Gans reveals plan to retire from APhA
SAN DIEGO After nearly 20 years of service to the nation’s oldest professional pharmacy organization, John Gans is beginning a gradual process of disengagement from the American Pharmacists Association.
Gans, APhA’s executive vice president and chief executive officer since 1989 and one of pharmacy’s most respected and influential leaders, revealed plans to retire from the 156-year-old association in 2009. He discussed those plans while attending the final session of the APhA 2008 Annual Meeting & Exposition House of Delegates Monday.
APhA’s board of directors has retained The Miles LeHane Co. to manage the search for a replacement for the well-known pharmacy leader. That new organization chief should be in place in early 2009, according to APhA.
Prior to joining APhA, Gans was dean of the School of Pharmacy at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science, where he earned his pharmacy degree in 1966 and his doctorate in pharmacy in 1969.
“I am proud of my years of service to patients and the pharmacy profession,” he said. “Leading APhA for almost 20 years has been a sincere privilege and honor. Also, I am very proud that APhA continues to identify, create and support opportunities for pharmacists to make a difference in the lives of patients.”
Organization leaders said they’re actively working on plans for an executive leadership transition. “For the last two decades, Dr. Gans has provided valuable leadership for APhA,” said Timothy Tucker, who succeeded Winnie Landis as president of the association for 2008-2009 during the meeting in San Diego. “He has been instrumental in facilitating opportunities for pharmacists to provide patient-focused care, leading efforts to move pharmacists toward a viable patient care model for the future, creating collaborations among professional pharmacy organizations, and raising pharmacists’ stature with the government, payers and other health care entities.
“As we embark upon our search for a new leader for APhA, we look forward to building on Dr. Gans’ legacy, and to leading APhA and the profession to even higher levels of achievement,” said Tucker.