McKesson ideaShare 2024 Recap

McKesson ideaShare 2024 was filled with the sights and sounds of the Big Easy as it welcomed nearly 2700 attendees to explore the world of independent pharmacy. With this year’s meeting officially in the books, Drug Topics is exploring some of the key highlights that excited attendees the most at McKesson ideaShare 2024.

At the first general session, Grammy-nominated jazz musician Dr. Brice “Doc” Miller took the stage as McKesson ideaShare’s emcee. Miller introduced the McKesson representatives leading initiatives that have impacted independent pharmacists across the country, including Scott Miller, President of Strategic, Community, and Specialized Pharmacy; Jeanine Singer, Senior Vice President of National and Key Accounts & Field Sales; and Crystal Lennartz, President of Health Mart and Health Mart Atlas. And following in the footsteps of previous events, this year’s conference was not lacking in surprise announcements regarding new solutions.

“We've developed a new advocacy sponsorship approach that aims to provide opportunities for eligible state pharmacy associations to request meaningful dedicated funding from McKesson to meet local and state advocacy goals. Why are we doing this now? The answer is simple: The state pharmacy associations are raising the professional practice; issues that matter to you most and that matter to your patients,” said Singer, announcing the new McKesson Amplify program.

Foster & Thrive Booth on McKesson ideaShare 2024's exhibit floor | image credit: Brian Nowosielski

McKesson also announced a new line of eco-friendly Foster & Thrive products—the company’s brand of OTC products introduced at McKesson ideaShare 2023—with packaging that contains 70% less plastic and is highly recyclable. Among other exciting announcements, McKesson also introduced its Health Mart Marketing Edge program. Through Health Mart Marketing Edge, stores can access up to $2400 a year in matching funds to boost their local marketing efforts. It offers several programs including turn-key marketing campaigns, search and digital campaigns for customer targeting, 60-plus online directory opportunities, branded merchandise, and local event support.

No recap of McKesson ideaShare would be complete without mentioning the massive and interactive exhibit floor at New Orleans’ Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. From an incredible display of the Foster & Thrive product line to the Pharma Talk stages featuring important conversations within community pharmacy, attendees had the chance to interact with over 150 exhibitors. Within McKesson ideaShare's exhibit floor, focusing on the theme “Your Town, USA,” distinct aspects of every community across the nation were represented. It was designed intentionally to help attendees envision how they can bring universal pharmacy solutions to their own unique backyard.

The second general session featured Penny Zenker, a motivational speaker known as the “focusologist,” followed by a deeper dive into McKesson’s Health Mart offerings. Explaining the plethora of solutions and offerings Health Mart provides for its affiliated pharmacies, Lennartz discussed her team’s efforts to help community pharmacists turn a profit during the struggling times of the industry in 2024. To wrap up the session, Lennartz discussed how Foster & Thrive products have improved front-end sales for pharmacies nationwide.

The final day of McKesson ideaShare featured some of the meeting’s most anticipated events. A third general session focused on advocacy and community involvement, featuring community pharmacy advocates and executives, including Senator Shane Reeves, PharmD, (R-Tennessee); Krystalyn Weaver, PharmD, JD, CEO of the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations; B. Douglas Hoey, RPh, MBA, CEO of the National Community Pharmacists Association; and Michael D. Hogue, PharmD, FAPhA, CEO of the American Pharmacists Association.

After 3 days of sessions the mood turned celebratory, with the announcement of the 2024 Health Mart Pharmacy of the Year Award Winner. This honor is awarded to independent pharmacies with clinical and business excellence that go above and beyond to serve their respective communities and further the pharmacy practice. This year’s nominees included Dreier Pharmacy of Shawano, Wisconsin; Creswell Health Mart Pharmacy of Creswell, Oregon; and Hayden Pharmacy of Hayden, Alabama.

“I think it really represents the spirit of this entire event at McKesson ideaShare, where we bring together pharmacies to help strengthen our industry and elevate the role that pharmacists play in people's lives. That's what we're trying to do,” Singer told Drug Topics when asked about what the award represents.

This year’s winner was Tim Dreier and his team at Dreier Pharmacy in Shawano, Wisconsin.

“Well, actually, I was very surprised to be honest,” Dreier said of his nomination in an interview with Drug Topics. “It's a great honor being a community pharmacy. The community relies on us, they trust us for their health. We’re a valuable health care resource for them and we've been in the community for over 56 years, starting with my father, and my daughter is in pharmacy school right now. So, we plan on being there for a third generation.”

Jennifer Metcalf, RPh, owner of Hayden Pharmacy in Alabama, echoed these sentiments. “We’re just so excited and honored to be here, and with these other 3 finalists, because they're all excellent in pharmacy and do excellent work,” Metcalf said. “But all the independents do that, that's what we do.”

As we close the book on McKesson ideaShare 2024, it’s never too early to mark the calendar for next year’s conference: McKesson ideaShare 2025 will take place in Nashville, Tennessee, from July 10th to July 13th, 2025, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center.

Click here to check out more of our coverage from McKesson ideaShare 2024.