Executive Committee
The Executive Committee governs NABP and comprises four officers and eight members who work directly with the executive director/secretary, who acts as the chief executive officer and serves as secretary of the Association. The Executive Committee members volunteer their time and expertise to implement policy and oversee the Association’s programs and services. The officers and members are elected during the Association’s Annual Meeting.
Meet the 2024-2025 Executive Committee
Dr Newsome, former president of the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy and member since 1991, automatically assumed the position of chairperson on the NABP Executive Committee. Prior to becoming chairperson, she served 1-year terms as president, president-elect, and treasurer. She also served a 3-year member term (District 6) on the Executive Committee. During her term as president, Dr Newsome led an initiative to promote well-being and mental health for pharmacy staff, outlining 2 main objectives for the initiative: including mental health and well-being considerations in NABP accreditation programs and incorporating a new resource page on the NABP website with tools and information to help manage mental health and well-being. In addition to her service on the Arkansas Board, Dr Newsome has extensive experience practicing pharmacy in rural communities, including 25 years as a pharmacist and pharmacy manager at Brookshire’s Food & Pharmacy in El Dorado, AR, 6 years as a pharmacy manager of Walgreens in Camden, AR, and serving as a pharmacist at Walmart in Camden since 2021. As an active member of NABP, Dr Newsome has served as a member of the Committee on Law Enforcement/Legislation, as well as the Task Force on Regulation of Pharmacist Care Services. Dr Newsome has also been active in other pharmacy associations, including the Arkansas Pharmacists Association (APA), the National Pharmacy Association of Arkansas, and the Arkansas Medical, Dental, and Pharmaceutical Association. In 2015, she was honored with the Percy Malone Award for Public Service by APA. Dr Newsome completed her pre-pharmacy coursework at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and earned her bachelor of science degree in pharmacy from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy in Little Rock.
Dr Mesaros, a member of the Florida Board of Pharmacy, automatically assumed the position of president. Previously, Dr Mesaros served 1-year terms as president-elect and treasurer and 2 years as a member of the Executive Committee (District 3). Dr Mesaros has been a registered pharmacist for more than 20 years and has practiced as a pharmacist attorney for more than 15 years. As a member of NABP, Dr Mesaros has made many contributions to NABP/American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) District 3 meetings and has served as the District 3 representative on the Committee on Resolutions. In addition, Dr Mesaros served on the Work Group on the Development of an Interstate Endorsement Credential, the Task Force on the Regulation of Pharmacy Benefit Managers, and the Task Force on the Definition of a Patient-Pharmacist Relationship. Dr Mesaros is also active with several other professional organizations, including the American Bar Association, the American Society for Pharmacy Law, and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). He has served as an adjunct faculty member of the University of Florida College of Pharmacy and the University of Hawaii at Hilo – the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy. Dr Mesaros earned his doctor of pharmacy degree from Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy and his juris doctor degree from the University of Miami School of Law. He received his master of science degree in pharmacy regulation and policy from the University of Florida.
Hamilton, a member and past president of the Maine Board of Pharmacy, was elected to serve a 1-year term as president-elect. Prior to election, he served a 1-year term as treasurer and 5 years as a member of the NABP Executive Committee (District 1). As a member of NABP, Hamilton has made many contributions to NABP/AACP District 1 meetings. Hamilton has participated in several committees and task forces, including the Committee on Law Enforcement/Legislation, the Task Force on Expanding International Membership, the Overview Task Force on Requirements for Pharmacy Technician Education, Practice Responsibilities, and Competence Assessment, and the Task Force to Develop Regulations Based on Standards of Care. He also represented the Maine Board as a voting delegate at the NABP Annual Meetings for numerous years. Hamilton additionally served as the Executive Committee liaison to NABP’s Advisory Committee on Examinations. In 2014, he was the recipient of the Retail Operations Honorary Backpack Award for his role at Hannaford Supermarkets and Pharmacy. In 2021, he was recognized by the University of New England School of Pharmacy Phi Lambda Sigma (also known as the Pharmacy Leadership Society), Delta Zeta Chapter as an honorary member and was given the Excellence in Pharmacy Award. In 2022, Hamilton was selected as the APhA Foundation and Maine Pharmacy Association Bowl of Hygeia Award Recipient. Hamilton earned his bachelor of science degree in pharmacy from Northeastern University, Bouvé College of Health Sciences.
Dr Chopski, executive officer of the Idaho Board of Pharmacy, was elected to serve a 1-year term as treasurer. Prior to the election, Dr Chopski completed two, 3-year member terms (District 7) on the NABP Executive Committee. Dr Chopski currently serves as bureau chief of the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses – Health Professions Bureau – and as executive officer of the Boards of Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy. Prior to becoming an executive officer, Dr Chopski served as a member of the Idaho Board for 12 years and made contributions to NABP/AACP District 7 meetings as its former secretary/treasurer. As a member of NABP, she has served on various committees and task forces of the Association, including the Task Force on Safety-Sensitive Measures to Review Medication Errors, the Committee on Law Enforcement/Legislation, the Task Force on Medication-Assisted Treatment, and the Committee on Resolutions. Dr Chopski also served as a voting delegate at the NABP Annual Meetings. For more than a decade, she has been certified as an authorized nuclear pharmacist by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission at Purdue University. She previously served as a hospital pharmacist at Portneuf Medical Center. Dr Chopski earned her doctor of pharmacy degree from Idaho State University.
Ranucci, a current member and former chairperson for the Rhode Island Board of Pharmacy, is serving a 2-year member term (District 1) on the NABP Executive Committee. An active member of District 1, Ranucci has made significant contributions to the Association and district, including serving as the chair of the district from 2019-2022. She also served as Executive Committee liaison on the Committee on Constitution and Bylaws and as a member of the Committee on Resolutions in 2022. Ranucci is a seasoned pharmacist with nearly 26 years of experience in a variety of roles. She has also served as a clinical instructor for the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy. She is currently the director of pharmacy at Rhode Island Primary Care Physician Corporation (Integra’s Accountable Care Organization). She received the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists President’s Award for Education in 2016, the Rhode Island Pharmacists Association Service Award in 2017, and the Dr Norman A. Campbell Award for Ethics and Excellence in Healthcare in 2023. Ranucci earned her bachelor of science degree in pharmacy from the University of Rhode Island, College of Pharmacy.
Hart, a member of the Pennsylvania State Board of Pharmacy, is serving a 3-year member term (District 2) on the NABP Executive Committee. An established presence at NABP Annual Meetings and district meetings, Hart has participated in several NABP task forces and committees, including the Committee on Law Enforcement/Legislation, the Task Force on Long-Term Care Pharmacy Rules, and the Task Force on Prescription Drug Abuse. With nearly 4 decades of pharmacy experience, Hart is an expert in pharmacy practice and regulation. In her current role as the director of government affairs at Rite Aid Corporation, Hart analyzes impacts of proposed regulations and laws and oversees all government reporting of required prescription drug data to prescription monitoring programs (PMPs). She has served as a subject matter expert for the Drug Enforcement Administration and has provided expert testimony before lawmakers in 28 states. Hart has also been active with a variety of other pharmacy organizations, such as APhA, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, and the National Association of State Controlled Substances Authorities. Hart received her bachelor of science degree from Duquesne University.
Dr Collier, Director of Regulatory Affairs for Olympia Pharmaceuticals and former board executive and chief drug inspector for the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation – Board of Pharmacy, is serving a 3-year member term (District 3) on the NABP Executive Committee. Her service with NABP includes participation in several committees and task forces, including the Task Force to Create an Industry Standard for Pharmacy Technician Scope of Practice and Entry-Level Requirements to Support Interstate Portability, the Task Force on Long-Term Care Pharmacy Rules, the Work Group on the Development of an Interstate Endorsement Credential, and the Suspicious Orders Work Group. She was also the chairperson for the Work Group to Consider Permanently Extending Certain Waivered Provisions and has been an item writer and reviewer for the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination. Before her work with the South Carolina Board, Dr Collier worked in a variety of pharmacy positions at Kaiser Permanente, where she served for 17 years, most recently as a pharmacy optimization and systems coordinator. She also worked as a staff pharmacist for several retail pharmacies. Dr Collier earned her doctor of pharmacy degree from Campbell University, School of Pharmacy.
Schierholt, executive director of the Ohio Board of Pharmacy, is serving a 3-year term (District 4) on the Executive Committee. An active member of NABP, Schierholt has provided valuable contributions as a member and chairperson for multiple iterations of the Committee on Law Enforcement/Legislation. He has also served on or chaired several task forces, work groups, and other NABP committees, including the Model Act Review Committee, the Work Group on Workplace Safety, Well-Being, and Working Conditions, and the Suspicious Orders Work Group. Additionally, he served as Executive Committee liaison to the Task Force to Review Unprofessional Conduct and Disciplinary Actions. Schierholt has been a panelist at multiple NABP Executive Officer Forums. Under his leadership, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy was awarded NABP’s Fred T. Mahaffey Award in 2019 for their success in updating and implementing rules related to PMP data integration and reporting suspicious drug orders. Prior to his work with the board, Schierholt enjoyed a long career with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation as part of the Ohio Attorney General’s office, which included 3 years as the assistant superintendent. He has also served as a deputy sheriff for Auglaize County and as a military police officer for the United States Army. Schierholt earned his bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice and his juris doctor degree at Capital University.
Dr Wendel, a member and former president of the North Dakota Board of Pharmacy, is serving a 3-year member term (District 5) on the NABP Executive Committee. During 2023, he served as Executive Committee liaison for the Task Force on Shared Pharmacy Services, Automated Pharmacy Systems, Remote Dispensing Sites, and Telepharmacy. Dr Wendel has 30 years of experience as pharmacist and pharmacy manager in the retail pharmacy setting. He began his career at Target as a staff pharmacist and as manager of the pharmacy department. He is currently the owner and pharmacist at Central Pharmacy in Carrington/New Rockford, ND, and a partner at Pharmacists Associates, LLC. Dr Wendel has been an active member of multiple other pharmacy organizations, including the North Dakota Pharmacy Service Corporation, the National Community Pharmacists Association, and the Professional Compounding Centers of America. He is also a past president and board member of the North Dakota Pharmacists Association. Dr Wendel earned his bachelor of science degree in pharmacy and doctor of pharmacy degree from North Dakota State University.
Mack, former president and current member of the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy, was re-elected to serve a 3-year term (District 6) on the NABP Executive Committee. As an active member of NABP, she has served on task forces and committees, including the Task Force on Pharmacists and Pharmacy Personnel Mental Health and Well-Being, the Task Force on Mutual-Recognition Licensure, and the Committee on Law Enforcement/Legislation. Mack is a registered pharmacist with over 30 years of pharmacy experience in retail pharmacy and compliance, most recently working as a consultant assisting retail pharmacists in developing compliant health care strategies. In her previous role as a senior director of pharmacy practice compliance at Walmart, Inc, she led more than 1,800 pharmacies in 17 states to ensure corporate compliance with regulatory requirements and best practices to maintain elevated levels of customer satisfaction and safety. She is currently a member of the APA, Texas Federation of Chain Drug Stores, and American Society of Pharmacy Law. Mack earned her bachelor of science degree in pharmacy from the University of Texas at Austin.
Dr King, a current member and former president of the Montana Board of Pharmacy, was elected to serve a 3-year member term (District 7) on the NABP Executive Committee. An active member of NABP, Dr King has participated in task forces and committees, including the Task Force on Mutual Recognition Licensure, the Committee on Constitution and Bylaws, and the Committee on Law Enforcement/Legislation and previously served as NABP/AACP District 7 secretary/treasurer. He also represented the Montana Board as a delegate during NABP Annual Meetings. With over 20 years of professional pharmacy experience, Dr King has served in nonprofit health care organizations and retail and educational sectors, most recently as the retail pharmacy strategy coordinator at St Peter’s Health. He previously served as chair for the Montana Chapter at the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists and is a current member of the Montana Pharmacy Association. Dr King was the first pharmacist to be selected and to complete the 2021 Healthcare Excellence in Leadership Program by the Montana Medical Association. Dr King received his doctor of pharmacy degree from the University of Montana – Missoula, MT.
Dr Gandhi, executive director of the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy, is serving a 3-year member term (District 8) on the NABP Executive Committee. Gandhi is a former member and past president of the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy. As an active member of NABP, Gandhi has served on several task forces and committees, including the Task Force on the Regulation of Pharmacist Care Services, the Task Force on the Regulation of Telepharmacy Practice, and the Committee on Constitution and Bylaws. He also served as the Executive Committee liaison for the Model Act Review Committee and a panelist during the Interactive Executive Officer Forum. While president of the Nevada Board, Dr Gandhi participated on several committees, including serving as a member of the Nevada Narcotic Coalition Task Force, the Roseman University of Health Sciences scholarship committee, and a Goodwill partnership. He has also been a preceptor at the University of Arizona and Midwestern University. Dr Gandhi completed his undergraduate pre-pharmacy work and earned his doctor of pharmacy degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago.