One of the most difficult—and least discussed—aspects of building a Consolidated Service Center (CSC) is securing executive support and capital investment. Success depends on connecting strategy, financial value and patient outcomes to an organization's broader goals. Ganesh Chandran is joined by Dr. Akeem Bale, Vice President, Pharmacy Services at the University of Texas Medical Branch, and Dr. Laura Mark, Vice President of Pharmacy at Allegheny Health Network, to discuss the strategic, financial, and organizational steps that transformed a promising idea into an approved capital investment.

Guest Speakers: Akeem O. Bale, PharmD, MS, MBA, BCPS, BCSCP Vice President, Pharmacy Services Program Director, PGY1/2 HSPAL Residency Program UTMB Health, Department of Pharmacy Services

Laura Mark, MS, MHM, PharmD Vice President of Pharmacy Allegheny Health Network

Host:   Ganesh Chandran, PharmD, MBA Pharmacy Executive Vizient Pharmacy Enterprise Support

Show notes:

[01:12]

• How each organization recognized that traditional pharmacy operations could no longer support future growth, expanding ambulatory care, and increasing operational complexity.
• Why long-term strategic planning, workforce challenges, and enterprise wide support became the driving forces behind pursuing a consolidated service center.

[04:39]

• How successful business cases focus on organizational priorities such as patient access, financial performance, quality outcomes, and total cost of care instead of technology alone.
• Why demonstrating measurable value through pilots, standardization, and return on investment helps gain executive support for large scale transformation.

[08:30]

• The importance of tailoring proposals to different executive stakeholders while building champions who can advocate for the vision.
• How early operational improvements and phased implementation can demonstrate value before construction or major capital investments begin.

[10:24]

• Why breaking a consolidated service center strategy into manageable phases creates confidence among executive leaders and improves long term success.
• How responding to executive questions with refined financial models and scenario planning strengthens both the proposal and organizational trust.

[13:12]

• How creating an enterprise wide pharmacy culture through standardization, trust, and shared leadership prepares teams for organizational change.
• Why establishing a one team philosophy before opening a new facility creates stronger collaboration and more sustainable operational success.

[16:56]

• Practical advice for pharmacy leaders beginning their own consolidated service center journey, including learning from peer organizations and celebrating incremental progress.
• Why a consolidated service center should be viewed as an enabler of a broader pharmacy strategy that supports long term growth, scalability, and patient care rather than simply a new building.

Links and Resources: Pharmacy Enterprise Support

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Updated inflation projections are only part of the story when it comes to pharmacy planning. Host Carolyn Liptak is joined by Dr. Jeni Hayes and Dr. Amanda Frick, to discuss Vizient’s Summer 2026 Spend Management Outlook and why utilization trends, reimbursement, ambulatory care, and the expanding pipeline of advanced therapies are becoming just as important as inflation when preparing health systems for 2027 and beyond. Guest speakers: Jeni Hayes, PharmD, MS Pharm, BCPS Senior Clinical Manager, Market Insights & Forecasting Vizient Clinical Spend Management Amanda Frick, PharmD, BCPS Senior Clinical Manager, Market Insights and Forecasting Vizient Clinical Spend Management Host:   Carolyn Liptak, MBA, BS Pharm Pharmacy Executive Director, Regulatory Compliance Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence  

Show notes:

01:03

• Why this year's Spend Management Outlook expands beyond inflation to include utilization, reimbursement, product mix, and operational readiness.
• How pharmacy leaders can use these broader market signals to make stronger strategic and financial decisions.

01:54

• The updated 2027 pharmaceutical inflation projection and why it increased from the previous forecast.
• Why organizations should pair national benchmarks with their own purchasing data to improve budgeting accuracy.

03:28

• Three major trends transforming pharmacy planning, including ambulatory growth, utilization, and enterprise collaboration.
• Why these consistent themes are changing how health systems approach long term pharmacy strategy.

04:25

• How new utilization analyses provide earlier insight into future pharmacy demand than inflation data alone.
• Examples of shifting trends in oncology therapies and GLP 1 medications that are influencing operational planning.

05:34

• Why GLP 1 growth is creating opportunities that extend well beyond pharmacy budgeting.
• How retail pharmacy, specialty pharmacy, pharmacist led clinics, and medication management can strengthen patient care and organizational performance.

07:10

• Why pharmacy has evolved into an enterprise wide capability that impacts access, reimbursement, and financial performance.
• How stronger collaboration across pharmacy, finance, revenue cycle, and clinical teams supports future readiness.

08:03

• Emerging pipeline trends, including continued oncology growth and the rise of advanced therapies.
• Why cell therapies, gene therapies, and RNA based medicines require organizations to prepare differently than traditional medications.

08:53

• How health systems are preparing months before therapy approval by building operational and clinical infrastructure.
• Why advanced therapies demand coordination across pharmacy, laboratory, nursing, finance, and physician teams.

10:33

• The expansion of advanced therapies into autoimmune, neurologic, cardiac, and rare disease treatment.
• Why organizations must balance planning for both high cost therapies and therapies with growing patient demand.

11:44

• How pipeline monitoring has evolved into a strategic planning tool rather than simply tracking approvals.
• Why early preparation helps organizations identify operational gaps before new therapies reach the market.

12:36

• Key takeaways on preparing for the future of pharmacy through utilization data, operational planning, and enterprise collaboration.
• Resources available through the Spend Management Outlook Insights Hub to support local budgeting and long term strategy.

Links and Resources:

Vizient Spend Management Outlook Insight Hub

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Botulinum toxin products are used across a wide range of therapeutic indications, yet many health systems have not evaluated whether product selection aligns with both clinical evidence and financial stewardship. Matt Groth, Director of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Management at the University of Rochester Medical Center, joins Kerry Schwarz to discuss how his team implemented a botulinum toxin stewardship strategy by evaluating evidence, engaging clinicians, and standardizing product selection.

Guest Speaker: Matthew D. Groth, PharmD, MS Director of Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Management University of Rochester Medical Center

Host:

Dr. Kerry Schwarz, Pharm.D., MPH Senior Clinical Manager, Evidence-Based Medicine and Outcomes Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence 

Show Notes:

00:05 Introduction

• Learn why botulinum toxin stewardship is an emerging opportunity for health systems.
• Hear how clinical evidence and financial strategy can work together to optimize product selection.

01:25 Reviewing the evidence

• Explore the evidence supporting available botulinum toxin products, including indications, safety, and dosing considerations.
• Understand why limited clinical differences between products create opportunities for formulary evaluation.

02:31 Identifying stewardship opportunities

• Learn how organizations evaluate acquisition costs, reimbursement, payer policies, and contracting opportunities.
• Discover how financial analysis helps identify opportunities to reduce costs while maintaining quality patient care.

04:29 Implementing a preferred product strategy

• Hear how provider engagement, financial transparency, and P&T committee support helped drive adoption.
• Learn how a phased implementation approach increased market share while improving financial performance.

08:11 Lessons learned from implementation

• Explore the operational considerations that support successful implementation, from inventory management to prior authorizations.
• Learning why collaboration with physicians, nurses, office staff, and billing teams is essential to long term success.

10:57 Key takeaways

• Review the core elements of a successful botulinum toxin stewardship strategy.
• Learn how multidisciplinary collaboration can improve value while maintaining high quality patient care.

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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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