FEATURE: Leading the Way: Scott Knoer Takes the Reins of the American Pharmacists Association

LEADING the Way

Scott Knoer Takes the Reins of the American Pharmacists Association

By APA Director of Communications Jordan Foster

Weeks into 2020 and on the verge of a global pandemic sweeping through the United States, Scott Knoer prepared to step into the national spotlight in a year when pharmacy itself would soon take center stage. On February 1, the American Pharmacists Association announced Knoer, formerly the Chief Pharmacy Officer of the Cleveland Clinic, as the 13th Chief Executive Officer / Executive Vice President of APhA.

As his first year in the role begins to wind down, it promises to be an unforgettable one as pharmacists stand on the front lines ready to administer COVID vaccines and the United States Supreme Court prepares its opinion in the landmark pharmacy case Rutledge v PCMA. We recently asked Knoer to introduce himself to Arkansas pharmacists and weigh in on the state of pharmacy in America.

Name

Scott J. Knoer, MS, PharmD, FASHP

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology - Creighton University Doctor of Pharmacy - University of Nebraska Medical Center Residency / Master of Science in Hospital Pharmacy - University of Kansas

Previous Position

Cleveland Clinic Chief Pharmacy Officer - lead almost 1,600 pharmacy employees and oversaw a $1.4 billion drug budget at the Clinic’s 1,300-bed tertiary care referral hospital, its clinics and cancer center, 18 family health centers and 11 community hospitals in the Cleveland area with facilities in Florida, Las Vegas, Canada, London and Abu Dhabi

Former APhA CEO Tom Menighan, Scott, and 2019-2020 APhA President Brad Tice

APhA senior staff members Rafael Saenz, Ilisa Bernstein, and Joseph Janela joined Scott as he presented a $10,000 check on behalf of APhA to the Arkansas Pharmacists Association's Phoenix Fund.

Scott Knoer and John Vinson at the APhA headquarters in Washington, D.C.

What’s the most important issue facing pharmacists?

Undoubtedly payment reform. This has so many ramifications. It encompasses national provider status, state Medicaid payment, convincing insurers to pay pharmacists for cognitive services, PBM reform and ultimately the poor working conditions in many busy pharmacies, especially the large chains. We need to ensure that pharmacists can practice at the top of their education and perform the functions that we were all trained to do in pharmacy school.

What’s your mission/vision for your time as CEO?

Simply put, it’s APhA’s job to: empower pharmacists to care for patients. The patient is at the center of everything we do here at APhA. As pharmacists, our patient care lens is through the management of medications. Our mission is to ensure that pharmacists in all practice sites can reach their patient care potential.

Scott Knoer, along with NASPA Executive Vice President Rebecca Sneed, APA's John Vinson and Kristen Riddle, and NCPA CEO Doug Hoey, pose on the steps of the United States Supreme Court after the four pharmacy organizations collaborated on a live video preview of the Rutledge v PCMA case for pharmacists across the country.

What would you like for pharmacists to know about APhA?

APhA gets a LOT of important stuff done for our members and our patients. Unfortunately, we have not historically not been very good at honking our own horn. Our team is extremely dedicated and effective. We achieve a lot, but we haven’t been so good at taking credit for our amazing work. It’s Marketing 101 to say: “If nobody knows, it didn’t happen...” If people don’t know that the primary reason Health and Human Services preempted state law to allow pharmacists to provide COVID testing, pediatric vaccinations and ultimately to administer the COVID vaccine is because APhA drove that behind the scenes, then APhA has failed to let members know the value of their membership. These things literally happen every day where we are working with coalitions and government entities to help improve practice, but members don’t see that and therefore may not appreciate it. (cont)

How would you describe your leadership style?

Pretty simple. I recognize and reward talent and create an environment that lets people be their best. I create a culture of accountability and transparency and I make sure that people are in the right roles for their skill sets. I promote high performers and I recruit those who want to achieve greatness for our profession. Once I have a team together, which I do now, I ensure that everyone works toward common goals. I don’t allow infighting and siloed thinking. Basically, I hire and promote good people, create a supportive environment, and ensure that high expectations are met. I remove barriers and get out of my team’s way. I set a vision, but don’t micromanage. People need to feel empowered to make decisions.

What’s your message to pharmacists across the country?

APhA is fighting hard for you and your patients every day. We can’t do it alone. We are up against powerful, well financed, entrenched special interests. PBMs literally have hundreds of billions of dollars to lose that they are fighting to protect and they fight dirty. The AMA is against provider status. These organizations have a lot more resources and lobbyists than we do. We need you to join APhA and give to the APhA PAC so we can fight this fight alongside you. Let’s do this together my friends!

What within pharmacy is your passion?

Advocacy and practice advancement. We inherited a glorious profession because leaders and clinicians before us innovated and created it for us. I feel a profound sense of duty and obligation to drive our profession as far forward as humanly possible in my lifetime. This position has given me an opportunity and platform for good that few people ever get. I will not squander my chance. I will push every day as hard as I possibly can to empower pharmacists to care for patients.

How can pharmacists innovate their practice?

Become benevolent opportunists. Use the current pandemic health crisis for good. Take this opportunity to advance telemedicine, increase immunizations and continue to demonstrate to policy makers and legislators the importance of pharmacy in society. Be bold. §