NEW YORK – The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation celebrated its 20th Annual Foundation Dinner in New York on November 28. The event raised more than $1.8 million, which will help support evidence-based research, pharmacy education and philanthropic initiatives to improve patient outcomes and advance population health.

Mark Panzer

In his remarks at the NACDS Foundation Dinner, NACDS chairman Mark Panzer, senior vice president, pharmacy, health and wellness of Albertsons Cos., provided examples of the patient-health programs that NACDS Foundation supporters make possible. He noted a collaborative program in Pennsylvania which screens patients at pharmacies for opioid use disorder and refers those in need to appropriate care. He also described a program in Washington State with a focus on improving patient care by optimizing statin therapy in patients with diabetes based on national medical recommendations. Panzer said, “Today, innovative delivery care models are emerging, which include physicians and pharmacists collaborating together. Under the leadership of the Foundation’s president Kathleen Jaeger, the Foundation is exploring ways to improve care coordination across healthcare teams, and to advance patient care and population health.”

(l-r) Steven Anderson, Dr. Michael Fraser and Kathleen Jaeger

Dr. Michael Fraser, CEO of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, received the 2018 NACDS Foundation Excellence in Patient Care Award. NACDS Foundation president Kathleen Jaeger said, “Dr. Fraser has been advancing his organization’s mission as an advocate for state and territorial public health for the past two years. He has provided distinguished leadership in addressing the opioid epidemic and in advancing maternal and children’s health, among other vital priorities. Yet, his commitment to helping all Americans lead healthy lives goes even further. Dr. Fraser has served CEO of the Pennsylvania Medical Society; CEO of the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs; and Deputy Executive Director at the National Association of County and City Health Officials. He has also served in several capacities at HHS [the Department of Health and Human Services], including his work at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He has provided a lifetime of leadership on issues that are essential to the Foundation’s mission.”

NACDS president and CEO and NACDS Foundation chairman Steven Anderson joined in presenting the award. During his remarks at the event, Anderson said, “For almost 12 years, I have had the opportunity to serve as chairman of the NACDS Foundation. During that time, I have had the distinct pleasure of working alongside the Foundation’s talented Board of Directors. I am confident that the Foundation has the right leadership, and the right focus. And, I’m proud to say that the continued transformation of the Foundation has taken us down a path of real achievement to advance patient health. What better way to advance health than to support research that explores promising new models of care – models that can be replicated and scaled into real-world solutions.”