FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J., May 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Medco Health Solutions Inc. today announced that Roger W. Anderson, nationally recognized as an innovator and expert on pharmacy practices, will join Medco as Senior Vice President and Chief Pharmacist, a newly created position, effective July 1.
Anderson, who holds a doctorate in public health, most recently served as the vice president of Pharmacy for the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, a world-renowned leader in cancer care and prevention. Since 1997, he has also served as professor of pharmacy practice and management at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy. He is currently a member of the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.
"Medco's $11 billion a year mail order pharmacy represents one of the largest and most advanced pharmacy practices in the world and merits the world-class leadership that Roger brings to our pharmacy community," said David B. Snow Jr., chairman, president and CEO, Medco. "Roger will help us to continue to pioneer and lead the industry in patient health and safety, and adds an important voice and perspective to our leadership team."
Anderson will be responsible for providing a key leadership role on all aspects of pharmacy practice across Medco's operations, and will serve as a clinical advisor and educational resource for clients and patients.
"In terms of importance and impact, the ability to directly shape the future of pharmacy on this scale represents a tremendous opportunity," said Anderson. "From a clinical perspective, from a policy perspective and from a healthcare delivery perspective, guiding 2,000 pharmacists who are responsible for delivering prescription healthcare to millions of people -- one patient at a time -- makes this one of the most important positions in American pharmacy today."
Anderson will report to Kenneth "Kenny" Klepper, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
"Our pharmacies have been proven world-class for productivity and efficiency - attaining quality and dispensing accuracy rates never before achieved on such a vast scale," said Klepper. "Roger will extend that level of innovation through all our clinical pharmacy practices - recalibrating the standards and benchmarks for pharmacy excellence and patient care."
Medco's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Robert Epstein, termed Anderson "a towering figure in pharmacy."
"He will continue to lead Medco in the next generation of pharmacy practice. Perhaps most importantly, he understands the physician community and how to establish solid working relationships with caregivers," Epstein said.
Anderson received his undergraduate pharmacy degree from Ferris State University and obtained an M.S. degree in Hospital Pharmacy from Ohio State University. He completed an accredited residency in hospital pharmacy at Grant Hospital and earned a doctorate degree in Public Health from the University of Texas in 1997.
Anderson has been active with professional organizations throughout his career, serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and as president of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists in 1987. In 1988, he received the Clifton J. Latiolais Award from Ohio State University, and in 1992, he received the Harvey A.K. Whitney Award (The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists' highest award). Anderson has authored more than 60 publications in the field of health-system pharmacy.
About Medco
Medco Health Solutions, Inc., a leading pharmacy benefit manager with the nation's largest mail order pharmacy operations, assists its customers to moderate the cost and enhance the quality of prescription drug benefits provided to members nationwide. Its customers include private- and public- sector employers and healthcare organizations. Medco is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol MHS. On the Net: http://www.medco.com/.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties which may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward- looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements in this presentation should be evaluated together with the risks and uncertainties that affect our business, particularly those mentioned in the Risk Factors section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC File No. 1-31312).
Medco Health Solutions, Inc.CONTACT: Ann Smith, Medco Health Solutions, +1-201-269-5984,Ann_Smith@medco.com
Web site: http://www.medco.com/
