Kinney Drugs appoints John Marraffa president
Kinney Drugs has named John Marraffa its new president.
Marraffa joined KPH Healthcare Services in 2019 as vice president of government affairs and healthcare services integration. Since then, he launched a new division, “Kinnect,” a transformational onsite pharmacy for specialized healthcare facilities.
He also expanded Kinney’s innovative “Delivery at Discharge” program, introduced a Patient Safety Organization and lead Kinney’s extensive corporate COVID-19 vaccination and testing response. Marraffa also serves as patient safety officer to provide leadership and direction to the organization’s patient safety strategy. He is responsible for continuously evaluating and improving patient safety programs based on internal needs and external requirements and standards. Additionally, he also as the organization’s HIPAA officer.
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Before joining the company in 2019, Marraffa had a 14-year career at Walgreens, where he most recently served as regional healthcare director for New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
In 2014, he was appointed to the New York State Board of Pharmacy and is currently serving his second term as board chairman.
He was selected to join the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences President’s Advisory Council in 2015 and Binghamton University’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences President’s Advisory Committee in 2016. Marraffa currently serves as an adjunct experiential preceptor for pharmacy colleges across New York State. He also was an active member of the ACPHS Professionalism Task Force and was president of the ACPHS Alumni Council from 2008 to 2011.
Marraffa has also served on numerous national association of boards of pharmacy task forces and committees, including Task Force on the Pharmacist Interactive Communication Skills Exam, Committee on Constitution and Bylaws, MPJE Review, NABP Innovation’s Interview with a Board Member and Task Force on Medication Reuse. In 2022, he will serve on NABP’s Task Force on Safety Sensitive Measures to Review Medication Errors.
“John is extremely well qualified to lead the dedicated team of Kinney Drugs employee-owners,” said CEO David Warner.
"John really knows his stuff and is a natural leader with a true talent for getting to the heart of a matter, taking decisive action, and doing whatever it takes to accomplish objectives," Warner said. "I am confident that he will propel our company forward at a time of great change within the retail drug stores and pharmacies. Internally, he will galvanize our teams and foster an environment of excellence that will continue to attract the highest caliber of talent.”
Marraffa also served as corporate walk chair for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s “Light the Night” walks as well as served on the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life Planning Committee from which he received its Shining Star Award for exemplary service.
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“I am thrilled to lead our drug store team and will work tirelessly to promote a vision of growth as we enter this transformational era of pharmacy,” Marraffa said.
“My vision is to create a customer experience unmatched by others. By building on our 118-year history, I hope to reinforce a standard of excellence that transcends traditional pharmacy," he said. "We must be different. By expanding our services, enhancing the patient experience and maximizing our partnerships, I believe that Kinney Drugs will become a premier healthcare destination. I am very excited to become part of this Kinney legacy.”