Dr. Clint Hopkins, a dedicated pharmacy owner from Sacramento, California, has been named the recipient of the esteemed NARD Ownership Award by the National Community Pharmacists Association Foundation. This prestigious accolade was presented as a part of the NCPA Annual Convention, held in Orlando from October 14th to 17th.
The NARD Ownership Award is a testament to the exceptional entrepreneurial spirit exhibited by independent community pharmacists who have made significant contributions to the field of community pharmacy ownership.
NARD, previously known as the National Association of Retail Druggists, boasts a century-long legacy of supporting independent pharmacies and was established in 1898. Today, the organization is recognized as NCPA, representing the nation’s community pharmacists.
Dr. Hopkins’ journey in the pharmacy profession began with his graduation from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center at Memphis, where he earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2007. Prior to his venture into pharmacy ownership, he garnered diverse experience within the industry, serving as a pharmacy manager in various chain stores, a hospital staff pharmacist, an operating room pharmacist, an informatics pharmacist, a pharmacogenomics consultant, and an electronic health records consultant.
However, his true calling became apparent when he recognized the power of compassionate, culturally sensitive, community-based pharmacy care. Independent pharmacy ownership provided the ideal platform for him to make a meaningful impact on the profession.
In 2016, Clint Hopkins and his husband, Joel Hockman, relocated to Sacramento and acquired Pucci’s Pharmacy from the dedicated duo of Tom and Linda Nelson, who had already established a reputation for delivering quality care to the local
LGBTQ+ community. Building on this foundation, Hopkins and Hockman opened Pucci’s LTC Pharmacy earlier this year and, in April 2023, acquired Eddie’s Pharmacy in Los Angeles in collaboration with their business partners. Their mission centers on expanding healthcare access to underserved populations, demonstrating a commitment to improving the well-being of their communities.
Dr. Hopkins is not only an advocate for pharmacists across California but also champions their role in contributing to the health and welfare of their communities. He actively promotes the idea of pharmacists practicing at the highest level of their expertise and seeks recognition from payers for their invaluable contributions.
In addition to his extensive community involvement, Clint Hopkins currently serves on the Community Pharmacy Advisory Group Steering Committee for the California Pharmacists Association and is a member of the Good Neighbor Pharmacy Advisory Board for AmerisourceBergen. His remarkable dedication and contributions to the field were further acknowledged when he received the 2023 California Pharmacists Association’s Pharmacist of the Year Award.
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