Lynn Connelly Named NCPA 2017 Independent Pharmacist of the Year
ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Lynn Connelly, RPH, owner of Medicine Mart Pharmacy in Chapin, S.C., has been named the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) 2017 Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year. The award is sponsored by Upsher-Smith Laboratories, LLC. Connelly received his award during the First General Session of the NCPA 2017 Annual Convention held Oct. 14 – 18.
The Independent Pharmacist of the Year award recognizes an independent pharmacist for exemplary leadership and commitment to independent pharmacy and to their community. The award is named in honor of someone who exemplified these qualities: Willard B. Simmons, a former executive secretary of NCPA (which was then known as the National Association of Retail Druggists) and a longtime NCPA Foundation trustee.
"Lynn Connelly is a very deserving recipient of the 2017 Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year Award," said NCPA President DeAnn Mullins, Pharmacist, CDE, owner of Mullins Pharmacy, WeCare Wellness and the WeCare Diabetes Education Program in Lynn Haven, Fla. "Lynn has a thriving pharmacy practice. He is also a tireless advocate through his leadership role in various pharmacy-related boards and advisory committees, and by pushing state- and federal elected officials to enact common-sense pharmacy-related laws."
Connelly is a graduate of the University of South Carolina. He has been owner of Medicine Mart Pharmacy since 1982. Connelly is a member of the South Carolina Pharmacy Association, including serving as its president in 2005-2006, and has been the South Carolina Pharmacy Association Foundation's Chair since 2012. He is also an active member in NCPA, the American Pharmacists Association and the Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International.
Connelly is politically active in pharmacy issues. In South Carolina, he was instrumental in helping to pass a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, establish one of the highest state dispensing fees in America, bring more transparency to generic prescription drug reimbursements, create an "any willing provider" provision, produce fairer pharmacy audits, and open up immunizations to pharmacists. He is also very active with pharmacy issues at the federal level.
In addition, Connelly has a pharmacy residency program that employs about six pharmacy students annually. He has won numerous awards over the years including most recently, the 2016-2017 University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy's Outstanding Alumnus.
"Upsher-Smith takes pride in working with community pharmacists to positively affect the lives of patients," said Rusty Field, President and CEO of Upsher-Smith. "We join NCPA in honoring Lynn Connelly as the 2017 Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year. He leaves no stone unturned in fighting for patients at his pharmacy, throughout South Carolina, and across the country to have access to difference-making prescription drug services."
The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA®) represents the interests of America's community pharmacists, including the owners of more than 22,000 independent community pharmacies. Together they represent an $80 billion health care marketplace and employ more than 250,000 individuals on a full- or part-time basis. To learn more, go to www.ncpanet.org, visit facebook.com/commpharmacy, or follow NCPA on Twitter @Commpharmacy.
About Upsher-Smith
Upsher-Smith Laboratories, LLC is a trusted U.S. pharmaceutical company that has strived to deliver quality, affordable generic medications for nearly a century. In June 2017, Upsher-Smith was acquired by Sawai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., a large publicly traded generics company in Japan that had been seeking entry into the U.S. market. Upsher-Smith and Sawai share a strikingly similar family history and hold many of the same cherished goals and values— most importantly, the philosophy of always putting patients first. Upsher-Smith will continue to do those things it does best, which is provide a consistent supply of quality, affordable medications and invest in its historically strong industry relationships. Ultimately, Upsher-Smith believes the acquisition by Sawai represents a tremendous opportunity to leverage each company for growth worldwide and embark together on an exciting new chapter in generics. For more information, visit www.upsher-smith.com.
SOURCE The National Community Pharmacists Association
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