Chief Pharmacy Officer, Walgreens Co.

Rick Gates is the Chief Pharmacy Officer at Walgreens Co. based in Deerfield, Illinois.  He is responsible for all Retail USA commercial healthcare activities, including sales and contracting, biopharma relationships, retail clinics, clinical and pharmacy affairs.

Previously, he was the Group Vice President of Pharmacy leading initiative development and deployment centered around the pharmacy customer experience.

Rick joined Walgreens after graduating from pharmacy school and has spent his career within store and pharmacy operations, along with health and wellness organizations.  He began his extensive career in stores and field leadership before joining Walgreens corporate.  Since moving to Deerfield, he has been instrumental in implementation of innovative product offerings and operational efficiency programs.  He has led Western Pharmacy Operations and was responsible for pharmacy integration during the Duane Reade Acquisition.  He most recently led a team ensuring operational enablement and execution of strategic programs at our various locations.

Rick serves as a board member with the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation, University of Iowa College of Pharmacy Leadership Board, AllianceRx and the Lake Forest Swim Club Board.

Rick received a B.S. in pharmacy from the University of Iowa in Iowa City.  He is an active member of the American Pharmacist Association, NCPDP, NASP and the University of Iowa Alumni Association.