Jaeger departing NACDS to join public benefit org All Sober

After 10 years with the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, Kathleen Jaeger will be departing the organization. Effective June 2, Jaeger, NACDS senior vice president of health and wellness strategy and patient advocacy, will be joining start-up All Sober as executive vice president of health and wellness, strategy, and external relations. She also will serve as president of the All Sober Foundation. 

All Sober is a new Public Benefit company that has been created to provide millions of Americans suffering from addiction and their loved ones with all the connections, information and resources they need as they journey through recovery and into a sober life; to end the stigma and shame of addiction; to inspire people in recovery to sustain and celebrate sobriety; and to help fund treatment for those who cannot afford it. 

"It is with a blend of emotions that we congratulate Kathleen on her new position. Throughout her career at three national trade associations, Kathleen has been a builder of organizations that address the most critical public health needs facing our nation and its people," said NACDS president and CEO Steve Anderson. "Through her work, Kathleen has helped transform two sectors of the healthcare system by ensuring Americans' access to affordable medicine and greater access to care, which have provided more opportunities for better health.  All Sober and those that the organization serves will benefit tremendously from Kathleen's passion, expertise, commitment, knowledge, and her zeal to drive systematic social change. That is even more important now since a consequence of the pandemic has been greater addiction and mental health challenges for many of our fellow citizens."

Anderso said Jaeger joined NACDS in 2011 with the initial goal of reimagining, realigning and rebuilding NACDS' pharmacy care and the NACDS Foundation, which she also has been president of. "Ten years later, Kathleen has led a paradigm shift in these areas which has brought profound breakthroughs in how an association can improve the health of all Americans."

Jaeger's accomplishments over the past decade also include turning the NACDS Foundation into a research incubator for new ways to improve care and patients' lives. She also has played a key role on NACDS' COVID-19 team and has contributed leadership in helping make NACDS member companies the centerpiece of the country's COVID-19 vaccination strategy. "Kathleen's visionary leadership on COVID-19 is one of the reasons for that extraordinary and historic success," Anderson said. 

In making the announcement, Flora Nicholas, founder and CEO of All Sober said, “The problem of addiction affects millions of Americans daily and the numbers have increased dramatically as a result of COVID. We have founded All Sober to help them all and will be working with major corporations as well as some of the most talented people in the business community to make a transformational impact. So, we are absolutely delighted to welcome Kathleen on board. Her knowledge, experience and expertise are immense and together we can and will make a difference in the lives of all those who need help as they journey from addiction and into recovery.”