Forging the Future of Pharmacy

David Pope is the Chief Pharmacy Officer of XiFin Pharmacy Solutions. As a pharmacist and Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE), Dr. Pope is dedicated to improving patient care through innovative ideas. He brings with him over two decades of experience in pharmacy consulting, medical informatics, transitions of care, publications, independent pharmacy practice, and the integration of clinical services in the retail pharmacy space. Prior to joining XiFin, David helped co-found STRAND Clinical Technologies, the U.S. market leader in helping pharmacists launch clinical services within their community. Pope holds a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Georgia.

Dr. Marc Watkins, MSPH, FACOEM, is the chief medical officer of Kroger Health, the healthcare arm of The Kroger Co., which includes more than 2,200 pharmacies in 35 states and Washington, D.C.; more than 220 locations of The Little Clinic in nine states; and 11 specialty pharmacies across the country. Working with a cross-functional team of pharmacists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dietitians and technical care providers, he helps to develop the strategic direction and overall clinical program initiatives for our providers and delivers clinical guidance for associate benefit design. He also is responsible for regulatory and accreditation requirements, maintaining a comprehensive suite of high-quality care for patients. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, he also has advised the company on its response, including testing and vaccination efforts.

Joseph A. Albright Pharm.D, leads high performance teams that provides pharmacy services to over 1 million commercial members of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. These services include formulary and utilization management strategies, clinical operations, professional engagement, and pharmacy pricing and sales support. During his tenure at Blue Cross, Dr. Albright has taken a particular focus on modernizing the clinical policies for prescription opioid use and for medication assisted therapy, promoting optimal diabetes management, and enhancing clinical operations. Prior to Blue Cross NC, Dr. Albright managed teams in clinical operations for one of the largest Medicare Part D providers in the country. Before his career in managed care, Joseph practiced community pharmacy in the Raleigh, North Carolina. He received both his bachelor’s in science in pharmaceutical sciences and Doctor of pharmacy from The Ohio State University.

Brigid K Groves, PharmD, MS is Vice President, Professional Affairs at the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). She leads, coordinates, and contributes to efforts and initiatives related to transforming the role of the pharmacist, advancing pharmacists’ patient care services, supporting coverage for pharmacists’ provided services, promoting the pharmacist’s role as a health care provider, and protecting the well-being of pharmacists and pharmacy personnel in the workplace. Additionally, she administers, directs, coordinates, and participates in the work of the Association related to the APhA Community-based Pharmacy Residency Program initiative and advancement of postgraduate pharmacy residency education and training initiatives. Previously, Groves was population health pharmacist at a pediatric accountable care organization. Prior, she held roles as a clinical and pharmacy practice coordinator at a large grocery-store based community pharmacy chain. Groves has been heavily involved in professional pharmacy organizations for many years.

Groves earned her Master of Science in Pharmacy Administration in 2014 and her PharmD in 2012 at The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy (OSU COP). Additionally, she completed a combined PGY1 and PGY2 pharmacy residency in community-based pharmacy administration at Kroger Pharmacy and OSU COP in 2014. Before her PharmD, Groves earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 2006 from John Carroll University, Cleveland, Ohio.

Nick leads integrated communications, public affairs, and stakeholder engagement campaigns for Fortune 500 biopharmaceutical companies, national non-profit patient and provider advocacy groups, and trade associations across a range of healthcare issues.

Nick has led successful campaigns to enact federal and state legislation to address the opioid crisis and treatment access issues, enable companies to navigate media and political scrutiny in Washington, and shape policies and regulations impacting patients and the healthcare innovation environment.

Nick brings a deep understanding of the third-party stakeholder landscape and political environment to companies and groups facing healthcare policy and issues management challenges in Washington and states and has experience building and managing coalitions, developing compelling narratives, and shaping the media, digital, and advocacy landscape to influence decision-maker audiences.

Prior to joining Rational 360, Nick spent nearly a decade in the office of public affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). At HHS, Nick led digital strategy for the HHS Secretary, coordinated Department-wide digital communications and information sharing, and executed strategies to implement the Affordable Care Act (ACA), enroll Americans in health insurance through HealthCare.gov, and address public health crises such as Zika and Ebola.

Originally from New Hampshire, Nick received his Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts.