In November, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), a membership organization encompassing regional chain stores and national companies — hosted its annual Market Immersion event in Nashville. With nearly 50 executives in attendance, the two-day event included information sessions, facilitated by leaders in the Nashville healthcare industry, alongside market visits to prominent private, public, and academic organizations, immersing attendees in the rich culture of Nashville.
Kicking off the event, Ben Simpson, Esq., Chief Policy Officer of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce shared insights into the “Evolution of Nashville’s Transformative Business Industry.” Dr. Cory Lowe, Senior Research Scientist of the Loss Prevention Research Council, presented on organized retail crime, followed by an organizational update from Mr. Steve Anderson, the President and CEO of NACDS. The evening concluded with a well-rounded panel of speakers discussing healthcare transformation. The panel featured representatives from state (Dr. Lisa Piercey, former Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner), private and academic (Dr. Morgan Wills, Associate Dean of Clinical Education in the Frist College of Medicine at Belmont University and former President/CEO of Siloam Health) and public institutions (Dr. Karla Miller, Chief Patient Safety Officer at Hospital Corporation of America).
Also among the evenings speakers were Mike Wysong, CEO, CARE Pharmacies Cooperative, Inc. & NCACDS Chair and Brittany Schaffer, dean of Belmont’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business on the evolution of music business and its adaptability post pandemic.
The following morning, attendees embarked on market visits, beginning on campus at Belmont University. This included a tour of the Belmont Data Collaborative's office, housed in the Jack C. Massey Center — showcasing its impactful projects in hypertension and mental health. Subsequent visits included Costco, Dollar General, the Dispensary of Hope and Cumberland Emerging Technologies.
Following the visits, Dr. Greg Jones, Belmont University President kicked off a closing reception, and Dr. David Gregory, Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Excellence, addressed attendees regarding the evolution of higher education and specifically the impact Belmont University continues to have in the nation’s health care capital. The immersion concluded with a presentation by Mr. Leon Nicholas of WestRock and a panel featuring students from Belmont’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences who offered diverse perspectives and insights surrounding their experience in pharmacy education.
“NACDS appreciates the collaboration with Dean [Sharrel] Pinto and university leadership. Everyone we met was engaging and helpful,” shared Steve Perlowski, NACDS Senior Vice President. “As health care evolves and associations like NACDS and their member organizations change with the evolving needs of their market, events such as the 2023 Market Immersion in Nashville, bring together those training the next generation of health care leaders and current employers, introducing them to novel innovation and entrepreneurial talent across various market sectors.”
NACDS plays a pivotal role in the healthcare landscape. According to their website, their member stores employ nearly 155,000 pharmacists, and fill over 3 billion prescriptions annually, contributing significantly to patient health and healthcare affordability through innovative services.