The Board and Staff at Rx Partnership - free medicine for Virginia's Uninsured

Andrew Wilson, Pharm.D., FASHP, Chair
Dr. Wilson is the Director of Pharmacy and Educational Services for Safety Net Hospitals for Pharmaceutical Access (SNHPA), an organization of over 500 hospitals and health systems in the 340B program. Prior to joining SNHPA, Andy served as the Health System Pharmacy Services practice leader for Ernst & Young. He has more than 30 years of healthcare experience as a pharmacy director in academic health centers and integrated health systems, including the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., where he served as Chief Pharmacy Officer, and the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, where he served as Director of Pharmacy Services.

Andy has worked extensively with pharmacy safety net programs, including the development of large scale patient assistance programs and has extensive 340B Pharmacy experience, including service as a member and Chair of the Executive Committee of the Public Hospital Pharmacy Coalition (PHPC) and as a Chair of the DSH Advisory Board of the 340B Prime Vendor Program (PVP). Dr. Wilson has published numerous articles and lectured nationally on pharmacy practice, management and leadership.

Deborah D. Oswalt, Vice-Chair
Deborah Oswalt is the founding Director of the Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF), where she has dedicated her efforts to making primary health care more available to uninsured and medically underserved Virginians since 1992. Under Ms. Oswalt’s leadership, the VHCF has funded 238 projects providing health services to over 500,000 medically underserved and uninsured Virginians. Prior to her position at the Foundation, she served as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources in the Cabinets of Governors Baliles and Wilder and worked for seven years closely with state agencies that regulate, deliver and monitor health services, including the Departments of Health, Health Professions, Medical Assistance Services (Medicaid), and Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services; as well as the Health Services Cost Review Council. Her Richmond work began at the Virginia Poverty Law Center, where she worked as a staff attorney for four years. She graduated from Rutgers University School of Law in 1979 and has worked on issues related to health and human resources ever since.

Gina Pitrone, Vice-Chair
Gina Pitrone recently accepted the position of Director of Obici Health Care Foundation where she is working with a team to address the unmet health care needs of Western Tidewater. Prior to Obici, Ms. Pitrone was the first Executive Director for the Sentara Health Foundation, where she made a profound and lasting impact on the health of the medically underserved in the community. She helped to establish an endowment that has grown to $15 million and currently funds a number of community recognition grants and critical health care initiatives. Prior to Sentara she was the Executive Director of the Bon Secours DePaul Health Foundation, where she established the Sister Agatha Community Endowment to provide health care to the poor. She served as Chairman of the Virginia Department of Health steering committee for the Cardiovascular Health Coalition, Healthy Pathways from 2000 to 2005 and has a mayoral appointment to the Mayor's Commission to End Homelessness in Norfolk, Virginia. She received a Governor appointment to the State Planning Grant Steering Committee and has been a Board Member and community action group member for a number of organizations in the community.

Katharine M. Webb, Treasurer
Katharine Webb is senior vice president of the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association (VHHA) where she has over 25 years of experience developing and advocating health care policy issues for the Commonwealth. As a veteran lobbyist for the Association, she has advocated on critical issues such as children’s health insurance, and is committed to improving the quality of health for all Virginians. She also serves as executive vice president of the Virginia Hospital Research and Education Foundation (VHREF) that helps further the education of health professionals. Prior to joining VHHA, she worked at the Virginia Department of Health as a policy analyst. She was director of social work at Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital and was on the faculty at the University of Virginia Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics in Charlottesville. She has served on the Board and as Chairman of Senior Connections (the Capital Area Agency on Aging) and on the Board and as Chairman of the Virginia Public Access Project (a campaign finance disclosure project). She holds an A.B. in American Studies from Sweet Briar College and a Masters in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Virginia Board of Pharmacy Representative, Ex Officio
Rx Partnership’s ex officio representative from the Virginia Board of Pharmacy is an important link between the organization and a state regulatory office. The Board of Pharmacy sets standards for pharmacy operations and creates laws and regulations to protect public health, safety and welfare in pharmaceutical matters. It is also responsible for creating guidance documents, educating both consumers and pharmaceutical providers on a variety of topics including recommended medication usage, over the counter medications, drug assistance programs, and health insurance. The insight and experience provided to RxP by a member of the Board of Pharmacy is integral as the organization navigates the patient assistance program world and shares best practices and recommendations with its 20 Affiliate free clinics and community health centers. www.dhp.virginia.gov/pharmacy

Joy Bechtold Jones
Joy Bechtold Jones works in a number of key areas including legislative affairs, strategic communications, issue management, and community affairs for Capital Results, a public relations, government affairs and business consulting firm. Joy previously managed community relations for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Prior to that, she had eight years experience in government relations and strategic communications, primarily representing health care clients before the Virginia General Assembly. She is committed to the goal of increasing quality medical care to vulnerable citizens, and believes that Rx Partnership is a vehicle that helps achieve this, weaving manufacturer’s PAP programs into Virginia’s health care safety net for the uninsured. She is also involved in the community as Associate Board Vice President of the Richmond SPCA and a member of the Board of Directors for Connor’s Heroes Foundation. She received her B.A. in Political Science/Journalism from Randolph-Macon College.

Peter F. Gallagher
Peter F. Gallagher is senior vice president/chief financial officer for the Bon Secours Richmond Health System. He is responsible for financial management of the local health system, as well as financial planning,control and approval of all managed care arrangements. In addition, he is a member and CFO of the Steering Committee of the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association. Prior to joining Bon Secours, he was senior vice president of the Facility Consulting Group at W.R. Adams Company,a healthcare facilities consulting firm specializing in planning, program management and facility development. He is very active in the community and has been a member of a number of organizations including: the Healthcare Financial Management Association National Board of Examiners, and the Virginia Hospital Association Council on Finance. He is a Board Member for the Greater Richmond Chapter of the American Red Cross and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, among others. Peter received his BS from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and his MBA from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.

R. Neal Graham
Since 2001, Neal Graham has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia Community Healthcare Association where he has been dedicated to assuring that all Virginians, regardless of geographic location or income, have access to appropriate and affordable primary health care. Prior to this position he worked for nine years for the Virginia Department of Health as the Director of Tobacco Use Control Programs. In August of 1999 he was assigned as Executive Staff-On-Contract to the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation. Prior to his tenure at VDH, Mr. Graham held Executive Director positions with the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, the Maryland Special Olympics and the Drug Education Service. He has been an essential leader in the community, where he has served on numerous national, regional and state boards and committees related to health care. Mr. Graham graduated from Virginia Tech where he received a MS in Community Health Administration and BS in Health Education.

L. Preston Hale, R.Ph.
Preston Hale designed and developed the original Compute-Rx Pharmacy System software that was later bought by QS/1. Currently, he is the National Strategic Accounts Manager for Q/S1 but has also held positions such as Vice President of Development, Senior Vice President of Institutional Systems and Senior VP of Marketing and Customer Relations. After owning and operating several pharmacies in central Virginia during his early career, he was involved in the development of at least five other software applications in addition to Compute-Rx. Mr. Hale has also served as an integral part of the Virginia Pharmacist Association and is currently serving as President. He has received numerous awards such as the V.Ph.A. Outstanding Pharmacist, the MCV Alumni Service Award and the VCU School of Pharmacy Alumni Star Award. Mr. Hale received his degree from the Medical College of Virginia School of Pharmacy and currently resides in Richmond, VA.

Delegate S. Chris Jones
Delegate Jones, a pharmacist by profession, has represented the 76th district portions of the cities of Chesapeake and Suffolk in the Virginia General Assembly for ten years. Del. Jones began his career as a City of Suffolk Councilman, quickly rising to become the city’s youngest mayor from 1992 to 1996. He received his pharmacy degree from the Medical College of Virginia, where he is now a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy & Pharmaceuticals and also demonstrates his dedication to continuing education as a Preceptor for the School of Pharmacy Externship Program. His hard work and commitment to the community has been recognized through numerous awards including the J. Paul Councill, Jr. Community Service Award 2005, VCU-MCV Alumni Association Distinguished Pharmacy Alumnus Award 2002, and Virginia Society of Health System Pharmacist, Legislator of the Year 1999. He is a member of the American Pharmacists Association, Virginia Pharmacists Association, International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists and National Community Pharmacist Association.

David Maizel, M.D.
Dr. Maizel is a leader in the health care field with nearly 15 years of experience as a physician executive in Hampton Roads. As the Sentara Medical Group’s (SMG) first Medical Director, Dr. Maizel utilized his significant leadership skills to grow the organization into the largest group practice in Virginia. His focus on establishing innovative approaches to clinical quality and care delivery models has had a profound impact on health care professionals, their ability to focus on delivery skills and enhance their relationships with patients. Prior to his work at SMG, Dr. Maizel was the founder and managing partner of Providence Road Family Practice in Virginia Beach that focused on customer service and personalized care. His experience also includes serving as a senior medical officer at a remote overseas (Australia) U.S. Naval Communications station. Dr. Maizel earned his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and is a member of the American College of Physician Executives.

L.M. “Lou” Markwith
L.M. “Lou” Markwith is the Executive Director of the Virginia Association of Free Clinics (VAFC) where he works to improve access to necessary health care for those who need it the most: the working poor. Mr. Markwith has extensive experience with nonprofit organizations including the National Kidney Foundation of the Virginia’s, Inc., and the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. Mr. Markwith has over twenty-five year’s involvement with institutions of higher education including the University of Wisconsin Foundation, Longwood University, Gallaudet University, and the University of Richmond. Responsibilities in these positions included: fund raising, alumni relations, government relations, planning and publications. Mr. Markwith earned his B.S. in Business Administration and Masters in Business Administration from the University of Richmond.

Lorie L. McCollum - Affiliate Representative
Lorie McCollum serves as Rx Partnership’s Affiliate representative on the Board of Directors. She is the Chief Operating Officer with the Bradley Free Clinic which provides free medical, dental and pharmacy services to the working uninsured of the Roanoke Valley. In this capacity, Lorie oversees daily clinic operations, practices on-going program assessments and conducts staff performance evaluations while utilizing her skills in marketing, strategic planning and project management. Prior to her work with the Bradley Free Clinic, Ms. McCollum was Associate Executive Director with the Virginia district office of a national nonprofit. Previous work experience also includes sports marketing and national sports cable network television. Ms. McCollum earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and master’s degree work at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.