FMI appoints Catherine Polley as VP of pharmacy services

ARLINGTON, Va. The Food Marketing Institute welcomed Catherine Polley, a veteran leader in the pharmacy industry, to the position of FMI vice president of pharmacy services. Polley will spearhead FMI’s new pharmacy public affairs program, launched this year to strengthen industry advocacy on federal pharmacy policy.

Most recently Polley was chief policy officer and senior vice president of government and professional affairs at the American Pharmacists Association. In 2006, she was co-president of the Coalition for Community Pharmacy Action, composed of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and National Community Pharmacists Association.

"Cathy is a superb choice to lead our pharmacy initiative," said FMI president and chief executive officer Tim Hammonds. "She is a dedicated pharmacist and an experienced government affairs professional on pharmacy issues. Cathy is a forceful advocate for community pharmacies, including more than 19,000 operated by FMI member companies."

Polley, a 25-year veteran in the industry, worked for six years as NACDS vice president of state government affairs. She served on the association’s Strategic Planning Committee, educated lawmakers and the media about industry issues and policies, and trained pharmacy employees to become stronger advocates.

She spent 18 years at the Kmart Corporation after receiving a B.S. in pharmacy from the University of Michigan, rising from pharmacy manager to director of pharmacy government and trade relations.

As FMI’s vice president of pharmacy services starting mid-September, Polley will build its new pharmacy advocacy program, working closely with senior public affairs executives and the association’s Pharmacy Affairs Council. FMI created this program with the goal of ensuring that federal laws and regulations recognize the important role that community pharmacies—including supermarket pharmacies—play in the nation’s healthcare system.