharmacy Services at IPC, the conversation explores practical strategies for recruiting, retaining, and empowering pharmacy talent while expanding clinical services and protecting margins.

Together, they discuss how independent pharmacies can adapt their workforce models, invest in people, and build resilient operations that support both patient care and long-term business success.

About our guests:
William "Bill" Drilling is the owner and Pharmacist-in-Charge of Drilling Pharmacy in Sioux City, Iowa, a landmark independent pharmacy he has led for over 40 years. A second-generation owner, he is recognized for his expertise in pharmacy management, immunization programs, and serving on the Iowa Pharmacists Association Board.

Kelli Stovall, RPh, EMBA, is the Vice President of Clinical Programs and Pharmacy Services at Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC), where she leads initiatives to support independent pharmacy owners. With over two decades of experience, she focuses on enhancing clinical services, driving revenue-generating opportunities, and improving operational performance for community pharmacies.

Do you know how to use a SWOT analysis effectively—or are you making common mistakes that keep your strategy from reaching its full potential? In this episode, we break down what a SWOT is, why it matters for your business, and how to leverage your strengths, address weaknesses, and take advantage of opportunities in your market. We’ll also cover the pitfalls many business owners encounter when conducting a SWOT and share practical tips to make this classic tool a true driver of strategic planning and growth. Tune in to learn how to think strategically and set your business up for success.