Executive Insights
Terry Terify, the Chief Commercial Officer of Azurity Pharmaceuticals, shares insights about the company's mission to serve overlooked patient populations. With nearly three decades of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Terry highlights Azurity's focus on developing dosage formulations for pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients with unmet needs. The company boasts a diverse portfolio of 22 promoted products across six therapeutic categories, including oncology and cardiovascular. Azurity aims to expand its offerings significantly, particularly in oncology and CNS, while emphasizing the importance of collaboration with healthcare professionals.
Mark Saxon, the CEO of Safecor Health, discusses the company's strategic plans for 2025, emphasizing their commitment to unit dose drug repackaging and error-free medication delivery. Mark highlights the importance of cultural change and core values such as care, commitment, and excellence in leadership. He expresses excitement about tackling healthcare challenges, cherishes family traditions, and is looking forward to a successful 2025.
Michael LaFauci, the CEO of MIDAS Healthcare Solutions, leads a company dedicated to the intelligent disposal and visual accountability of medications. MIDAS aims to ensure proof of final destruction of medications, enhancing safety for both patients and healthcare workers. With a focus on teamwork and the right talent, MIDAS plans to expand its services across the hospital and retail sectors, ensuring proof throughout the medication chain of custody.
Venita Abanaka, the Director of Acute Care and Oncology at Parkland Health in Dallas, Texas, is dedicated to serving the underserved in a nearly thousand-bed hospital system. She is focused on redesigning acute care and clinical pharmacy, with an emphasis on automation and networking with vendors and colleagues. Venita values building the next generation of leaders and promotes a culture of servant leadership within her team. Despite challenges like fluid shortages, she views problems as opportunities and maintains a positive relationship with Health Connect Partners.
Ken Perez, the Chief Strategy Officer at ScriptPro, discusses the importance of the ASHP Midyear conference, likening it to the Super Bowl for pharmacy professionals. Amidst current uncertainties following the recent election, pharmacy leaders are actively engaging in discussions about the future of their field. Overall, he highlights the significance of the ASHP conference in understanding industry developments and policy changes.
Anthony Curraro, the Director of Pharmacy Operations at Mount Sinai in New York City, shares his insights on the challenges and goals of the organization. He emphasizes the importance of addressing drug shortages and the need for effective plans and protocols to ensure drug availability. With a focus on the biosimilar landscape to reduce costs, Anthony also highlights the significance of mentorship and leadership development within the health system. As he manages direct contracting across multiple care sites, he is committed to improving compound production through automation projects. Outside of work, he enjoys family time, especially during the holidays.
Charlotte Dixon, the Chief Strategy Pharmacy Contracting Officer at Ochsner Health System, leads a centralized purchasing team in New Orleans with plans to expand into North Louisiana. Her focus is on modeling cost savings and building initiatives while addressing critical drug shortages, particularly in chemotherapy and IV fluids. Charlotte emphasizes the importance of mentorship, transparency, and strategic partnerships to foster growth among pharmacy leaders. She also highlights the role of automation and AI in enhancing workflows, all while maintaining a balance between work and personal life. Looking ahead, Charlotte is eager to connect with vendors and strategize for the future.
Michele Shaeffer, Associate Director of Pharmacy Operations at Jefferson Abington Hospital, shares insights on optimizing pharmacy workflows amidst staffing and medication shortages, highlighting automation and ADC cabinets for improved efficiency and safety. She also emphasizes cross-department collaboration and staff training as essential for addressing these challenges. Looking ahead, she sees innovations in legislation, technology, and industry-wide collaboration as key drivers of progress in tackling systemic issues like drug shortages.
In this week’s Executive Insights video Jeff Thompson, Chief Clinical Officer at Freeman Health, shares insights into the evolving role of pharmacy leadership within health systems. Thompson highlights the importance of aligning pharmacy goals with broader C-suite objectives, recognizing pharmacy not only as a significant expense but also a substantial revenue driver. He also addresses current challenges, such as labor shortages and the impact of 340B contract pharmacy restrictions, which are shaping strategies for sustaining healthcare operations.