The Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) has announced significant leadership changes, appointing seven new members to its Board of Directors and confirming the 2024 Executive Committee. These appointments, effective January 1st, underscore PQA’s commitment to improving medication safety, access, and appropriate use. This strengthened leadership will guide the organization’s efforts to address critical medication-related challenges facing patients and the healthcare system.
PQA Board of Directors: A Collaborative Force for Medication Quality
PQA CEO Micah Cost, PharmD, MS, CAE, emphasized the strategic importance of the Board, highlighting its collaborative nature and the expertise of its members. The Board plays a vital role in ensuring PQA’s effectiveness in collaborating with members and stakeholders to tackle pressing medication-related issues, including safety, access, and appropriate use.
Alt: Members of the Pharmacy Quality Alliance Board of Directors meet to discuss medication quality and safety strategies.
Susan Cantrell, CEO of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, will lead the Board as Chair in 2024. A PQA board member since 2018, Cantrell succeeds Michael Taday, Senior Vice President, Service Operations at Aetna, a CVS Health Company. Taday will remain on the board as Immediate Past Chair. Cantrell expressed her honor in taking on this role and emphasized the critical importance of medications in disease treatment and quality patient care.
Executive Committee: Leading the Charge for Medication Safety
The 2024 Executive Committee, representing the diverse stakeholders within PQA’s membership, includes:
- Chair: Susan Cantrell, Chief Executive Officer, Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy
- Vice-Chair: Jim Kirby, Chief Commercial Officer, Kroger Health
- Secretary: Sharon Jhawar, Chief Pharmacy Officer, SCAN Health Plan
- Treasurer: Jeff Rochon, President and Chief Executive Officer, Pace Alliance, Inc.
- Member at Large: Amina Abubakar, Owner and Chief Executive Officer, Avant Pharmacy & Wellness Center (representing CPESN USA)
New Board Appointments: Expanding Expertise and Perspectives
The seven new board members bring a wealth of experience and diverse perspectives to PQA:
- Parmjit Agarwal, Vice President, Channel Management, Pfizer, Inc.
- Scott Dell, Vice President, US Value Evidence and Outcomes, Eli Lilly and Company
- Lauren Esterly, Associate Vice President, Clinical Strategies and Patient Safety, Humana
- Jim Gartner, President, PerformRx, LLC
- Deanna Horner, Chief Pharmacy Officer, UnitedHealthcare Government Programs
- Crystal Lennartz, President, Health Mart and Health Mart Atlas
- Anita Patel, Vice President, Pharmacy Development Services, Walgreens
Alt: Headshots of the new Pharmacy Quality Alliance Board Members, bringing diverse expertise to improve medication quality.
Continuing Board Members: Maintaining Momentum and Expertise
Eleven board members will continue their service in 2024, ensuring continuity and leveraging their extensive experience:
- Shantanu Agrawal, Chief Health Officer, Elevance Health
- Sheila Arquette, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP)
- Ilisa Bernstein, Senior Vice President, American Pharmacists Association
- Ceci Connolly, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alliance of Community Health Plans
- Laurin Dixon, Lead Executive, Medicare Products, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
- Linda Garrelts MacLean, Vice President, Community Pharmacy Foundation, Professor Emeritus, Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceuticals Sciences
- J.W. Hill, Chief Operating Officer, National Council for Prescription Drug Programs
- Michelle Ketcham, Director, Division of Clinical and Operational Performance, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) (Ex Officio Member)
- Brian Nightengale, Executive Vice President and President, Healthcare Solutions, Inmar Intelligence
- Christopher Powers, Director, Medicare Stars Data and Analytics, Cigna Insurance Company
- Tricia Lee Rolle, Senior Advisor to the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC)
Jeffrey Kelman, Chief Medical Officer for the Center for Medicare at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), will continue as a CMS Special Advisor to the Board. PQA also acknowledges the contributions of departing board members and liaisons.
Conclusion: A Future Focused on Medication Quality and Patient Safety
With this robust leadership team in place, PQA is well-positioned to advance its mission of improving medication quality and patient safety. The diverse expertise and collaborative spirit of the Board will be instrumental in addressing the complex challenges and opportunities in medication use. For further information on PQA’s initiatives and resources, consult with a healthcare professional or visit the PQA website.
