APhA Welcomes New Leader
Menighan Envisions Expanded Role for Pharmacists
Washington, DC (Vocus) July 2, 2009
The American Pharmacists Association (http://www. pharmacist. com/) (APhA) is pleased to announce the installation of its new Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas E. Menighan, BSPharm, MBA. In February 2009, Menighan was appointed as APhA's Executive Vice President and CEO-Designate and began the transition into his new role. He is the 26th pharmacist to serve in this role and succeeds Dr. John A. Gans who served in the same capacity for the last 20 years.
A native of West Virginia, Menighan brings extensive business, entrepreneurial, practice and leadership experience to his new role, as well as the unique experience of having served in various volunteer positions and as a former staff member for APhA. In 1974, he received his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (BSPharm) from West Virginia University School of Pharmacy and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in 1990 from Averett College.
Menighan has served the profession in a variety of capacities prior to being appointed as APhA's new leader. Most recently, he was President of SynTegra Solutions Inc., in Germantown, Maryland. The company provides supply chain and chargeback auditing and consulting in risk management, 340B Systems, anti-counterfeiting, and the technology of medication information. Earlier Menighan also founded SymRx, Inc., and developed CornerDrugstore. com©.
Pursuant to his entrepreneurial endeavors, Menighan was actively involved with APhA, serving as president from 2001 to 2002 and as a member of the APhA Board of Trustees between 1995 and 2003. From 1987 to 1992, he was a senior APhA staff member serving as senior director of external affairs. During this time he managed membership, state affairs, public relations, new business development and practice management issues.
"Tom has the experience and skills needed to lead APhA into the next generation of pharmacy, where pharmacists are recognized by patients, health care providers and legislators alike as critical to patient care," said APhA's current President Ed L. Hamilton. "Menighan's knowledge and experience as a pharmacist, volunteer, leader, stakeholder and advocate for the profession will give him a solid foundation for his new role."
Menighan's days as a practicing pharmacist began in 1974 with Thrift Drug Company and continued in 1978 when he founded the Medicine Shoppe in Huntington, West Virginia, which he owned for 20 years. In addition to a traditional practice with a heavy focus on patient counseling and disease management, Menighan expanded his Shoppe's compounding services every year.
Menighan recognizes the value that being an active member of a professional association has had on his professional life. He is also keenly aware of the power that technology has played in revolutionizing pharmacy practice. Menighan will use these experiences to stay in close contact with APhA members and other pharmacy stake holders through his personal blog. Today, Menighan launched the APhA CEO Blog (http://blog. pharmacist. com/tmenighan/). His blog will provide insight into the new leader's travels and thoughts on activities of the association, the profession, and the health care community at a time when health care reform (http://www. pharmacist. com/AM/Template. cfm? Section=Health_Care_Reform) is at the top of the nation's political and personal agenda.
Menighan's other professional experiences include management of the PharMark Corporation, creator of RationalMed©, and licensed systems for states to conduct Drug Utilization Review for millions of state Medicaid enrollees. Since 1981, he has served as Founder, Pharmaceutical Director, Chief Financial Officer, and partner of Pharmacy Associates, Inc., a multi-state specialty pharmacy that today serves patients in much of the United States.
About the American Pharmacists Association (http://www. pharmacist. com/) (APhA)
The American Pharmacists Association, founded in 1852 as the American Pharmaceutical Association, represents more than 62,000 practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and others interested in advancing the profession. APhA, dedicated to helping all pharmacists improve medication use and advance patient care, is the first-established and largest association of pharmacists in the United States. APhA members provide care in all practice settings, including community pharmacies, health systems, long-term care facilities, managed care organizations, hospice settings, and the uniformed services.
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