RALEIGH, N.C. — Kerr Drug CEO Tony Civello has received recognition for Health Care Hero Lifetime Achievement from the Triangle Business Journal, Kerr said Tuesday.

The journal cited Civello’s work to refocus retail pharmacy in the healthcare field and his leadership in the retail pharmacy industry.

“Pharmacists are totally underutilized in health care,” Civello said. “Now more than ever, just handing a bag of medicine to somebody and ringing them up isn’t a good use of their education. The best and most cost-effective way to improve the healthcare system is to have pharmacists and physicians working together for the overall benefit of patients.”

A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh’s school of pharmacy, Civello was in charge of the group that purchased Kerr in 1997, and since has led the chain to focus on such clinical services as immunizations and medication therapy management, while the company has expanded into such areas as specialty pharmacy and long-term care pharmacy through its Kerr Health program.