Rite Aid announces 'Favorite Pharmacist' contest winners

CAMP HILL, Pa. — A Rite Aid pharmacist and customer on the West Coast are the winners of an annual contest the chain sponsors, the company said Tuesday.

Rite Aid announced the winners of the 2011 Favorite Pharmacist contest: Sampathkumaran Trichy Santhanagopalan, of Yakima, Wash.; and winning customer Art Gomez, of Santa Rosa, Calif., who nominated his long-time pharmacist, Amy Druzgala. Each winner will receive $2,500 in Rite Aid gift cards, and Santhanagopalan will receive a "Favorite Pharmacist" pin and letter of commendation from Rite Aid president and CEO John Standley.

"Rite Aid's pharmacists are our greatest asset, and this contest is a unique way to celebrate their commitment to customer service," Rite Aid SVP pharmacy Dan Miller said. "I'd like to congratulate our two winners and express Rite Aid's sincere gratitude to all our pharmacists for their dedicated service year-round."

The winners were chosen from among 12,000 entries. Santhanagopalan, who has worked as a Rite Aid pharmacist for four years, was nominated by nearly 50 customers.