Rick Gates

Rick Gates is senior vice president of pharmacy and healthcare at Walgreens, based in Deerfield, Ill. He is responsible for commercial development and sales, contracting, pharma development, pharmacy supply chain, and clinical programs and alliances.

Before then he was group vice president of pharmacy where he led the strategic development, alignment and delivery of pharmacy-led health and wellness programs. He has served in roles of increasing responsibility since joining Walgreens in 1995 after graduation from pharmacy school including leading Walgreens Western Pharmacy Operations and responsible for integrating Duane Reade stores into the Walgreens network.

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 Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA).

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.