NABP honors Rite Aid pharmacy veteran
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid announced Wednesday that Mike Podgurski, Rite Aid VP pharmacy services, has been named the 2015 honorary president by the National Association of the Boards of Pharmacy.
“Over the course of his career, Mike has made a profound and lasting impact here at Rite Aid and across the retail pharmacy industry,” said Robert Thompson, Rite Aid EVP pharmacy. “We are extremely proud of Mike and we are especially grateful for his many contributions to our company, which have helped us to deliver superior patient care to our pharmacy customers nationwide. Mike is a true servant leader and a champion of community pharmacy and is most-deserving of this honor.”
In presenting the award, the Association recognized Mike’s ongoing commitment to the Association through his participation on numerous NABP and industry committees and task forces including the NABP’s Task Force on Pharmacy Licensure Standards, its Community Pharmacy Accreditation Program Steering Committee and its Task Force on Pharmacy Automation; the American Pharmacists Association’s Work Group on the Future of Pharmacy, and the Food and Drug Administration’s Risk Communication Advisory Committee. He was also involved with the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Roundtable on Health Information Technology and Prescription Drug Abuse and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Work Group.
The honor is awarded each year to an individual in recognition of their commitment to supporting the Association’s mission and goals including protecting public health and promoting the Association’s initiatives. Podgurski, a licensed pharmacist with more than 40 years’ experience, was formally recognized during NABP’s Annual Awards Dinner Tuesday evening, the culminating event of the Association’s 111th Annual Meeting in New Orleans.
Podgurski joined Rite Aid in 1987 through the company’s acquisition of SupeRx. During his nearly 30 year tenure at Rite Aid, he has held a variety of positions covering several functional areas including pharmacy operations, pharmacy services, pharmacy development, government affairs and third party administration. Podgurski was named to his current role in June 2007.
A past member and officer of the Pennsylvania State Board of Pharmacy, which he served for 15 years, Podgurski is a member of several professional organizations including the American Pharmacists Association; the National Community Pharmacy Association; the National Association of Chain Drug Stores; the American Society for Automation in Pharmacy and the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association.
Podgurski earned his bachelor of science degree in pharmacy from West Virginia University.