Retail. Business. Wellness.

LAS VEGAS — Retail. Business. Wellness.

Those are the pillars for Cardinal Health’s 25th annual Retail Business Conference, which runs July 22 to 25, in Las Vegas, at The Venetian hotel. And to give RBC 2015 attendees a look at how some of their peers from across the country are activating innovative new programs and services, and shoring up core areas of the store to drive greater profitability and enhanced customer experiences in each of these areas, Cardinal Health will host a series of panel discussions anchored by independent pharmacy owners and Cardinal Health executives.

Kicking it off, Thursday, July 23, during the opening session, the Business Advantage panel, moderated by Cardinal Health SVP of Independent Sales Steve Lawrence, will look at some of the more creative work a group of independent pharmacy owners are doing to create new revenue streams in their businesses. The panel — including Andy Jolly, Ready Meds Pharmacy in Renton, Wash., Dave Hester, Medicine Shoppe, in Maxton, N.C., and Angie Kloeppel, Ladue Pharmacy, in St. Louis — will discuss the pharmacy diversification initiatives they have introduced in their businesses, ranging from immunization programs, long-term care partnerships, medication therapy management and more.

The action continues Friday, July 24, during the morning session, starting off with the Wellness Advantage panel discussion, moderated by Cardinal Health SVP of Marketing and Customer Solutions Christi Pedra, who will talk to another group of independent pharmacy owners creating new wellness programs that are helping to drive profits and expanding community pharmacy into more advanced areas of patient care. The panel — including Beverly Schaffer, Katterman’s Sand Point Pharmacy, in Seattle, Andy Komuves, Doughtery’s Pharmacy, in Dallas, and Gerard Rivera, Newport Lido Pharmacy in Newport Beach, Calif. — will talk about their experiences developing specialized care programs around such chronic conditions as diabetes, sports therapy programs and entering into collaborative practice agreements with other healthcare providers that enable pharmacists to practice at the top of their license.

Following the Wellness Advantage panel discussion, Cardinal Health VP of Consumer Health Steve Light will lead the Retail Advantage panel, which examines how a small group of independent pharmacy owners are driving front-end profits by leveraging core categories in the store. Panelists Bob GiaQuinto, Rye Beach Pharmacy in Rye, N.Y., DJ Larson, Lehan’s Pharmacy in DeKalb, Ill., and Rob Cockman, Midtown Pharmacy in Whitsett, N.C., talk about growth in the vitamins and supplement market, women’s health and other hot categories.

Drug Store News will be covering all the action at Cardinal Health RBC 2015 in a series of exclusive daily editions, in both print and digital formats. To keep up with all of the highlights, visit DrugStoreNews.com/Cardinal-Health-RBC or follow #RBCWin on Twitter.