President and CEO of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation Recognized for Excellence in Patient Care

 Emmy-award-winning writer and late-night television host Seth Meyers delivered the keynote address

New York – The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation celebrated its 18th Annual Foundation Dinner in New York on December 1. The event raised $1.94 million, which will help support evidence-based research, pharmacy education and philanthropic initiatives to improve patient outcomes and advance population health. More than 100 companies and individuals sponsored the event.

In his remarks at the NACDS Foundation Dinner, NACDS Chairman Martin Otto, chief merchant and chief financial officer of H-E-B said, “The pace of our lives is increasing and the demands on our time continue to grow. For those reasons, efficient, high quality affordable care that takes place right in the patient’s own community is an important health objective.” Otto pointed to the collaborative work the Foundation does aimed at providing more efficient patient care, including projects that explore new patient models that can be scaled to real-world solutions and collaborative initiatives that advance the Foundation’s mission to promote the importance of taking medications correctly.

Judith A. Monroe, M.D., FAAFP, president and CEO of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation, received the 2016 NACDS Foundation Excellence in Patient Care Award at the event. NACDS Foundation President Kathleen Jaeger said, “Dr. Monroe and the CDC Foundation have demonstrated a true spirit of collaboration through public-private partnership initiatives designed to help prevent the spread and the consequences of the Zika virus, and to address other public health initiatives. Dr. Monroe has dedicated her career to improving patient outcomes and fostering health and well-being in communities throughout the nation.” NACDS President and CEO and NACDS Foundation Chairman Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE, joined in presenting the award.

Emmy-award-winning writer and Saturday Night Live alumnus Seth Meyers delivered the keynote address at the event. The sharp-witted and engaging comedian currently hosts Late Night with Seth Meyers on NBC and has a strong reputation for giving back through his engagement and support for Cycle for Survival, which is affiliated with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; the Headstrong Project, which provides veterans with counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder and other challenges following deployment; and the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, which provides camp experiences to children and their families coping with cancer and other serious illnesses.

At the event Jaeger noted, “During this holiday season, we like to look back on our work and are so very grateful to those who have made our progress possible. And in this spirit we say, simply and sincerely, thank you. The importance of private and public partnerships to the Foundation’s work cannot be overstated. These relationships are critical to meaningful change.” She added, “It’s clear that the value of collaboration certainly transcends to the world of charity and philanthropy.”

More information about the NACDS Foundation is available on its website.