Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy Implements Realignment Plan with Foundation for Managed Care Pharmacy

ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) announces today another step forward in the realignment plan between AMCP and the Foundation for Managed Care Pharmacy (FMCP), which was approved by the AMCP Board of Directors in 2011.  The goal of the realignment is to capitalize on staff strengths and expertise, enhance operational efficiencies and build closer collaboration between the Academy and the FMCP.

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The Academy is pleased to announce that Welton O'Neal, Jr., BS, RPh, PharmD, will join AMCP on June 18 as FMCP Executive Director and AMCP Vice President of Pharmacy Affairs. O'Neal comes to the Academy from Takeda Pharmaceuticals, where he served as Senior Director, Medical External Affairs. 

"We are delighted to have Welton join the AMCP and FMCP family," said AMCP Chief Executive Officer Edith A. Rosato, RPh, IOM, who is also Chair of the FMCP Board of Trustees. "He is a highly respected executive who has a wealth of experience throughout the pharmacy and pharmaceutical sectors. He will be a true asset and contributor to advancing the mission of the Academy and the Foundation. "

A clinical pharmacist by training, O'Neal has more than 29 years combined experience in pharmaceutical industry, clinical pharmacy practice, research and academia.

His previous titles include Vice President, Global Clinical Sciences at Pharmacia Corporation; Associate Vice President, Field Medical at Sanofi-Aventis; Vice President, Medical Advocacy & Development at Bristol-Myers Squibb Worldwide Business; Assistant Professor, Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Kentucky; and Assistant Professor, Clinical Pharmacy and Pediatrics at the Medical University of South Carolina. He also continues to serve as Adjunct Assistant Professor, Pharmacology at Morehouse School of Medicine, and is a member of the National Advisory Council of the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ).

In his new role at AMCP, O'Neal will oversee a realigned suite of departments that encompasses governance, pharmacy professional practice, business development, FMCP and academia.

O'Neal takes over the reins of FMCP from Norrie Thomas, PhD, MS, RPh, who had been serving as FMCP Interim Executive Director since August 2010. "Norrie has done a tremendous job in advancing the goals of the Foundation through our transition period," said Rosato. "We would like to express our deep gratitude for her tireless efforts and dedication to our organization and profession."

As part of the Academy's realignment, four new Vice President positions have been created. These are:

• VP of Government Affairs, which includes regulatory affairs, legislative affairs, policy and grassroots advocacy;
• VP of Finance, which includes accounting and office management;
• VP of External Affairs, which includes member services, marketing, education, the Journal for Managed Care Pharmacy; communications, meetings and the website; and
• VP of Human Resources, which includes information technology infrastructure.

Staffing for some of these positions is ongoing. The realignment between AMCP and FMCP is designed to make both organizations stronger, said Rosato, who took over as CEO in November 2011.

"Our new structure aims to consolidate related endeavors, as well as facilitate better inter-organizational collaboration," said Rosato. "The realignment, along with our new strategic plan, is positioning AMCP to better navigate opportunities and challenges in the new health care environment."

The staff realignment was approved by the Academy's Board of Directors in February, 2012. Under the new structure, the FMCP Executive Director reports both to the FMCP Board of Directors and to the Academy CEO.

The new alignment also calls for some changes in the structure of the FMCP Board of Trustees, with the Academy CEO serving as Chair in a non-voting capacity and the FMCP Executive Director serving as a non-voting Secretary. The changes do not adversely affect FMCP's tax exempt status as a 501(c)(3) organization.

AMCP President Doug Burgoyne said the changes bring the organizations closer together. "This is a positive development both in terms of the practical daily operations and the shared goals for managed care pharmacy," said Burgoyne. "The ultimate goal is to ensure the interests of managed care pharmacists and patients are well served."

SOURCE Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy