Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy Names Industry Veteran Gary Rice Vice President of Clinical Services

Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy, the nation's largest, privately owned specialty pharmacy, announced today that Gary Rice, RPh, a veteran specialty pharmacy executive, has joined Diplomat's executive team as vice president of clinical services. Previously Rice served as the company's director of clinical services.

"One of Diplomat's primary goals is to provide industry-leading clinical services to our patients and clients and Gary's long-standing career in pharmacy management demonstrates his success as a clinical leader," said Phil Hagerman, Diplomat's President and CEO. "In addition, Gary's expertise in market and competitive intelligence will strengthen Diplomat's innovation and growth efforts. I am pleased and honored to have Gary join Diplomat's executive team."

"I started my pharmacy career at sixteen working for an independent corner store pharmacy and now, after a long career covering many areas of pharmacy, I have come full circle to join another independent, national pharmacy organization," said Rice. "This is an exciting time at Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy particularly from a clinical perspective as we combine technology and high touch clinical programs to optimize both the patient experience and clinical outcomes."

Prior to joining Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy in June of 2011, Rice was the vice president of operations at ITSRx, where he provided operational and clinical leadership and development for specialty and retail pharmacies. Rice also served as the director of specialty clinical management at MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Inc., where he directed the clinical protocol development of 15 specialty therapy categories, oncology strategy, clinical oversight of specialty medication providers, and specialty pharmacy sales management. Before MedImpact, Rice was the vice president of retail and ancillary services, and director of pharmaceutical services at the Kelsey-Seybold Clinic in Houston, Texas.

Rice earned his bachelor of science in pharmacy from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences in Boston. He received a masters of science in pharmacy from the University of Houston. He completed his masters in business administration from the University of Phoenix.

About Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy

Michigan-based Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy, founded in 1975, serves patients nationwide as the country's largest privately held specialty pharmacy and focuses on complete medication management programs for patients with serious and chronic conditions. Diplomat's business model creates unique partnerships around both distribution and services with all industry stakeholders including physicians, patients, group purchasing organizations, hospital systems, retail chains and managed markets, always focused on improving adherence and the patient experience. Learn more about "Keeping Patients Healthier...Longer" at www.diplomatpharmacy.com.

SOURCE: Market Watch