Last week, NCPA member Jessi Stout, owner of Table Rock Pharmacy in Morganton, N.C., won Cardinal Health's Community Leadership Award, which celebrates independent pharmacists going above and beyond for their community.
Stout was one of three nationwide finalists, and her award was announced at Cardinal's annual RBC show, which was held in Denver this year. The other two well-deserving finalists for the award were NCPA Vice President Ken Thai, owner of 986 Pharmacy, and NCPA member Mike Burns, owner of Auburn Pharmacies. The award recognizes Stout's leadership in innovation. Table Rock Pharmacy was one of the first pharmacies in North Carolina to offer the yellow fever vaccine and was the only pharmacy in the region offering the REGEN-COV and EVUSHELD injections while they were authorized to treat COVID-19.
Additionally, during Hurricane Helene, Table Rock Pharmacy remained open, despite power outages and fallen trees. Transactions were recorded by hand to ensure patients could still get their prescriptions. At one point, they transported a generator by wheelbarrow to keep critical medication frozen. During this time, Stout also spoke out against audits being performed by Optum Rx. A social media post went viral, and this attention resulted in audits being paused for hurricane-affected areas.
NCPA applauds Stout and Table Rock Pharmacy, Thai, and Burns for the dedication to their communities, and congratulates her on this well-earned recognition. Stout chose NCPA as the pharmacy organization to receive the monetary award and we are grateful for her generosity.
