Sara Roszak, DrPH, MPH – NACDS’ vice president of pharmacy care and health strategy
Original research findings by Sara Roszak, DrPH, MPH – NACDS’ vice president of pharmacy care and health strategy – and co-author Stefanie Ferreri, PharmD, were published in Preventing Chronic Disease on August 20. Preventing Chronic Disease is a peer-reviewed journal sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The peer-reviewed article – “Community Pharmacy Engagement in Diabetes Prevention: Key Informant Interviews with Pharmacy Executives” – demonstrates the critical value of community pharmacy. It centers on the topic of patient access to preventive care, and cites pharmacies’ broad accessibility and ability to deliver diabetes prevention programs to communities nationwide. In addition, the article demonstrates the tremendous trust that exists between pharmacists and patients, and the positive impact that these relationships have on patient health outcomes.
This article provides a condensed summary of Roszak’s dissertation research, which she completed while working full-time at NACDS and also as a student in the Executive Doctoral Program in Health Leadership at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill. After earning her Doctor of Public Health in May 2019, Roszak remained with her alma mater by joining the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Education.
Roszak joined NACDS in 2014 and has since held various leadership positions within NACDS and the NACDS Foundation.
“I hope this research will spur continued action for public-private partnerships to address prediabetes. Community pharmacy is an essential partner in reaching national public health goals, including preventing chronic diseases, such as diabetes,” said Roszak. “NACDS was extremely supportive of my educational endeavors, and that made all the difference. I owe a great deal of gratitude to Steve (Anderson) and Kathleen (Jaeger) for this wonderful opportunity, and also to the NACDS Individual Development Program which helped me reach my goals.”
Through the voluntary NACDS Individual Development Program, NACDS staff team members work with their supervisors to develop strategic approaches to advancing in areas of importance to their industry service. Initiatives backed by NACDS include education and training in relevant issues and critical skills.
“Throughout her tenure at NACDS, Sara has demonstrated a supreme dedication to advancing public health and patient access through community pharmacy,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson. “Her many contributions have not only led to both the expansion of the Foundation’s research portfolio and the advancement of NACDS priorities, but have also directly benefited the patients and communities that NACDS’ member companies serve.”
In 2015, the American Public Health Association awarded Roszak with the prestigious Jay S. Drotman Memorial award for young professionals, recognizing her powerful contribution to the advancement of public health.
Prior to joining NACDS, Roszak held positions at the National Association of County and City Officials, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Florida Division of Emergency Management. She also worked for former Sen. Bob Graham at the congressional Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism, and then at the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. Her experience in associations, government and the public health sector spans over 10 years.
