Support for Community Practices Crucial in Addressing Pharmacy Deserts

Community pharmacists and the practices they service are crucial to ensuring equitable pharmacy access and addressing the growing issue of pharmacy deserts in the US.

“From a public health perspective, I think as they work to address pharmacy deserts, supporting these pharmacies—particularly the community pharmacies—is key in ensuring that they're able to continue to service their patients in that high-touch way that they do,” said Jennifer Zilka, Senior Vice President of Community and Specialty Pharmacy at Cencora, and President of Good Neighbor Pharmacy. “We believe wholeheartedly in the level of care that [pharmacies] provide. We're very confident in their position in the future of this health care ecosystem. Their role is incredibly important.”

Along with Kyle Pudenz, DBA, Senior Vice President of Data & Analytics at Cencora, Zilka joined us to discuss what her company and colleagues are doing at this very moment to address US pharmacy deserts.

“If we're able to provide our pharmacists better insights and information about the presence of communities and for them to proactively reach out and address these patients, maybe that changes the definition [of pharmacy deserts] altogether,” said Pudenz.

From redefining pharmacy deserts with expert insights to extending a helping hand to struggling communities, the Cencora team is dedicated to creating more access to US pharmacies and prescription medications. With their optimistic look at the present and the future of pharmacy, Zilka and Pudenz realize the dire need of addressing pharmacy deserts and a weakened pharmacy profession.

Check out part 1 of our interview with Zilka and Pudenz, where the duo discussed the complex data and expertise involved in defining and identifying US pharmacy deserts. Also, stay tuned for a full-length version of this conversation going live on Drug Topics and Over the Counter this Thursday afternoon.

READ MORE: Q&A: Who is Responsible for Addressing the Growing Issue of Pharmacy Deserts?

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Reference

Insight into US pharmacy deserts. Cencora. August 7, 2024. Accessed March 10, 2025. https://view.ceros.com/amerisourcebergen/cencora-pharmacy-desert-map/p/1