NASP elects Walgreens' Mike Ellis as first president

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Specialty Pharmacy has named Walgreens corporate VP specialty pharmacy and infusion services as its first president, the organization said Tuesday.

Ellis previously worked as SVP specialty trade relations and contracting and pharmaceutical services for CVS Caremark, before joining Walgreens in 2011. He has more than 32 years' experience in specialty pharmacy and infusion and also has worked at AdvancePCS, Olsten Health Services and Quantum Health Resources. Walgreens joined NASP as a founding member last year, and Ellis was elected at the NASP board of directors' Oct. 14 meeting; he will serve a one-year term through October 2014.

"This is an exciting time for specialty pharmacy, and I'm excited to work with my colleagues on this distinguished board of directors to advance NASP's mission and create a stronger, more unified voice for all stakeholders," Ellis said. "At Walgreens, we share eNASP's dedication to serve the needs of patients living with complex, chronic health conditions and support the pharmacists they work with on a daily basis."

Walgreens uses an integrated, multichannel model for its specialty and infusion business, focusing on creating an optimal patient experience that supports improved health outcomes, NASP said, while also offering pipeline insights, custom reporting and clinical and utilization management programs to help payers manage costs.

"We are honored to work with Mike as our first president, guiding NASP forward as it continues to lead the specialty pharmacy industry," NASP CEO Gary Cohen said. "Walgreens is a strong supporter of our membership and industry as a whole, and we believe Mike will provide both the vision and leadership necessary to steer NASP and the specialty pharmacy industry to the next level."