Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE:RAD) announced today that Mike Podgurski, Rite Aid’s vice president of pharmacy services, has been named the 2015 Honorary President by the National Association of the Boards of Pharmacy (NABP).
The honor is awarded each year to an individual in recognition of their commitment to supporting the Association’s mission and goals including protecting public health and promoting the Association’s initiatives. Podgurski, a licensed pharmacist with more than 40 years’ experience, was formally recognized during NABP’s Annual Awards Dinner yesterday, the culminating event of the Association’s 111th Annual Meeting in New Orleans.
In presenting the award, the Association recognized Mike’s ongoing commitment to the Association through his participation on numerous NABP and industry committees and task forces including the NABP’s Task Force on Pharmacy Licensure Standards, its Community Pharmacy Accreditation Program Steering Committee and its Task Force on Pharmacy Automation; the American Pharmacists Association’s Work Group on the Future of Pharmacy, and the Food and Drug Administration’s Risk Communication Advisory Committee. He was also involved with the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Roundtable on Health Information Technology and Prescription Drug Abuse and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Work Group.
Podgurski joined Rite Aid in 1987 through the Company’s acquisition of SupeRx. During his nearly 30 year tenure at Rite Aid, he has held a variety of positions covering several functional areas including pharmacy operations, pharmacy services, pharmacy development, government affairs and third party administration. Podgurski was named to his current role in June 2007.
A past member and officer of the Pennsylvania State Board of Pharmacy, which he served for 15 years, Podgurski is a member of several professional organizations including the American Pharmacists Association; the National Community Pharmacy Association; the National Association of Chain Drug Stores; the American Society for Automation in Pharmacy and the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association.
Podgurski earned his bachelor of science degree in pharmacy from West Virginia University.