ARLINGTON, Va. — One of the highlights of the annual meeting the National Association of Chain Drug Stores held virtually last month was the passing of the leadership torch to new chair Colleen Lindholz, president of Kroger Health at Kroger Co.

Lindholz’ message to associate members was clear: “We’re all in this together,” she stated.

This theme expressed by the new chair underscored the commitment of pharmacies and pharmacy teams to serving, safeguarding and healing the nation, and detailed the industry’s accomplishments, adaptability and resilience in response to the ongoing and historic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In describing chain pharmacy’s response to the pandemic, Lindholz focused on the ways in which pharmacists, pharmacy teams and supplier team members united together through NACDS to serve the nation: “When you think about the force that is our NACDS membership group, there is a unique power when we share our story together. It is when we are united that we can make the statement,” she said. “There is a pharmacy located within five miles of 90% of Americans. When we work together, that story is true and that story is told. There are things we can do together that we can’t do separately. Throughout this crisis, the government has demanded it. They have seen the power of pharmacy.”