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Recently, two of our industry experts – Heather Easterling, VP, 340B Solutions & Contract Experience, and Erika McKeon, VP, Health System Field Sales Consultant – attended The Health Management Academy (THMA) Spring 2025 Pharmacy Growth Collaborative, where they networked and engaged with health system pharmacy leaders from across the country. The event, which took place from May 14–16, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, FL, was held in a unique, retreat-style setting that created opportunities for attendees to have more in-depth, face-to-face discussions on strategies shaping the future of pharmacy.

As Easterling puts it, “There’s something different about being in a smaller room – something that can bring out even more genuine dialogue and lead to even more impactful conversations.” That sense of closeness – referred to by many as the power of proximity – set the stage for attendees to more candidly share real-world challenges and connect around shared priorities – from elevating pharmacy’s role in the C-suite to solving for the growing complexity of high-cost therapies and beyond.

Throughout the event, these genuine, often one-on-one discussions reinforced the strategic importance of pharmacy in driving growth and improving care and outcomes across the entire health system. Notable conversations zeroed in on how to better redefine pharmacy as a clinical and financial necessity versus a cost center alone and – perhaps most importantly – how to communicate that value in a compelling way that resonates with key decision makers, as well as the ongoing exploration of solutions for managing the financial and operational hurdles presented by service lines such as specialty and infusion, cell and gene therapies, and others.

Learn more about McKesson’s Specialty & Infusion for Health Systems by downloading our Insider’s First Look below.

Even more impactful than the valuable insights gained through conversations with other attendees was the broader alignment that became more apparent over the course of the event. Health system leaders, vendors, and distribution partners – of which McKesson was the exclusive invitee – all recognized the need for shared solutions – and shared visibility – to address the many nuanced (and often urgent) financial pressures and infrastructural needs facing health system pharmacies today.

By staying closer to those on the front lines of these challenges through uniquely candid and intimate events like THMA’s Pharmacy Growth Collaborative, our McKesson experts are better equipped to help health systems reimagine what’s possible in achieving more for the business of pharmacy.

Learn more about upcoming conferences and events our McKesson industry experts will be attending here.