Rick Gates charts a bold path forward as new NACDS Chair

Rick Gates, senior vice president and chief pharmacy officer of Walgreens, has officially assumed the role of NACDS Chair, bringing nearly three decades of pharmacy leadership to the post. In his address, Gates traced his roots back to a small-town Iowa drugstore, where a teenage job sparked his lifelong dedication to pharmacy.

Gates called on the industry to come together with “one voice” to tackle key challenges, from reimbursement reform to organized retail crime and workforce shortages. “We’re stronger when we speak together as one industry,” he emphasized.

He laid out a three-pronged vision: accelerate modernization (through tools like micro-fulfillment centers and digital health integration), elevate the role of community pharmacy and unify advocacy efforts. Gates also highlighted Walgreens' push for PBM reform and recent success with Arkansas’ Rule 128 as a model for broader change.

With digital health on the rise and consumers demanding more from their pharmacies, Gates stressed the need for pharmacists to practice at the top of their education, not just their license. He concluded with a call to action: “If we want that trust to continue, we must invest in the future—through collaboration, innovation and shared purpose.”

Gates’ leadership promises a forward-thinking era for NACDS and retail pharmacy at large.