Transparency is Rising
EmpiRx Health was proud to sponsor and take part in Transparency is Rising, hosted by Transparency-Rx on June 24–25 in Washington, DC. This first-ever national event brought together healthcare leaders, policymakers, and innovators to tackle the need for more transparency in U.S. healthcare, with a particular focus on PBM reform and transformation. As part of the event, EmpiRx Health hosted a panel discussion called “Clinically-Driven Solutions Empowering Reform and Improving Patient Health,” moderated by our Chief Marketing Officer, Patrick Di Chiro. The panel explored how smart, clinically-focused strategies and PBM reform can lower drug costs, support patients, and improve health outcomes. With keynote speakers Dr. Mehmet Oz, Mark Cuban, Cynthia Fisher, Senators Bill Cassidy and Ron Wyden, and former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams, Transparency is Rising was a great opportunity to help shape a more effective, patient-focused and transparent healthcare system.
Empowering Pharmacists to Lower Healthcare Costs
Our CEO Danny Sanchez recently published a new article on Forbes as a member of the Forbes Business Council. Entitled, “More Than Pill Dispensers: Taking A Pharmacist-Led Approach to Curbing Healthcare Costs,” the article highlights the vital role pharmacists have always played in community healthcare.
In the article, Danny emphasizes how pharmacists are uniquely positioned to help patients manage their health by identifying potential risks, spotting drug interactions, and providing personalized medication recommendations. He also mentions the transformative impact clinical pharmacists have on pharmacy benefits care by collaborating with prescribing physicians to make evidence/data-based medication therapy recommendations based on clinical appropriateness for patients, and lowering prescription drug costs. Read the full article by clicking the button below.
Danny Sanchez, EmpiRx Health CEO featured in PharmaVoice
Danny has also recently been featured in an article published by PharmaVoice. This article notes that states are stepping up, as no progress has been made on PBM reform at the Federal level. Arkansas just became the first state to ban PBMs from owning pharmacies. The new law highlights the urgent need for overall PBM reform, including putting an end to the self-dealing and anticompetitive business practices of the largest PBMs, which now control more than 80% of the US pharmacy care market. In the PharmaVoice article, Danny points out that the lack of federal momentum is influencing state level action on vital PBM reform. He emphasizes how state lawmakers are hearing directly from their constituents and motivating them to act, especially related to protecting community pharmacies, whose very existence has been threatened by the widely discredited business models of the legacy PBMs. Read the full article by clicking the button below.
Patient: 30-year-old female
Diagnosis: Crohn’s Disease
Population Health Management Engine Identified: A new special therapy.
• Our Care Team reviews each patient case for clinical appropriateness eliminating unnecessary drug spend and increasing member access to less costly generic options.
• An EmpiRx Health clinical pharmacist contacted the prescriber to recommend a medication that optimizes treatment for this newly diagnosed condition from evidence-based clinical guidelines
Annual Clinical Savings: $45,913
Danny Sanchez is the Chief Executive Officer of EmpiRx Health, the leading clinically-driven pharmacy benefits management company. He is responsible for strengthening and expanding EmpiRx Health’s position as a driver of transformative change in the pharmacy benefits care industry. Danny leads the company’s mission to build and grow an innovative, high performance organization that puts the needs and interests of its customers first.
Danny’s career has been motivated by his belief that helping people access and adhere to the right therapies improves their health and impacts downstream costs. He brings 20+ years of healthcare technology experience to his role, along with a proven track record of developing and deploying innovative solutions that improve quality of care. He joined EmpiRx Health from Omnicell, where he held various leadership positions over his 16+ year tenure, and cultivated a focus on healthcare automation, patient adherence, and Population Health solutions. At Omnicell, he oversaw the launch of EnlivenHealth as General Manager, piloting numerous successful initiatives that harnessed technology to transform health and business outcomes.
His prior experience includes 3 years within the Medical Automation Division of McKesson Corporation. Danny holds degrees from Florida A&M University and from the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University.
Dr. Polina Kogan is the Executive Vice President and Chief Pharmacy Officer at EmpiRx Health, driving clinical strategy-through-execution at value-based PBM, with a clinically-focused and tech-enabled approach to bending the Rx cost curve. In her role, Dr. Kogan is revolutionizing PBM-based care management by directing the industry’s only pharmacy-driven population health management model, that includes AI-based risk profiling and predictive modeling, deep physician engagement, and white-glove complex case management.
Dr. Kogan has an outstanding track record of transforming clinical operations and building clinical strategies from the ground-up. Her over 25-year career spans across PBM, health plan, hospital, and retail pharmacy.
Prior to EmpiRx Health, Dr. Kogan built and led the pharmacy unit at VNSNY, a leading provider of managed care services for Medicare and Medicaid plans. Polina has held leadership roles at major New York teaching hospitals and is an active member of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) serving multiple terms on AMCP Committees within her 18-year tenure. She holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Florida and a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from Long Island University.
Ziad Rubaie is the Chief Growth Officer at EmpiRx Health and is responsible for all aspects of EmpiRx Health’s growth and the expansion of its national customer footprint. Ziad is a respected leader in the healthcare industry with more than 27 years of experience leveraging an impressive network of healthcare consultants to build deep strategic partnerships. He has a proven track record of driving exponential growth and comes to EmpiRx Health after 3 years as the Chief Business Development Officer at Consociate Health, a boutique TPA with a rapidly expanding national footprint.
His prior background includes a highly-successful 9-year tenure at CastiaRx, formerly known as LDI Integrated Pharmacy, where he established and delivered nationwide pharmacy solutions that exceeded industry results. Ziad also served as EVP of Sales and Marketing for Essex Dental & Vision Benefits, a subsidiary of Delta Dental of Missouri. Ziad started his healthcare career in 1995 with many roles including Assistant Vice President of Sales at Healthscope Benefits.
Ziad attended business school at the University of Michigan.
Vivek Dabke is the Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer at EmpiRx Health, responsible for technology strategy-through-execution and digital innovation, at the industry’s only value-based PBM, with a clinically-focused and tech-enabled approach to bending the Rx cost curve.
Vivek is a senior IT leader with extensive experience in managing technology organizations and large-scale digital transformations across Fortune 500 and mid-sized organizations, while significantly improving the customer experience across external and internal stakeholders.
Vivek’s background includes senior technology leadership roles at Cigna, QualCare (a Cigna Co.), and Pfizer. Vivek has also successfully built and led a boutique IT consulting firm specializing in Big Data analytics, technology delivery, digital transformation, and cloud migrations, that provided solutions and services across a broad spectrum of industries. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical engineering.
Greg Mueller is Executive Vice President of Client Experience and Operations for EmpiRx Health, the leading clinically-driven, customer-first pharmacy benefits management company. Greg is responsible for driving client and member satisfaction by providing best-in-class implementation and service experiences.
Greg is an experienced business leader with a relentless focus on customer success. By combining strategic thinking with a hands-on approach to process improvement and technology integration, he has consistently delivered results that not only meet but exceed customer expectations. Throughout his career, Greg has consistently put the customer experience center stage, driving results that positively impact the bottom line.
Prior to joining EmpiRx Health, Greg led Customer Enablement for EnlivenHealth®, the retail pharmacy technology division of Omnicell (Nasdaq: OMCL), the global healthcare technology company. Greg was responsible for the entire customer journey, from sale to implementation, customer support, and success.
Earlier in his career, Greg held various management and consulting roles with the AI and analytics leader SAS Institute, where he worked closely with C-level executives across multiple industries to solve complex business challenges. Greg has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Central Florida.
Laura Alemzadeh is the Chief Legal and Human Resources Officer at EmpiRx Health, responsible for overseeing all matters related to legal, compliance, and human resources for the company. A seasoned attorney with over two decades of legal experience, Laura has served as General Counsel for several companies across diverse industries and has extensive experience in human resources matters. Laura plays a key role on EmpiRx Health’s Senior Leadership Team, which guides the company’s continued growth as the leading clinically-driven, customer-first pharmacy benefits management company.
In her wide-ranging experience as a General Counsel, Laura has established herself as a trusted advisor and legal strategist for companies and their boards of directors. She has successfully navigated the intricate legal and regulatory landscapes of numerous industries, including healthcare, technology, and manufacturing. Laura's leadership has been instrumental in shaping corporate policies, ensuring regulatory compliance, and mitigating risks, contributing significantly to the growth and success of the companies with which she has worked.
An active participant in and contributor to the legal community, Laura frequently shares her insights at industry conferences. She is the immediate past Chair of ACC New York City’s CLO group, and past board member of ACC New York City. Laura obtained her Bachelor of Arts from University of Central Florida and her J.D. from York University’s Osgoode Hall in Toronto, Canada.
John Ridyard is President of EmpiRx Health, a leading pharmacy benefits management company that is dedicated to putting its clients first through unmatched clinical care solutions, guaranteed cost savings, and highly personalized service. John is responsible for building the strategies and products that help clients, partners, and members to thrive, while strengthening and expanding EmpiRx Health’s brand and market leadership.
John is an experienced business leader with a proven track record of driving innovative strategies that enable organizations to grow profitably, both organically and through partnerships and acquisitions. During his career, John has been motivated by a desire to deeply understand the unmet needs of his customers, assess his organization’s internal and external capabilities to meet those needs, and work cross-functionally to deliver on them.
Prior to joining EmpiRx Health, John led the Growth and Business Operations for EnlivenHealth®, the retail pharmacy technology division of Omnicell (Nasdaq: OMCL), the global healthcare technology company. John also led the product and marketing functions for Omnicell’s Global Automation and Medication Adherence businesses.
Earlier in his career, John was a consultant with Health Advances LLC, a strategy and management consultancy. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Molecular Biology and Economics from Connecticut College.
Rand Greenblatt is Chief Financial Officer of EmpiRx Health, the leading clinically-driven pharmacy benefits management company that always puts customers and members first. As CFO, Rand leads EmpiRx Health’s financial strategy and operations, leveraging his deep financial expertise and business transformation skills to help foster a strong culture of fiscal stewardship, people development and client dedication. In addition to his extensive experience in the PBM and healthcare sectors, Rand has held senior financial and operational roles in insurance, investments, and business services.
Prior to joining EmpiRx Health, Rand served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of Elixir, a leading pharmacy care solutions provider. He led a turnaround at Elixir, which was sold to MedImpact Healthcare Systems in early 2024. Previously, Rand was Divisional CFO for the Technology Division of the global insurance company Chubb. His efforts in integrating global internal controls and enhancing balance sheet analytics helped to set new standards for financial management and strategic decision-making at Chubb.
Earlier in his career, Rand served in senior financial, business development and audit positions for major organizations, including Independence Blue Cross (IBX), Cigna Healthcare and Deloitte.
A Certified Public Accountant, Rand earned his BS in Accounting from the Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics at the University of Delaware. From 2013 to 2017, he was a member of the Regional Board of Directors of the American Cancer Society. In addition, Rand has served as an Advisory Board Member for the Philadelphia Chapter of the CFO Leadership Council.
Shannon Strickland is the Senior Vice President, Sales of EmpiRx Health, the leading clinically-driven, customer-first pharmacy benefits management (PBM) company. Shannon leads the company’s sales team in building and expanding strong relationships with benefits consultants/advisors and plan sponsors to help them choose the right PBM partner. As a Doctor of Pharmacy, Shannon is passionate about educating the industry on EmpiRx Health’s unique clinically-driven pharmacy care model, which is focused on helping clients to reduce drug costs while measurably improving patient health outcomes.
With 25+ years of experience in the pharmacy industry, Shannon has specialized in pharmacy operations and technology, specialty pharmacy sales, managed care, and clinical and prescription management programs. Prior to joining EmpiRx Health in 2023, Shannon served in senior leadership positions at various pharmacies chains and pharmacy technology companies.
Most recently, Shannon was a Client Success Executive at EnlivenHealth, the retail pharmacy technology division of Omnicell (Nasdaq: OMCL), a global healthcare technology company. Before that, Shannon served as Vice President of Sales for Tabula Rasa Healthcare, a pharmacy technology solutions company.
Earlier in his pharmacy career, Shannon was Senior Vice President of Pharmacy and President of the Specialty Pharmacy Division of Fred’s Pharmacies. In addition, he served as Director of Pharmacy Operations for Walmart/Sam’s Club.
Shannon received his PharmD degree from University of Georgia, and his undergraduate degree Georgia Southern University.
Becky Witz is Chief of Staff of EmpiRx Health, the leading clinically-driven pharmacy care company. Becky works directly with EmpiRx Health’s CEO to help execute his and the senior leadership team’s vision. In managing high priority projects for the company, Becky facilitates executive communication across departments to ensure that the organization’s goals are met with efficiency and clarity.
Becky brings more than 15 years of experience working with C-level executives to EmpiRx Health. During her career, Becky has always stepped up to tackle the most complex challenges to enable her team and the company to achieve the highest levels of success.
Prior to Joining EmpiRx Health in 2023, Becky worked for more than 13 years at Omnicell (Nasdaq: OMCL), the global healthcare technology company.
Fernando Rebora is VP, Business Operations for EmpiRx Health, the leader in clinically-driven pharmacy benefits management care. Fernando leads EmpiRx Health’s centralized Learning Department, which is tasked with continuing to expand the company’s capabilities and opportunities by investing in its most valuable resource – employees.
Fernando also oversees EmpiRx Health’s strategic initiatives, including the development and deployment of technology- and process-driven improvements that drive increased effectiveness and efficiency for the company. As part of these strategic activities, Fernando manages EmpiRx Health’s facilities, which include offices in New Jersey and Florida.
Fernando brings a unique blend of skills and experience to his role at EmpiRx Health. With a background as a firefighter and hazardous materials technician in South Florida, he developed a strong foundation in rapid adaptation and problem-solving that have proven invaluable during his career. Committed to operational excellence, Fernando is dedicated to fostering collaboration and innovation across the organization.
Prior to joining EmpiRx Health, Fernando served as a Solutions Manager at EnlivenHealth, the retail pharmacy technology division of Omnicell (Nasdaq: OMCL). In that role, Fernando was responsible for planning, directing, and overseeing the adoption and use of the company’s Medication Synchronization software, a proven appointment-based patient engagement and medication management solution.
Kiersten Aymar is Senior Vice President, Client Operations for EmpiRx Health, the leading clinically-driven pharmacy benefits management company. Kiersten has responsibility for leading EmpiRx Health’s Customer Services, Clinical Operations, New Client Implementations, Client Service Support and Core Operations teams. Her mission is to ensure best-in-class service for clients and their members.
With more than 25 years of experience in the health/Rx insurance industry, Kiersten has built and led high performing operations and client service organizations for leading PBM and health insurance companies. She brings deep expertise, innovation and passion to her job delivering white glove service that delights both clients and members.
Immediately prior to joining EmpiRx Health, Kiersten served as the Vice President of Government Program Services at Abarca Health.
Nilanjan Chakravorty is the Chief Data Officer of EmpiRx Health. He leads the company’s core data strategy, delivery, and quality, enabling the build-out and integration of EmpiRx Health’s Integrated Technology PBM Platform.
With over 15 years of experience in healthcare, Nilanjan brings a broad yet deep understanding of leveraging technology and driving value to business processes through effective digital transformation and a security-first mindset. Formerly serving as Chief Technology Officer of EmpiRx Health, Nilanjan was instrumental in standing up an extensible and nimble cloud-based digital platform for the company.
Prior to joining EmpiRx Health, Nilanjan was an IT leader at QualCare (a Cigna Company), driving end-to-end technology solutions for a regional health services organization. At QualCare, Nilanjan helped drive the buildout of a service technology ecosystem that was showcased by both Microsoft and Healthcare Informatics. Nilanjan also played a pivotal role at Pacific Global Advisors (a subsidiary of Pacific Life Insurance Co.) in designing and building an alternative beta product for algorithmic financial trading platforms.
Nilanjan has a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Calcutta University (India).
Patrick Di Chiro is the Chief Marketing Officer of EmpiRx Health, the leading clinically-driven, customer-first pharmacy benefits management (PBM) company. As EmpiRx Health’s CMO, Patrick is passionate about communicating the company’s mission, which is to help clients substantially reduce the costs of prescription drugs while measurably improving patient health outcomes.
Since joining EmpiRx Health in January 2024, Patrick has led the company’s marketing activities, including brand building, demand generation, and strategic and digital communications. He also oversees EmpiRx Health’s revenue operations team, which focuses on proposal management, sales operations, and sales enablement.
With 30+ years working in senior marketing and communications roles for major business-to-business and consumer brands, Patrick has specialized in healthcare and technology marketing during his career. Prior to joining EmpiRx Health, Patrick led marketing for EnlivenHealth, the retail pharmacy division of Omnicell (Nasdaq: OMCL), a global healthcare technology company. Patrick’s other healthcare marketing experience includes McKesson Corp., IMS Health/IQVIA, Johnson & Johnson, and Genentech. He has also launched and advised many digital healthcare start-ups.
Earlier, Patrick founded and led Thunder Factory, a leading integrated marketing agency, and served as Chief Communications Officer of E*TRADE, one of the Internet’s first breakout brands. A frequent commentator on tech- and data-driven marketing, Patrick co-wrote “Revenue Disruption,” a best-selling marketing book that has become a manual on modern marketing.
Robert Finch is Senior Vice President, Strategic Operations for EmpiRx Health, the leading clinically-driven pharmacy care company. Robert is responsible for the pricing strategies that enable EmpiRx Health to drive growth by winning and retaining business as the pioneer in value-based, customer-first pharmacy benefits management.
Robert is a senior healthcare finance executive with extensive leadership experience and a proven track record of delivering significant value through financial and risk management and improved operations with a strong strategic and client-centric focus. He is also responsible for managing all rebate relationships for EmpiRx Health.
Prior to joining EmpiRx Health, Robert served in a Sales Finance role at ADP, where he was a financial partner for the sales division. Earlier in his career, he worked at Medco Health Solutions and Express Scripts.
Robert has an undergraduate degree and MBA in Finance from Seton Hall University.
Kim Howland is EVP, Chief Product Development Officer of EmpiRx Health. With more than 20 years of experience developing and commercializing new technologies in healthcare, Kim brings a strong clinical focus to her role in leading the development and deployment of new products and services and enhancing the company’s existing product offering. Kim’s aim is to build industry-leading products that enable EmpiRx Health’s clients to reduce costs while ensuring the health and well-being of their members.
Most recently, Kim served as SVP Product Management at Rectangle Health. In that capacity, Kim was focused on streamlining payments and patient engagement for healthcare practices so that practitioners can focus on keeping patients healthy and happy. Prior to that job, Kim was Vice President, Product Management at EnlivenHealth, where she built a product organization and implemented practices that enabled more rapid delivery of value to retail pharmacy customers using the company’s portfolio of clinical workflow, patient engagement, and financial solutions.
Earlier in her career, Kim was Chief Product Officer of Diameter Health, where she worked closely with customers to create the product roadmap, envisioning and developing new solutions that improved data interoperability for HIEs, health plans, and health systems. In addition, Kim held the position of Vice President of Product Development at Omnicell (Nasdaq: OMCL), overseeing product development and commercialization and portfolio management of hardware and software solutions aimed at improving provider efficiency and patient outcomes in the acute care environment. Prior to joining Omnicell, Kim opened and led the San Francisco office of Health Advances, a healthcare management consultancy.
Kim holds a B.S. in Biology from Bates College, a Masters in Medical Sciences from Harvard Medical School, and a Ph.D in Immunology from Harvard University.
Sudhir Nandamuru is Senior Vice President of Core Platforms for EmpiRx Health. In his role, Sudhir oversees platform engineering and strategy to support EmpiRx Health’s essential business operations and drive growth. He is dedicated to utilizing technology to help clients significantly reduce prescription drug costs while improving patient health outcomes.
During his career, Sudhir has successfully led enterprise technology transformations that have developed new business capabilities and innovative products and generated additional revenue streams while reducing costs. His technology leadership has helped to enhance the overall customer experience at a range of healthcare companies, including Landmark Health, DST Health, Highmark Health, and various regional Blues Health Plans.
Earlier, Sudhir worked as a management consultant at Accenture, advising clients on developing technology strategies and operationalizing IT capabilities.
Sudhir holds a Master of Technology in Mechanical Engineering degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, and a Master in Business Administration from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.
Corinne Whisler is the Senior Vice President of Finance for EmpiRx Health, responsible for overseeing accounting, forecasting, planning, financial risk management, tax, payroll, executive reporting, and treasury functions. Corinne is a strategic financial leader with extensive experience in financial planning and analysis, capital planning, and financial business decision support. Known for driving revenue growth and empowering leaders, Corinne excels at optimizing business operations, driving improvements, and executing transformative initiatives to achieve sustainable success.
With a career that spans various healthcare services sectors, Corinne’s experience includes pharmacy benefits management, insurance, mail order pharmacy, health & wellness, and cost containment. She brings agility and adaptability from her work in public and private companies across small, medium, and large organizations, including roles focused on turnarounds and mergers.
Prior to joining EmpiRx Health, Corinne served as VP of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) for Elixir Solutions, a pharmacy benefits management subsidiary of Rite Aid. In that capacity, she played a key role in the successful marketing and sale of Elixir to MedImpact Healthcare. Prior to Elixir, Corinne led capital planning and FP&A teams at Independence Blue Cross.
Corinne is a member of the CFO Leadership Council, Philadelphia Chapter. She holds an MBA in Finance and International Business from Villanova University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia.
Erica Schulze is Senior Vice President, Client Experience & Strategic Partnerships, for EmpiRx Health, the leading clinically-driven, pharmacist-led pharmacy care company. With responsibility for leading EmpiRx Health's client experience, client service delivery, and channel partner engagement, Erica’s mission is to create a best-in-class client experience where every client feels like a VIP regardless of their size.
Erica brings to EmpiRx Health more than 20 years of multi-faceted experience in the pharmacy management ecosystem. She has built and led high performing client management, implementation, and operations teams at both legacy payers and start-ups. Erica has also served in key management positions at companies that focus on specialized pharmacy activities such as specialty cost containment, cash discount card adjudication, copay assistance programs, and compounding pharmacy network management.
Prior to joining EmpiRx Health in 2024, Erica was the Managing Director of Client Success at CoverMyMeds, a McKesson company. There she played an instrumental role leading the Payer Account Management Team and was recognized for being one of their most effective people leaders in the organization. Earlier in her career, Erica gained vital experience in all aspects of patient care at Express Scripts, one of the largest pharmacy benefits management companies. She credits that frontline experience for giving her the critical insights on how overall business success starts with getting it right with the clients’ core experience.
Nathaniel Moody is Chief Technology Officer for EmpiRx Health, the leading clinically-driven pharmacy benefits management company. Nathaniel leads the strategic vision and execution of innovative technology solutions that support business growth and deliver exceptional customer experiences.
Nathaniel is an experienced technology leader with over 20 years of expertise in building complex hardware and software systems. He has a proven track record of scaling high-performing teams and delivering transformative solutions within high-growth environments. Nathaniel’s deep expertise in software engineering and architecture, combined with his strategic vision and customer-centric approach, drives his commitment to transforming healthcare delivery through technology.
Prior to joining EmpiRx Health, Nathaniel held several leadership roles at Omnicell (Nasdaq: OMCL), a global healthcare technology company, where he served as Vice President of Customer Assurance and Vice President of Engineering. At Omnicell, he was instrumental in scaling customer experience capabilities and leading the launch of the company’s first cloud-native technology-enabled service. His leadership drove strategic growth, operational efficiency, and cost savings, significantly enhancing customer outcomes.
In addition to his extensive tenure at Omnicell, Nathaniel also served as Principal & Consultant at Moojens LLC, where he focused on product and engineering strategies, organizational design, and change management to accelerate business growth.
Nathaniel holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry and an option in Environmental Biology from Plymouth State University.