The future of community pharmacy: UB SPPS hosts NCPA president

Wolsoncroft is a graduate of Samford University’s McWhorter School of Pharmacy. She has always pursued nontraditional tracks and focused on educating physicians and the community about pharmacy practice and the unique role the profession plays in community wellness. 

During Wolsoncroft’s visit at SPPS, she was joined by past NCPA presidents Stephen Giroux, BS '81 and Bradley Arthur. The visit began with a tour of the Pharmacy Building guided by our SPPS student leaders. 

“Wolsoncroft is the fifth woman pharmacist to ascend the role of president of NCPA,” said Giroux. “She is a vibrant leader, who presents the interests of community pharmacists, advocating and preserving the right of every pharmacist to own their own practice. Her visit exposed UB Pharmacy students to the wide variety of very satisfying career options in the world of community pharmacy and ownership.” 

Following the tour of the Pharmacy Building, Wolsoncroft, Giroux and Arthur met with Gary Pollack, PhD, dean, SPPS, before enjoying a lunch meeting with faculty members from the Department of Pharmacy Practice. 

“NCPA is the voice and face of independent community pharmacy,” said Pollack. “UB SPPS recognizes and supports the unique and vital role these pharmacies serve as our nation’s front-line health care providers, ensuring the health and wellbeing of our communities. We were so pleased to have NCPA President Wolsoncroft and past presidents, Giroux and Arthur here at UB.” 

The highlight of Wolsoncroft’s visit was her presentation on The Future of Community Pharmacy addressing the challenges community pharmacists are currently facing. Students, faculty, staff and local community pharmacy leaders were in attendance with a zoom option for all SPPS alumni. 

“I am so excited to see your interest in community practice and there are a lot of things that you are going to learn over the next few years to help make community pharmacy stronger than ever,” said Wolsoncroft. “You are the future of pharmacy so all of the things that you learn here and activities and association involvement that you do is going to shape your career.” 

Following Wolsoncroft’s presentation, she was joined by Giroux and Arthur for a Q&A panel discussion with our PharmD students and alumni. The discussion was led by and moderated by our NCPA chapter student leaders: Allison Chan, PharmD ‘25, NCPA chapter president and Zachary Larson, PharmD '25, NCPA chapter membership committee vice president. 

“This forum allowed our students to interact with national leaders during uncertainty,” said Anthony Pattin, PharmD, clinical associate professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice, and one of our school’s specialists in community pharmacy practice. “NCPA is working hard to ensure a bright future for our student pharmacists interested in career options in community pharmacy practice. We are grateful to have NCPA's engagement on campus for our students."   

NCPA aims to protect and promote the interests of independent pharmacists whose current and future success is vital to their patients, their communities and the entire health care system.