AACP Selects Lee C. Vermeulen as Executive Vice President and CEO

On behalf of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Board of Directors, President Stuart T. Haines has announced the selection of Lee C. Vermeulen, B.S.Pharm., M.S., FCCP, FFIP as the Association’s seventh Executive Vice President and CEO. On July 1, 2022, Vermeulen will succeed Lucinda L. Maine, Ph.D., B.S.Pharm., FAPhA, FFIP, who has served as AACP’s EVP and CEO since July 2002, and who is retiring.

Vermeulen currently serves as chief efficiency officer for UK HealthCare, the University of Kentucky health system, in Lexington, Ky. In his executive role, he is responsible for the development and oversight of enterprise-wide efforts to reduce unnecessary care variation under consistent, evidence-based standards, thus achieving measurable improvements in quality, patient outcomes and cost reduction. He leads various programs, including UK Advancing BEST Care program, which crosses medical and surgical disciplines, settings of care and operational units in a value-based, patient-centered model.

Vermeulen is also a professor of medicine and pharmacy at the University of Kentucky. His academic work focuses on the development and implementation of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and clinical decision support tools that drive the efficient delivery of high-quality health care.

“The AACP Board embarked upon a national search in September 2021 to identify a proven leader with the vision and executive experience to implement our robust strategic plan and priorities,” said Dr. Haines. “Lee was our unanimous choice, and we are energized by his enthusiasm for AACP’s potential to accelerate pharmacy practice transformation, drive academic innovation and address key issues like health equity and the well-being of the health workforce.”

Upon his selection, Vermeulen said, “I am grateful to the AACP Board of Directors, for their confidence in selecting me as the next Executive Vice President and CEO, and to Dr. Lucinda Maine, for her 20 years of leadership to the Association. Dr. Maine has set AACP on a fantastic course, and I am particularly excited to work with AACP members as we continue the work of implementing the AACP strategic plan and, together, achieving the mission and vision of pharmacy education.”

EVP Maine has expressed her excitement about the successful search outcome and will work with CEO-designate Vermeulen leading up to a seamless transition in July.

Founded in 1900, AACP is the national organization representing pharmacy education. AACP is comprised of all accredited colleges and schools with pharmacy degree programs, including more than 6,400 faculty, 62,500 students in professional programs and 5,100 individuals pursuing graduate study. Visit www.aacp.org to learn more about AACP and stay connected with the Association on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.