Expert Interviews

In part 2 of our interview with Walgreens Chief Pharmacy Officer Rick Gates, he explored the modernization behind his organization’s newly introduced ‘hybrid pharmacist’ role.

An Iowa independent pharmacy runs a cash-pay test‑to‑treat mini clinic, which streamlines workflow and expands patient access fast.

Rick Gates, chief pharmacy officer at Walgreens, helps introduce his organization’s innovative new ‘hybrid pharmacist’ role.

Pharmacists spot diabetes risk early, explain heart- and kidney-protecting meds, decode CGM data, and find affordable support.

Sylvie Stacy, MD, MPH, introduces her work on GLP-1s for addiction and the new pathways this drug class can introduce for patients living with SUD.

Amid recent comments from FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, MD, MPH, that “everything should be OTC,” Mark Garofoli, PharmD, BCGP, CPE, CTTS, helps pharmacists understand what lies ahead.

Gretchen Garofoli, PharmD, BCACP, CTTS, FAPhA, provides her perspective on the back-and-forth stemming from the federal government regarding US vaccine guidelines.

Pharmacists can build trust in buprenorphine care, handle early refill red flags, and point patients to resources to help them with substance use disorder.

Harm reduction for pharmacists can include person-first language and stigma-free naloxone counseling that keeps patients with substance use disorder safer.

The SUPPORT Act 2025 lets pharmacists prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder, but DEA training and state rules shape access and new formulations.

Mississippi pharmacies strengthen prenatal care with monthly check-ins, vitamins, aspirin, screenings, and community support for high-risk moms.

Across the United States, trafficking also takes the form of labor exploitation in farms, factories, and remote industrial regions.

With ongoing concerns about the safety and formulation of compounded GLP-1s, Annie Lambert, PharmD, BCSCP, added her expert insights into the recent crackdown of these products.

Pharmacists spot subtle abuse and sexual health red flags, avoid profiling, and respond safely with resources while protecting HIPAA privacy.

Annie Lambert, PharmD, BCSCP, discusses pharmacies’ regulation and compliance needs when it comes to dispensing compounded GLP-1s.

Many states are pushing pharmacies to move beyond the traditional dispensing role into more robust clinical care.

From proposed transparency rules to Medicare price negotiation programs, the stakes are high for pharmacy reimbursement and the sustainability of independent practices.

Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company challenges pharmacy benefit managers' opacity, expands affordable drug access, and supports community pharmacies.

Drug shortages remain one of the most persistent challenges in pharmacy practice, but emerging technologies like AI are beginning to shift the landscape for pharmacies and public health as a whole.

Harps pharmacists reveal how smart workflow powers point‑of‑care testing, prescribing, and billing—scalable clinical services for regional chains.

Lani Bertrand, senior director of clinical marketing & thought leadership at Omnicell, discusses the consistent drivers of drug shortages in the US.

With a key exemption under DSCSA expiring at the end of the year, Matt Sample from Cencora helps pharmacies understand the tools and processes they need now to best comply with the law.

Matt Sample, senior vice president of manufacturer, quality, and replenishment operations at Cencora, discusses DSCSA compliance hurdles, VRS tools, and a new push toward 12-digit NDCs.

Matt Sample from Cencora discusses current DSCSA developments on the rise for pharmacy businesses in 2026—namely small dispensers that have been under exemption.

With patients and pharmacists existing in new territories since the COVID-19 pandemic, at-home diagnostic testing has come a long way in improving the potential for convenient access to care.

In this episode, host Taylor Watterson, PharmD, PhD, welcomes Mohammad Al Numan, BS, MS, a 2025-27 University of Illinois Chicago/Takeda Fellow in Health Economics and Outcomes Research.

Pharmacists lead safer postsurgical pain care, using multimodal nonopioid options and tight opioid stewardship from pre-operation through home.