Kristen Riddle has been installed as the president of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) for 2025-2026. The installation took place during the organization’s annual convention in New Orleans, where Riddle addressed delegates after her appointment.
Riddle, a pharmacist from Greenbrier, Arkansas, has been involved with NCPA since the early 2000s and co-owns American Home Pharmacy in Clinton, Arkansas with her husband. She is also a former president of the Arkansas Pharmacists Association and has served as a delegate to the United States Pharmacopeia.
In her inaugural speech, Riddle stated: “The world is changing, and so is our profession. Patients are looking to us not only for prescriptions but also for prevention, education, chronic care management, insurance, point-of-care testing and treatment, mental health support, and so much more. We are not simply dispensers — we are providers, advocates, innovators, and leaders in the health care system.”
Riddle referenced remarks by Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders regarding recent state legislation that prohibits permits to pharmacies owned by pharmacy benefit managers. She said: “Courage is contagious! And we are encouraging every state in the union to join this fight and pass this legislation.”
She concluded her address by saying: “So let us go forward with passion, with purpose, and with unstoppable energy. Our patients are counting on us. Our profession is counting on us. And I believe we will rise to the challenge.”
During the same meeting, Cole Sandlin of Hamilton, Alabama was elected as an association officer. Delegates also approved resolutions related to issues such as pharmacy deserts—areas lacking adequate access to pharmacy services—direct-to-consumer pharmacy models, federal Medicare drug price negotiations through CMS’ Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program (https://www.cms.gov/medicare/prescription-drug-coverage/prescription-drug-negotiation-program), data ownership by pharmacies themselves rather than third parties or intermediaries (https://www.ncpa.org/advocacy/pharmacy-data-ownership), and limiting ownership of pharmacies by pharmacy benefit managers.
The new board includes President Kristen Riddle; President-elect Christian Tadrus; Chair Justin Wilson; Jonathan Marquess; Steve Moore; Dared Price; Ken Thai; Hashim Zaibak; Immediate Past President Jeff Harrell. Vice presidents named were Ben McNabb, Ashley Moose, Scott Pace, Cole Sandlin and Ashley Seyfarth.
NCPA represents over 18,900 community pharmacies across the United States employing more than 235,000 people nationwide.
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