As health systems grow more complex and executive expectations continue to expand, organizations must develop the next generation of pharmacy leaders. Host Carolyn Liptak is joined by Dr. Bonnie Levin and Dr. Cedric Terrell to discuss the growing pharmacy leadership pipeline challenge, the skills today's leaders need to succeed, and practical ways to identify and develop the next generation of pharmacy executives.

Guests: Bonnie Levin, PharmD, MBA, FASHP VP, Pharmacy Services Medstar Health

Cedric Terrell, PharmD, MHA SVP & Chief Pharmacy Officer Pharmacy Enterprise Services CommonSpirit Health

Host:  Carolyn Liptak, MBA, BS Pharm Pharmacy Executive Director, Regulatory Compliance Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence

Show Notes:

00:54 - The Pharmacy Leadership Pipeline

• Why healthsystems are facing a shortage of pharmacy leaders.
• The impact of retirements, workforce changes, and succession planning challenges.
• How evolving expectations are reshaping leadership roles as pharmacy creates "a table that others want to sit at."

02:21 - The Modern Pharmacy Executive

• How pharmacy leadership has changed over the last several years.
• Why leaders now oversee larger, more complex healthcare enterprises.
• Why today's leaders must think like pharmacy business executives, not just department directors.

03:31 - Skills Every Future Leader Needs

• The growing importance of financial stewardship and business acumen.
• Why strategic thinking is just as valuable as clinical expertise.
• How pharmacy leaders create value through operations, finance, and innovation.

04:46 - Identifying Emerging Leaders

• What makes an informal leader stand out, from raising their hand to offering solutions instead of problems.
• Why leadership is a behavior, not a position.
• The importance of mentoring future leaders and exposing them to experiences beyond their own department.

06:06 - Preparing the Next Generation

• Where pharmacy education and leadership development are falling short.
• Why financial literacy, budgeting, and operational knowledge are essential leadership skills.
• How early exposure to business decisions helps future leaders build confidence.

07:31 - Residency and Real World Experience

• The value residency programs provide in developing clinical expertise.
• Why practical business experience is equally important for future executives.
• How mentorship and cross functional learning prepare pharmacists for broader leadership roles.

09:16 - Moving Into Executive Leadership

• How clinically trained pharmacists can expand into enterprise leadership.
• Bonnie shares why saying yes to leading behavioral health became one of the most valuable experiences of her career.
• Why leaders should seek opportunities that stretch their skills beyond pharmacy.

11:03 - Career Growth Through Opportunity

• Why saying yes to unfamiliar challenges accelerates leadership development.
• Expanding experience into areas like ambulatory care, payer strategy, imaging, and laboratory services.
• Cedric explains why creating opportunities is more valuable than waiting for them to appear.

12:07 - Leadership Advice

• Bonnie shares the quote that shaped her leadership philosophy.
• Cedric reflects on advice from his mentor to prepare today for the role you want three to five years from now.
• Why successful leaders stay curious and become comfortable making decisions with uncertainty.

13:58 - Looking Ahead

• Why today's pharmacy leaders are optimistic about the future.
• The value of innovation, persistence, collaboration, and strong professional relationships.
• Final reflections on building the next generation of pharmacy executives through mentorship, curiosity, and continuous learning.

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Direct-to-consumer healthcare is changing how patients engage with care, driven by growing demand for convenience, accessibility, and personalized experiences. VerifiedRx host Stacy Lauderdale is joined by Emily Fitt, Hailey Mulliner, and Heather Pace to discuss the continued rise of telehealth and direct-to-consumer healthcare platforms, the areas experiencing the most growth, and what these evolving models may mean for patients, providers, and health systems in the future.

Guest Speakers: Emily Fitt, MHA, MPH Senior Associate, Sg2 Intelligence Vizient, Inc.

Hailey Mulliner, MS-HSM Senior Director, Sg2 Intelligence Vizient, Inc.

Heather Pace, Pharm.D. Senior Clinical Manager, Ambulatory Vizient, Inc.

Host: Stacy Lauderdale, Pharm.D., BCPS AVP, Evidence-Based Medicine Vizient

Show Notes:

(00:52) The panel discusses where direct-to-consumer healthcare has gained the most traction, including:

• Men’s reproductive health
• Women’s contraceptives
• Dermatology and acne care
• Behavioral health
• GLP-1 and obesity management

(01:59) Heather explains how GLP-1 medication shortages fueled growth in compounded obesity medications and expanded telehealth services.

(02:47) Hailey shares insights from SG2 consumer surveys, emphasizing how patients increasingly want customizable, convenient healthcare experiences like other consumer industries.

(03:26) The group explores future expansion areas for direct-to-consumer healthcare, including:

• Cardiovascular disease management
• Type 2 diabetes
• Orthopedic care
• Cardiometabolic disease monitoring

(04:31) Discussion shifts to the benefits and drawbacks for patients, including:

• Increased convenience and access
• More comfortable treatment environments
• Greater patient empowerment
• Risks of fragmented care and disconnected treatment plans

(06:07) Emily outlines concerns for health systems, including:

• Increased emergency department utilization
• Lack of coordinated care
• Medication management gaps
• Challenges identifying medications prescribed outside the health system

(07:03) Heather discusses medication stewardship concerns, particularly as weight loss impacts management of other chronic conditions like hypertension.

(07:29) The panel highlights operational challenges for hospitals and procedural teams when patients fail to disclose GLP-1 medications prior to surgeries or colonoscopies.

(07:58) The conversation turns to how direct-to-consumer healthcare is permanently changing consumer expectations around convenience and accessibility.

(08:36) The panel debates whether health systems should compete with direct-to-consumer companies or pursue partnership strategies.

(09:51) Emily discusses how health systems can differentiate themselves by offering the full continuum of care that virtual only providers cannot.

(10:20) Heather Pace emphasizes the importance of partnerships between health systems and direct-to-consumer platforms to improve access while maintaining coordinated care.

(10:55) The group discusses emerging partnerships in the marketplace, including collaborations between pharmaceutical manufacturers and direct-to-consumer platforms.

(12:14)Workforce challenges are explored, including:

• Competition for clinicians
• Provider burnout
• Flexibility offered by virtual care employers

(13:17) The panel examines future trends involving AI, including patients using AI to interpret labs and emerging AI-assisted prescribing models in behavioral health.

(14:24) Closing thoughts on how direct-to-consumer healthcare is reshaping patient expectations and forcing health systems to rethink care delivery models.

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