Advancing the Future of Independent Pharmacy: Highlights From RBC 2026

Retail independent pharmacies are the cornerstones of their communities, providing trusted care and support to patients every day. Their commitment and impact are the inspiration for our Retail Business Conference (RBC), a multi-day event celebrating independent pharmacy and the role it plays in communities across the country. This year, more than 4,000 independent pharmacists gathered in Orlando, Florida, for RBC 2026.

At the Center of Community Care

As healthcare evolves, patients increasingly look to their local pharmacy as a destination for proactive and preventative care, medication management and adherence. This trend is creating new opportunities for independent pharmacists to improve access and support better health outcomes.

“Independent pharmacists are evolving beyond the traditional role of dispensing medications to become trusted destinations for health and wellness,” said Michelle Britt, senior vice president, retail independent pharmacy. “As patients increasingly turn to their local pharmacy, we are helping independent pharmacists broaden the care they provide by offering an assortment of products, solutions and support services as they deliver high-quality, reliable care.”

Throughout RBC, we highlighted real-world examples of innovation happening inside their pharmacies. Caitlin Rohrbaugh, PharmD, Wells Hometown Drug in Bloomfield, Iowa; Kathy Campbell, PharmD, Medicap Pharmacy® Owasso, Wellness Pharmacy Network in Owasso, Oklahoma; and Jessica Beal-Stahl, PharmD, Hobbs Pharmacy, Merritt Island, Florida, discussed pharmacist-led walk-in clinics and the expansion of wellness services such as supplement and nutrition counseling and foundational wellness appointments. These examples illustrate how independent pharmacists are finding new ways to serve their communities.

Supporting Pharmacy Success

Pharmacists rely on receiving the products they need, when they need them, to serve their patients and communities. During RBC, we highlighted the many ways that we continue to strengthen our core to support that work. From maintaining a reliable, safe, secure supply chain — no matter the challenges or circumstances — to investing in new technology and distribution capabilities, we are focused on helping independent pharmacies stay ready to meet patient needs.

For example, our Consumer Health Logistics Center (CHLC) opened last year, enabling us to respond more quickly to changes in demand, especially during seasonal peaks. Over the past year, the CHLC has increased service levels for OTC products, providing independent pharmacists with greater access to products and diagnostic testing to help meet their patients' needs.

And our new flagship distribution center in Indianapolis, scheduled to open in fall 2027, will incorporate advanced automation to increase capacity across the Midwest. In addition to new facilities, we are modernizing our existing distribution centers, while also investing in a new Transportation Management System, which helps optimize the movement of products through our supply chain and provides greater visibility into order status and delivery timing.

“We know that even one miss can impact patient care,” said Jamie Barker, senior vice president, pharmaceutical & specialty supply chain operations. “That’s why we continue to combine the art of what’s possible — using automation, technology and advanced analytics — with the deep dedication of our team, to evolve our supply chain to serve our customers better.”

Industry Advocacy on Display

Evident at RBC 2026 was independent pharmacists’ ongoing work to advance policies that support patient access to pharmacy-based care. For example, recent progress in Congress on legislation that would expand access across the country to pharmacist-provided clinical services for seniors nationwide represents an important step forward, while similar efforts continue in states across the country.

Through programs such as the Cardinal Health™ One Voice Initiative, we support pharmacists and state associations as they advocate for their profession and the communities they serve. We also engage with policymakers at the state and federal level to help them better understand the experiences and perspectives of pharmacists.

“Independent pharmacists are trusted providers in their communities, often seeing the immediate impact of changing healthcare policies long before anyone else,” said Brad Cochran, president, pharmaceutical & specialty distribution. “Their on-the-ground experience is vital to shaping the future of care, bringing an essential perspective to the conversations that impact their patients and businesses.”

Celebrating Leadership and Innovation

At RBC, we honored several pharmacy leaders for their contributions to patient care, advocacy and innovation.

• Mylo Wells, PharmD, of Wells Hometown Drug in Bloomfield, Iowa, received the Community Leadership Award for expanding access to care by launching Iowa’s first pharmacist-led walk-in clinic and bringing affordable, collaborative care closer to patients in his community.
• Mike Nabolsi, PharmD, of Warriors Pharmacy in Detroit, earned the inaugural Cardinal Health™ Advocacy Award for mentoring and inspiring a record number of future pharmacy leaders to get involved in and strengthen the collective voice of independent pharmacy in Michigan.
• Curt Rising, PharmD, of The Medicine Shoppe® Pharmacy in Rapid City, South Dakota, was named Franchisee of the Year for pioneering programs that simplify medication management and expand access to long-term care services.
• Jodee Richeson, PharmD, of Broadway Pharmacy, a member of the Medicap Pharmacy® family in Minot, North Dakota, earned Rookie of the Year honors for improving access to medications and personalized care in an underserved area of her community.

Learning, Innovation, and What’s Ahead

From sharing ideas on the show floor to participating in educational programming and hands-on learning experiences, attendees explored topics centered on clinical revenue streams, health and wellness, digital innovation and advocacy.

The exchange of ideas continued at the Cardinal Health™ Counter Talk™ Theater, which featured live sessions on topics ranging from best practices for AI-driven operational efficiencies to adherence packaging strategies that support patients’ chronic disease management.

“Independent pharmacists continue to redefine what community-based care looks like," said Britt. "Their insights, innovation and commitment to patients are shaping the future of healthcare, and we're honored to support their progress."