This Week in Pharmacy

Pharmacy Profit Summit 2026 + Rare Disease Day 2026 | TWIRx

On this episode of This Week in Pharmacy, we spotlight two major conversations shaping the future of pharmacy practice in 2026.
First, we welcome Dr. Lisa Faast, PharmD, founder of DiversifyRx, to discuss the Pharmacy Profit Summit 2026 and how independent pharmacies can strengthen margins, diversify revenue streams, and build sustainable growth models in today’s reimbursement environment.
Then, we turn to Rare Disease Day 2026 with Richard Faris PharmD, Chief Commercial & Clinical Officer at and PANTHERx Rare, to discuss specialty pharmacy leadership, pharmacist impact, and new patient feedback data revealing communication gaps in rare disease care.
Segment 1: Pharmacy Profit Summit 2026Guest: Dr. Lisa Faast, PharmD | Founder, DiversifyRx
Dr. Faast joins us to break down the vision behind Pharmacy Profit Summit 2026 — an event designed to equip pharmacy owners with practical strategies to increase profitability while maintaining clinical excellence.
Key Topics Covered:
• Why independent pharmacies must move beyond traditional dispensing revenue • Diversification strategies including niche services and high-value offerings • Real-world financial benchmarks pharmacy owners should track • How mindset, leadership, and data discipline drive sustainable profitability • The importance of collaboration and shared intelligence among pharmacy entrepreneurs
The Pharmacy Profit Summit is not just about revenue — it’s about equipping pharmacy owners to compete intelligently in a rapidly consolidating healthcare market.
Segment 2: Rare Disease Day 2026Guest: Richard Faris, PharmD | PANTHERx Rare
In recognition of Rare Disease Day 2026, we are honored to welcome Richard Ferris, PharmD, to discuss the critical role pharmacists play in specialty pharmacy and rare disease care.
PantherRx recently released survey findings examining patient and caregiver experiences within rare disease treatment journeys.
Key Study Highlights:
• 90% of patients and caregivers report delays due to communication gaps • 68% report waiting for updates from providers, pharmacies, or insurers • 90% say they manage the care process themselves • 72% desire a dedicated care coordinator • 73% agree it is unclear who is responsible for coordinating rare disease care
Despite advances in specialty therapeutics, patients are still asking for the fundamentals: clear communication, coordinated care, and personalized support.
Richard discusses:
• The growing importance of specialty pharmacists as care coordinators • Why rare disease patients often feel burdened by system fragmentation • How specialty pharmacy can close communication gaps • The need for pharmacist-led continuity in complex therapy management
Rare Disease Day reminds us that specialty pharmacy is not only about high-cost medications — it is about human connection, long-term coordination, and advocacy for patients navigating some of the most complex clinical journeys in healthcare.  From business sustainability to patient-centered specialty care, this episode reinforces two realities:
Pharmacy must remain financially strong to survive.Pharmacists must remain clinically present to lead.
As the profession evolves, profitability and patient advocacy are not opposing forces — they are interdependent pillars of pharmacy’s future.
Listen now and join the conversation shaping Pharmacy in 2026.

LTC Rx at Home: Logistics & Advocacy | TWIRx

LTC Rx at Home: Logistics & Advocacy | TWIRxRx4Route is a specialized pharmacy delivery management platform and software designed to optimize prescription delivery for pharmacies. It integrates with existing systems to provide real-time tracking, AI-powered route optimization, HIPAA-compliant proof of delivery, and driver management tools. It aims to reduce delivery costs and improve efficiency.Doni Sattarov with Rx4RouteRx4Route.com
 
Kristen Hutchison - Health Policy and Patient AdvocacyAs a seasoned medical technical writer and chronic illness patient advocate, I meticulously translate intricate medical information into succinct content tailored for diverse audiences, including engineers, clinicians, educators, and advocacy groups.https://www.khutchison.com/

Valentine’s Day Special 2026 | TWIRx

TWIRx – This Week in Pharmacy
Episode Date: February 13, 2026Valentine’s Day Special 💘
This week on TWIRx, hosts Stephen Beckman, PharmD and Todd Eury break down the biggest headlines shaping pharmacy, from workforce trends to policy updates and innovation.
💕 Valentine’s Feature: TogetheRx – A Pharmacy Love Story
In celebration of Valentine’s Day, we welcome Drs. Mark and Gretchen Garofoli, PharmD, a pharmacy power couple who met at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and have built a life and career TogetheRx.
Their journey includes raising a family, leading in pharmacy advocacy, podcasting, academic work with WVU School of Pharmacy, and operating a community pharmacy near Morgantown, WV.
🧪 Love Potion Segment: A Historical Rx
Dr. Mark Fulton, PharmD, host of the RxTales Podcast, joins the show to explore the surprising history of “love potions” and how folklore intersects with early pharmacy and medicine.
🚀 Innovation Spotlight: RxTransfer & Interoperability
We close with Pharmacy 50 Award Winner Alumni 2025, Dr. Lawrence King, PharmD, VP of Product Innovation at Surescripts, discussing RxTransfer, prescription interoperability, and how technology is modernizing pharmacy workflow and patient safety.
❤️ From love stories to pharmacy innovation, this Valentine’s edition celebrates the profession from the heart.
Subscribe, listen, and share as we head into Valentine’s Day 2026.
 

The GCR Wake-Up Call: How Small Buying Decisions Are Crushing (or Saving) Pharmacy Margin | TWIRx

 Independent pharmacies are dispensing more prescriptions than ever—but too many are seeing their profits shrink month after month. In this episode of This Week in Pharmacy, hosts Todd Eury and CEO of MatchRx Johny Kello sit down with Saeed Dinno Director of Pharmacy for a group of independent pharmacies in MI. For a practical, plain-English breakdown of one of the most overlooked metrics impacting pharmacy profitability: GCR, let's dive into this!
This episode isn’t about policy debates, compliance theory, or vendor hype. It’s a real-world conversation designed to help pharmacy owners, managers, and buyers understand how everyday sourcing and dispensing behaviors directly influence margin—often without anyone realizing it.
Saeed explains what GCR actually measures, what it does not measure, and why two pharmacies filling the exact same prescription can end up with completely different financial outcomes. From convenience buying and emergency orders that become routine, to default NDC selection and a disconnect between the buyer and the bench, the episode highlights the subtle habits that quietly erode profitability over time.
More importantly, the conversation delivers actionable steps pharmacies can implement immediately. Saeed outlines the core disciplines that improve performance—smarter buying strategy, better alignment between purchasing and dispensing, and simple operational guardrails that don’t slow workflow. The focus is not on “working harder,” but on working differently.
The episode closes with a clear, clip-worthy takeaway: one specific action pharmacy leaders can take this month to start moving the needle.
If you’ve ever wondered why your pharmacy is busy but the numbers don’t reflect it, this is an episode you’ll want to listen to twice—and put into practice the very next day.Second segment of TWIRx is with Jonathan Adly, CEO of TJM Labs, to discuss his powerful new book, The Innovative Pharmacy: How to Build an 8-Figure Pharmacy One Idea at a Time. At a time when independent pharmacies are being squeezed by rising labor costs, shrinking reimbursements, and increasing operational complexity, Adly delivers a refreshing message: success is still possible—but it requires innovation, clarity, and execution.
Jonathan shares why this book is not a “one-size-fits-all” business blueprint, but a collection of real-world frameworks inspired by hundreds of high-performing pharmacies across the U.S. and Canada. We explore the principles behind sustainable growth, including identifying your ideal customer, building scalable systems through automation, simplifying operations, and playing offense when the math works.
This conversation is a call to action for pharmacy leaders ready to build smarter, faster, and stronger—one bold idea at a time.This episode of TWIRx is sponsored by MatchRx, TJM Labs, Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC) and Sykes & Company. 

Pharmacy Road-map for 2026 and New Opportunities for Growth | TWIRx

TWIRx – January 30 | Special Guest: Marc Essensa, CEO of IPC
On this episode of This Week in Pharmacy, we welcome Marc Essensa, President and CEO of the Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC), to discuss timely strategies and resources helping independent pharmacies strengthen their businesses in today’s challenging environment.
Building Your Independent Pharmacy Business
Marc shares insights on navigating reimbursement pressure, improving margins, and leveraging IPC’s purchasing power, data, and strategic tools to support long-term sustainability.
The Payment Card Settlement: A Practical Guide
We break down IPC’s guidance on the Payment Card Interchange Fee Settlement, which may allow pharmacies that accepted Visa or Mastercard between 2004–2019 to recover funds. Marc explains eligibility, next steps, and how recovered dollars can support cash flow, staffing, technology, or inventory investments.
IPC Member Support Services
The conversation highlights IPC’s expanded member support offerings, including business consulting, strategic partnerships, wholesale access, and operational resources designed to help independents stay competitive.
Legislative & Advocacy Updates
Marc also provides updates on IPC’s advocacy efforts at both the state and federal levels, focused on protecting independent pharmacy interests and addressing ongoing policy and reimbursement challenges.
🔗 Resource Mentioned
The Payment Card Settlement: A Practical Guide – IPChttps://www.ipcrx.com/pharmacy-blog/news/the-payment-card-settlement-a-practical-guide/
Special guest:  Sakhi Gaurang Patel is a trailblazing PharmD candidate at the UC Irvine School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences and a co-founder of the startup CuraVoice. Recognized for her work in healthcare equity, mentorship, and educational technology, she focuses on improving patient communication and reducing health disparities.
Featured Guest: Dr. Jenny Newlon, PharmD — Researcher and Pharmacist with Birth Control Pharmacist
In this episode of This Week in Pharmacy, we sit down with Dr. Jenny Newlon to explore how pharmacist consultants, health clinics, and independent pharmacies can build high-value contraception services that meet urgent community needs.We discuss practical strategies for delivering accessible birth control care—especially in areas that have lost Planned Parenthood centers—while creating new revenue models outside the constraints of traditional PBM reimbursement.
Dr. Newlon breaks down:
How pharmacies can implement contraception services—even with limited staff or clinical infrastructure
Ways to deliver value to patients and communities through education, access, and continuity of care
Forward-thinking business models that diversify revenue beyond dispensing
Tune in to learn how independent pharmacy teams can lead with care, expand women’s health access, and strengthen their role as trusted healthcare providers.Today's "This Week in Pharmacy" is sponsored by Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC)

Beyond Downloads: Pharmacists, Listener Metrics & AI’s Next Wave | TWIRx

In this episode of This Week in Pharmacy, we explore how the Pharmacy Podcast Network (PPN) is deepening connections across healthcare by elevating pharmacists’ voices in the conversations that matter most. Inspired by the recent partnership between podcasting giant PodcastOne and the AI-driven analytics platform Listener, we highlight how PPN is using the same type of advanced engagement metrics—combining podcast listener data, social media signals, and network insights—to measure true influence, not just downloads. With Listener’s powerful data, PPN can now identify where pharmacists are making the greatest impact and uncover new opportunities to expand pharmacist positioning with other providers, industry leaders, and the public.
Plus, Todd sits down one-on-one with Kris Rhea of Pharmacy Market Place for an insightful conversation on AI in pharmacy—exploring how artificial intelligence is shaping workflow, clinical decision-making, business operations, and what pharmacists need to know to stay ahead in a rapidly changing healthcare landscape.

Doing Things Differently: YARAL Pharma, Pennsylvania Policy, and the Birth Control Pharmacist | TWIRx

🎙️ This Week in Pharmacy (TWIRx) — January 9, 2026
Welcome to TWIRx — This Week in Pharmacy! I’m your host Todd Eury, and today’s episode is sponsored by YARAL Pharma, a generics company committed to “Doing Things Differently”—with a human-centered, untraditional approach that’s redefining relationships between industry and pharmacy practice. 
✅ Today’s Sponsor: YARAL Pharma
YARAL Pharma is committed to innovation, partnership, and supporting pharmacists at the front lines—especially as healthcare continues to restructure and the role of the pharmacist becomes more essential than ever. Their mission to Do Things Differently is more than a slogan—it’s a commitment to reshaping what a generics company can stand for in today’s healthcare marketplace. 
📰 This Week in Pharmacy — News
1) Amazon Pharmacy to Offer Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy Pill Nationwide
Amazon Pharmacy is now offering Novo Nordisk’s newly FDA-approved Wegovy pill, making the weight-loss medication available nationwide through both insurance coverage and cash-pay options. This move continues Amazon’s expansion into digital healthcare access—bringing blockbuster GLP-1 therapies directly to consumers and increasing competition among major pharmacy providers.https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/amazon-pharmacy-offer-novo-nordisks-wegovy-pill
2) Dr. David Pope: AI, Online Pharmacies, and Why the Neighborhood Pharmacist Still Wins Trust
In a must-read guest column, Dr. David Pope argues that while AI and online pharmacy services are rapidly surging, the community pharmacist remains one of the most trusted healthcare professionals in America. He points to how pharmacy deserts, increasing reimbursement pressure, and policy reform will reshape pharmacy in 2026—and why the profession’s future will depend on protecting and empowering local pharmacy care.https://drugstorenews.com/ai-and-online-pharmacy-surge-neighborhood-pharmacist-remains-most-trusted 
3) Pharmacist Leadership Spotlight: Illuminate Rx Names Ritu Malhotra, PharmD, as President
Illuminate Rx announced the appointment of Ritu Malhotra, PharmD, as its new President, reinforcing the growing trend of pharmacists stepping into leadership roles across pharmacy benefits and PBM reform. With decades of experience modernizing healthcare and pharmacy benefit strategy, Malhotra’s appointment signals Illuminate Rx’s focus on improving transparency and clarity in pharmacy benefits management.https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/illuminate-rx-appoints-industry-veteran-ritu-malhotra-pharmd-as-president-to-advance-clarity-in-pharmacy-benefits-302657441.html
4) Viatris Exec David Marin Named New CEO of PCMA
The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA)—the leading PBM trade group—has named David Marin, previously Head of Global Government Affairs & Public Policy at Viatris, as its next President and CEO effective January 30, 2026. His selection comes at a pivotal time as PBMs face rising scrutiny and intensifying policy pressure nationwide.https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/pcma-names-new-ceo-david-marin/809158/ 
🎤 Interviews & Segments
⭐ Segment 1 — Special Sponsor Interview
Stephen Beckman, CEO of YARAL Pharma
We kick off TWIRx with a special conversation featuring Stephen Beckman, CEO of YARAL Pharma, exploring what 2026 has in store for pharmacy and healthcare. We discuss the Pharmacy 50 Awards, the importance of honoring leadership across the profession, and why supporting pharmacists right now—during one of the most fragile and transformative moments in U.S. healthcare—is absolutely critical.
⭐ Featured Interview — Pennsylvania State Representative
Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa — 51st Legislative District
Today’s featured interview is with State Representative Charity Grimm Krupa, who represents Pennsylvania’s 51st Legislative District in the House of Representatives. We discuss real healthcare issues impacting Pennsylvanians—including medical cannabis, small business healthcare benefit strategies, and why it’s essential for healthcare professionals to stay connected with their state lawmakers. Rep. Krupa also shares why every citizen should aim to communicate with their own representatives at least once per year.
⭐ Segment 2 — Clinical & Policy Spotlight
Dr. Sally Rafie, PharmD — “The Birth Control Pharmacist”
In our second segment, we welcome Dr. Sally Rafie, PharmD, nationally known as the “Birth Control Pharmacist.” Dr. Rafie is a clinical pharmacist specialist at UC San Diego Health and an assistant clinical professor at the UC San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy, widely recognized for advancing pharmacists’ role in reproductive health care.
She is also the founder of Birth Control Pharmacist, an education and training company that equips pharmacists and healthcare teams to prescribe and deliver contraception care through evidence-based resources, clinical updates, and advocacy support—helping expand access to contraception through pharmacies nationwide.
🔔 Closing
That wraps up this week’s episode of This Week in Pharmacy. Thanks for tuning in—and thank you again to YARAL Pharma for sponsoring today’s TWIRx. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please share it with a fellow pharmacist, leave a review, and stay connected as we continue to cover the stories shaping the pharmacy profession.
See you next week on TWIRx when we celebrate the "50 Most Influential People in Pharmacy" Awards LIVE!! 

Happy New Year 2026 | TWIRx

Happy New Year 2026 | TWIRx 
 
Happy New Year to our listeners, our hosts, our sponsors, and all of our supporters, Happy New Year to a PROSPEROUS 2026.We're joined by CEO of YARAL Pharma, Stephen Beckman to talk about the coming challenges in pharmacy and how pharmaceutical manufacturing can become a stronger ally to the pharmacist and the pharmacy profession.New from Pharmacy Times, Tradipitant Becomes First Treatment Approved for Vomiting Due to Motion Sickness in 4 Decades.News from Drug Topics, Pharmacists Can Use Social Media for Professional, Educational AdvancementNews from Signal Akron, PPRx: A local pharmacy supporting reproductive health care in OhioCheck out GetPRISMRx.com for more information how to build your own contraception patient treatment program, with this new tech!! 
#Pharmacy 50 Awards coming to TWIRx January 16th, 2PM LIVE

The TrumpRx Playbook for Independent Pharmacies - with MatchRX | TWIRx

Up first, Inspirogene-by-McKesson with Joe DePinto InspiroGene" is a dedicated business unit launched by McKesson in October 2024, focused solely on supporting the commercialization of cell and gene therapies (CGTs). It leverages McKesson's expertise in supply chain, logistics, and specialty pharmacy to help manufacturers, payers, and providers navigate the complex CGT landscape.https://www.mckesson.com/business-solutions/our-businesses/inspirogene-by-mckesson/Our featured interview:Sponsored by MatchRXThe TrumpRx Playbook for Independent Pharmacies
CEO of MatchRx Johny Kello co-hosts with Todd Eury featuring our guest speaker, Dae Lee, Pharm.D., Esq., CPBS. Dae is a pharmacist-attorney and a Shareholder in the FDA & Biotechnology practice at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney. What makes Dae especially valuable for this conversation is that he’s not just reading policy from 30,000 feet — he represents pharmacies every day in high-stakes fights with PBMs, from audits and reimbursement disputes to network suspensions and terminations.So, when we talk about TrumpRx — how it works, what it could break, and what independents should do next — Dae can translate the legal and contracting reality into real-world consequences behind the counter.Connect with MatchRX: MatchRX.comSpecial Message from Greg Reybold with APCI, update of the "Pharmacists Fight Back Act"Connect with Greg: https://www.apcinet.com/Next, we talk with Dr. Jessica Daley PharmD Fractional Supply Chain and Operations Executive, with Pharma Logistics, we dicuss drug shortages and strategies for 2026.Connect with Jessica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaldaley/Last interview, a suprise message from International Pharmacy 50 Pharmacist & Author Katrina Azer, announcing her new book  https://www.katrinaazer.com/#books

Power, Policy, and Platforms: Inside the Forces Reshaping America’s Drug Supply Chain | TWIRx

Segment 1: The Hidden Lender in America’s Drug Supply Chain
Guests:
Antonio Ciaccia, President, 3 Axis Advisors
Alec Ginsberg, Founder, The Drugstore Cowboy
Building on Alec Ginsberg’s investigative article, “The Hidden Lender in America’s Drug Supply Chain,” this discussion exposes how capital flows, credit structures, and opaque financial relationships influence pharmacy viability. Ciaccia and Ginsberg break down what independent pharmacists need to understand about who truly controls leverage in the system—and why transparency matters more than ever.
Segment 2: How AI Is Transforming Pharmacy Operations
Guests:
Harry Travis, BS Pharm, MBA, President, The Travis Group
Amanda Awe, PharmD, Clinical Product Consultant, Curatio Advisors
Artificial intelligence is no longer theoretical in pharmacy—it’s operational. This segment explores how AI is being deployed today to improve workflow efficiency, clinical decision-making, and patient engagement, while addressing the real-world challenges of adoption.
Inside the Forces Reshaping America’s Drug Supply Chain | TWIRx   
Thanks to NimbleRx, PRISM by OvaryIT, and Sykes & Company for sponsorsing today's show