Q&A: Walgreens' Kermit Crawford looks back

Crawford, a key architect in the transformation of pharmacy practice and the elevation of health-and-wellness services at the nation's largest drug chain, is retiring at the end of this year. DSN spoke at length with the pharmacy veteran about his role in the evolution of pharmacy at Walgreens, his outlook for the profession, and his own plans for 2015 and beyond.

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DSN: As of January you ll be adviser to Walgreens CEO Greg Wasson, executive in residence and senior adviser at the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, and national chair for the American Diabetes Association's Ad Council campaign. This sounds more like a new set of responsibilities than a retirement?



Kermit Crawford: I plan to stay very active in what I've dedicated my career and my life to — working to advance the role of the pharmacist and the profession of pharmacy, especially with the work I'm doing with USC. And, of course, to look for ways to provide better care for the customers we serve. That was one of the reasons I got into pharmacy.



DSN: Why become a pharmacist?



Crawford: It was that local independent pharmacist who knows everyone and is a respected person in the community. That really inspired me to be a pharmacist and play a role in health care. And my mom was a nurse, so I grew up in a healthcare environment.



DSN: You've spent your entire career at Walgreens, starting as a pharmacy intern in 1983. What was it about the company that inspired that loyalty?



Crawford: Walgreens has given me a platform to do the things I love doing. ... And [CEO and president] Greg [Wasson] ... has been a huge supporter. He s allowed me to try new things, to test new ideas in things like pharmacy design, and that s allowed me to push some of the boundaries of the profession. ...



DSN: Talk about what you see as your biggest accomplishments at Walgreens. What makes you proudest?



Crawford: Looking back, I see a whole generation of leaders that I've had some ability to influence. And it’s been a very diverse group of leaders. I believe diversity is a business imperative, and Walgreens has embraced that. As I visit stores and I see the people I was able to influence, those things make me very proud, because I was able to play a role in their lives. That's the thing that I'm most proud of — the legacy of people I’ve been able to mentor and influence.