Trailblazers Podcast

During this episode of the Trailblazers Podcast, IPA CEO Matt Pitlick sits down with IPA President Wes Pilkington, Pharmacist in Charge at Evans Crossing Pharmacy, and Diane Reist, Pharmacy Specialist in Transitions of Care at the University of Iowa Health Care. Diane shares how she got interested in pharmacy, common threads throughout her career, and advice for Iowa pharmacists as IPA’s 2026 Robert G. Gibbs Distinguished Pharmacist.
Diane Reist, BS Pharm, PharmD, RPh, is a Clinical Specialist in Transitional Care, a post-discharge ambulatory clinic that eases the transition of medically complex patients and facilitates communication among providers for patients discharged from the University of Iowa’s acute care hospital. She received her BS in Pharmacy from the University of Iowa and her PharmD from the University of Florida. Reist is also part of several integrated discipline research projects and works in population health at UIHC’s ACO and transplant education. Additionally, Reist is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, where she precepts student pharmacists and residents and loves to learn from them. She is one of three faculty mentors for the Upstream Clinic, a multi-disciplinary student-led project to prevent harm caused by Social Determinants of Health in the OB population at UIHC.
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Diane Reist
Matthew Pitlick
Iowa Pharmacy Association
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During this episode of the Trailblazers Podcast, IPA CEO Matt Pitlick sits down with IPA President Wes Pilkington, Pharmacist in Charge at Evans Crossing Pharmacy, and Anne Zepeski, an Emergency Medicine Clinical Pharmacist at the University of Iowa Health Care. Anne shares her path to pharmacy, residency and board certification advice, as well as a peek inside the emergency department.
Anne Zepeski, PharmD, BCEMP, is an Emergency Medicine Clinical Pharmacist and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy and Carver College of Medicine. Zepeski earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy and completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency and PGY2 Emergency Medicine Pharmacy Residency with the University of Iowa Health Care. Zepeski was the first resident to complete PGY2 training in emergency medicine pharmacy at UIHC and has played an integral role in the continued success of the residency program, serving as the Residency Program Coordinator since 2019. Zepeski led the development of a first-of-its-kind Emergency Medicine and Critical Care Pharmacotherapy Certificate Program. Additionally, she co-coordinates the Emergency Medicine and Toxicology elective at the college, teaches in several Integrated Pharmacotherapy courses, and lectures to first-year medical students. She is an avid researcher across the fields of emergency medicine, pharmacy and neurology, with over 30 peer-reviewed publications.
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Anne Zepeski
Matthew Pitlick
Iowa Pharmacy Association
Watch for a new episode of the Trailblazers Podcast each month. Subscribe today so you don’t miss an episode!

During this episode of the Trailblazers Podcast, IPA CEO Matt Pitlick sits down with IPA President Wes Pilkington, Pharmacist in Charge at Evans Crossing Pharmacy, and Natalie Gadbois-Mincks, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Natalie speaks on leadership, holistic patient care, and nurturing—as well as learning from—the next generation of pharmacists.
Natalie Gadbois-Mincks, PharmD, BCACP, is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. She practices as a clinical pharmacist with the MercyOne Family Medicine Residency Program at Primary Health Care (FQHC) and MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines, IA. Her clinical areas of interest are diabetes, including gestational diabetes, cardiology and respiratory conditions, along with transitions of care and general chronic disease state management. Gadbois-Mincks believes in a holistic approach to providing care. She enjoys utilizing motivational interviewing strategies and patient-centered communication to empower patients to meet their individual health needs and goals. At Drake, her didactic teaching of pharmacy students focuses on cardiology, diabetes, pregnancy-lactation, and pediatrics. Across both didactic and experiential settings, Gadbois-Mincks strives to create an inclusive learning environment that engages students in significant learning experiences to cultivate lifelong learning. Her research areas of interest include pharmacist-integrated care for optimizing outcomes in diabetes in pregnancy, as well as support systems for flourishing and career sustainability in pharmacy faculty.
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Natalie Gadbois-Mincks
Matthew Pitlick
Iowa Pharmacy Association
Watch for a new episode of the Trailblazers Podcast each month. Subscribe today so you don’t miss an episode!

During this episode of the Trailblazers Podcast, IPA CEO Matt Pitlick sits down with IPA President Wes Pilkington, Pharmacist in Charge at Evans Crossing Pharmacy, and Brian Wall, Vice President of Professional Affairs at IPA. Brian shares his path to pharmacy and association management, advice for anyone seeking a nontraditional role, and what IPA is currently doing for pharmacy professionals across the state.
Brian Wall, PharmD, CAE, is the Vice President of Professional Affairs at the Iowa Pharmacy Association (IPA). Prior to his current role, Wall supported the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) team for over ten years, most recently serving as Senior Director, where he coordinated APhA’s internal governance and strategic planning processes, managed federal grants, and supported the APhA Foundation’s Board of Directors and its programs. Wall completed the Executive Residency in Association Management & Leadership with the APhA Foundation in 2015, after earning his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Drake University in 2014. Wall attained his Certified Association Executive credential in 2023. In his free time, he enjoys running, hiking, cycling, and spending time with his family.
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Brian Wall
Matthew Pitlick
Iowa Pharmacy Association
Watch for a new episode of the Trailblazers Podcast each month. Subscribe today so you don’t miss an episode!

During this episode of the Trailblazers Podcast, IPA CEO Matt Pitlick sits down with IPA President Wes Pilkington, Pharmacist in Charge at Evans Crossing Pharmacy, and Randy McDonough, CEO and Co-owner of Towncrest Pharmacy Corporation, as well as the 2025-2026 President of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). Randy shares his path to healthcare, his early innovations and accomplishments, and his presidency year reflections so far.
Randy McDonough, PharmD, MS, BCGP, BCPS, FAPhA, is the CEO and Co-owner of Towncrest Pharmacy Corporation, as well as a Professor of Pharmacy Management and Innovation at Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy. Dr. McDonough is board-certified in geriatrics and as a pharmacotherapy specialist. His areas of interest include community-based outcomes research, student development, residency training, geriatrics, new business models for service delivery, and developing and implementing patient care services.
Dr. McDonough is a member of the American Pharmacists Association, National Community Pharmacists Association, American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, American College of Clinical Pharmacy, and the Iowa Pharmacists Association, and he has served in various roles in these organizations. Dr. McDonough has been recognized nationally for his work, receiving the APhA Daniel B. Smith Award, NCPA Independent Pharmacist of the Year, IPA Innovative Pharmacist of the Year, and Parata’s Lifetime Achievement, Entrepreneurial, and Patient Care Pharmacist of the Year Awards.
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Randy McDonough
Matthew Pitlick
Iowa Pharmacy Association
Watch for a new episode of the Trailblazers Podcast each month. Subscribe today so you don’t miss an episode!

During this episode of the Trailblazers Podcast, IPA CEO Matt Pitlick sits down with IPA President Wes Pilkington, Pharmacist in Charge at Evans Crossing Pharmacy, and Greg Johansen, founder and former president of GRX Holdings, to discuss his early exposure to pharmacy, his leadership style, and his confidence in the next generation of pharmacists.
Gregory J. Johansen, BS Pharm, is a registered pharmacist, entrepreneur, and senior executive with more than four decades of experience in community pharmacy and franchise operations. He is the founder and former president of GRX Holdings, LLC, which operates multiple retail, compounding, and long-term care pharmacies in central Iowa. Greg has also held senior leadership roles with Medicap Pharmacies and Medicine Shoppe International, a Cardinal Health subsidiary, where he led national operations, franchise support, and Medicare Part D preparedness. Known for thoughtful leadership and decisive execution, he has been recognized with Drake University’s Weaver Medal, the MPI Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and was named IPA’s Legislative Champion in 2022.
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Greg Johansen
Matthew Pitlick
Iowa Pharmacy Association
Watch for a new episode of the Trailblazers Podcast each month. Subscribe today so you don’t miss an episode!

During this episode of the Trailblazers Podcast, IPA CEO Matt Pitlick sits down with IPA President Wes Pilkington, Pharmacist in Charge at Evans Crossing Pharmacy, and Andrew Wagner, owner of Wagner Drug, to discuss his path to pharmacy ownership, managing the family calendar, opportunities under standard of care, and reinventing independent community pharmacy.
Andrew Wagner, PharmD, owns Wagner Drug in Eagle Grove and Britt, Iowa, and has been an active member of IPA since starting pharmacy school at Drake University in 2013. At Drake, Andrew was heavily involved with the local NCPA chapter and part of multiple chapter submissions for the national business plan competition. As a practitioner, Andrew is a passionate advocate for the profession, serving several years on IPA’s Legislative Committee and taking part in many advocacy days at the capitol. He precepts students from Drake University CPHS and gives lectures on campus about pharmacy ownership, earning Drake’s APPE Preceptor of the Year award in 2023-2024.  Additionally, Andrew is the Vice President of the Wright County Public Health Board and is heavily involved in his community and church, holding multiple leadership positions on various committees and boards.
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Matthew Pitlick
Iowa Pharmacy Association
Watch for a new episode of the Trailblazers Podcast each month. Subscribe today so you don’t miss an episode!

During this episode of the Trailblazers Podcast, IPA CEO Matt Pitlick sits down with IPA President Wes Pilkington, Pharmacist in Charge at Evans Crossing Pharmacy, and Tracy Weber, Clinical Concierge Pharmacist at Integrity Pharmaceutical Advisors, to discuss her path to pharmacy and consulting, fighting impostor syndrome, prioritizing family, and more!
Tracy Weber, PharmD, BCACP, is a Clinical Concierge Pharmacist at Integrity Pharmaceutical Advisors, where she’s responsible for providing personalized pharmaceutical care to clients. Prior to her current role, Tracy was the owner of True Wellness Pharmacy Consulting. Tracy earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Following pharmacy school, she completed PGY1 and PGY2 residencies in ambulatory care at the University of Iowa Health Care, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to her work in the healthcare industry.
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Tracy Weber
Matthew Pitlick
Iowa Pharmacy Association
Watch for a new episode of the Trailblazers Podcast each month. Subscribe today so you don’t miss an episode!