Arkansas pharmacist Scott Pace receives national award

Scott Pace of Little Rock, who formerly served as CEO of the Arkansas Pharmacists Association, received the 2018 John W. Dargavel Medal at the National Community Pharmacists Association convention held recently in Boston. The award was sponsored by The McKesson Corp. and signifies the spirit of leadership on behalf of independent pharmacists.

Pace and his wife Anne co-own Kavanaugh Pharmacy in Little Rock. He joined APA in 2006 and became CEO in January 2016. Prior to joining APA, he was founding director of the Evidence-Based Prescription Drug Program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). He also worked for NCPA and has practiced pharmacy in both the community and hospital settings.

Pace was chosen for the award because of his work to raise awareness earlier this year regarding a set of cuts by a pharmacy benefit manager, which jeopardized the future of independent pharmacies in Arkansas. He led the crusade to educate the public on the tactics of pharmacy benefit managers and sought a legislative fix to the issue. His work led to Gov. Asa Hutchinson calling a special session of the legislature, resulting in passage of the Arkansas Pharmacy Benefits Manager Licensure Act, which requires licensure of any pharmacy benefit manager who services insurance plans that are not self-funded by employers.

Pace earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Arkansas State University, his Doctor of Pharmacy from UAMS, and his law degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Bowen School of Law.