Richard A. “Rich” Palombo, RPh, Begins Term as NABP President During the Association’s 104th Annual Meeting

May 21, 2008 12:00 AM

Richard A. “Rich” Palombo, RPh, began his term as president of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy^® (NABP^® ) during the Final Business Session of the Association’s 104th Annual Meeting, May 17-20, 2008, in Baltimore, MD. During his presidency, Mr Palombo is committed to developing an accreditation program for community pharmacies that assists the boards of pharmacy in overseeing continuous quality improvement and patient safety.

Mr Palombo was sworn in as the 104th NABP president after serving a one-year term as the Association’s president-elect. Mr Palombo previously served a three-year member term on the NABP Executive Committee representing District 2. After his presidency concludes, he will serve a one-year term as chairperson of the Association’s Executive Committee.

Mr Palombo was reappointed as a member to the New Jersey Board of Pharmacy in 2007; he also served on the Board from 1996 to 2005. During that time he was president of the Board from 1998 to 2001 and was the liaison to both the New Jersey State Legislature and the Enforcement and Inspections Bureau and the committee chair for Continuous Quality Improvement.

Currently the director of professional practice – pharmacy compliance for Medco Health Solutions, Inc, Mr Palombo is responsible for assessing and monitoring the efficacy and proficiency of the company’s compliance program.

He served as an emergency response team member in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, opening and directing operations of an emergency mobile pharmacy to supply patients with prescription medications.

In addition to his pharmacy services, Mr Palombo also serves as mayor of Upper Township, NJ. Before becoming mayor in 1999, he served as councilman of Upper Township from 1997 to 1999.

Mr Palombo has been an integral member of NABP since 2000, serving as chair of the Committee on Law Enforcement/Legislation and Executive Committee liaison of the Task Force on Continuous Quality Improvement, Peer Review, and Inspecting for Patient Safety and the Task Force on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and the US Drug Distribution System. He has also been a member of such task forces as the Task Force on Privacy, the Task Force on Model Regulations for Long-Term Care, and the Task Force on Importation Enforcement. In addition, he is a member of many professional organizations including the American Pharmacists Association, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the American Society for Pharmacy Law, the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, and the New Jersey Pharmacists Association.

Mr Palombo holds a bachelor of science degree in pharmacy from Temple University School of Pharmacy in Philadelphia, PA.

Larissa Doucette