Jack Dunn Named 2014 NCPA Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year

PRESS RELEASE

Austin, Texas (Oct. 20, 2014) — Jack Dunn, RPh, owner of Jasper Drugs and Gifts in Jasper, Ga., has been named the 2014 NCPA Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year. The award is sponsored by

Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc

. Dunn received his award on Sunday, Oct. 19 during the First General Session of the 116th Annual NCPA Convention and Trade Exposition held October 18-22 in Austin.

The Independent Pharmacist of the Year award recognizes an independent pharmacist for exemplary leadership and commitment to independent pharmacy and to their community. The award is named in honor of someone who exemplified these qualities: Willard B. Simmons, a former executive secretary of NCPA (the National Community Pharmacists Association, which was then known as the National Association of Retail Druggists) and long-time NCPA Foundation trustee.

“We are excited to name Jack Dunn as the 2014 NCPA Willard B Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year award winner,” said Mark Riley, PharmD, NCPA president, executive vice president and CEO of the Arkansas Pharmacists Association, and an independent pharmacy owner in Little Rock, Ark. “Jack has followed in the footsteps of his father to become an outstanding pharmacy owner in his own right. He is also a tireless advocate for independent community pharmacies in the state of Georgia and at the national level. It is because of the vision of leaders like Jack that America’s independent community pharmacies continue to stand out in the highly competitive pharmacy marketplaces.”

Dunn’s experience in pharmacy began before attending the Mercer School of Pharmacy. Jack worked in a variety of capacities at Jasper Drugs and Gifts growing up, because his father had co-founded the business in 1952. After obtaining his degree and license Jack went to work at the pharmacy full-time, and eventually became the owner in 1979. In the ensuing decades he has expanded the pharmacy as well as the services available to patients. From compounding of specially tailored drugs to diabetes and asthma education, Dunn’s patient-focused, comprehensive approach helps improve patient outcomes.

His efforts have been recognized repeatedly. For example, in 2012 Dunn was one of five pharmacists in America to receive the McKesson Award for Diabetic Excellence. Dunn has opened up a second pharmacy in Marble Hill, Ga., to accommodate his growing customer base.

Dunn has been a very active and influential member of the Georgia Pharmacy Association (GPhA) since 1973. His leadership skills culminated in him being named President of GPhA from 2011 — 2012 and being Chair of the Board of Directors. Dunn has also been actively involved with NCPA over the years.

“Upsher-Smith recognizes the increasingly important role that independent and community pharmacists play in health care today,” said Mark Evenstad, president and CEO of Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. “We are proud to support the NCPA in honoring these dedicated individuals who improve the lives of patients and serve their communities."

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The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA®) represents the interests of America's community pharmacists, including the owners of nearly 23,000 independent community pharmacies. Together they represent an $88.8 billion health care marketplace, dispense nearly 40% of all retail prescriptions, and employ more than 300,000 individuals, including over 62,000 pharmacists. To learn more, go to

www.ncpanet.org

, visit

facebook.com/commpharmacy

, or follow NCPA on Twitter

@Commpharmacy

.

About Upsher

Smith Laboratories, Inc., founded in 1919, is a growing pharmaceutical company dedicated to its mission of Advancing Pharmacotherapy Improving Life ™. With capabilities ranging from early stage research to delivering on market products, Upsher Smith is committed to offering quality products that enable people to live life to its greatest potential. Upsher Smith's approach to product development and partnering has resulted in a broad range of both branded and generic therapeutic solutions to address patients’ needs. The Company has a particular focus on developing therapies for people living with central nervous system (CNS) conditions, such as seizure disorders, and has a robust pipeline of promising CNS compounds in various stages of development. For more information, visit

www.upsher-smith.com

.