Today the Currus Board of Directors announces the upcoming retirement of our committed leader and CEO Pete Stern. We are very grateful that he has given so much energy and effort to help keep Kansas independent pharmacies strong for so many years.

Pete started with Currus (Kansas Pharmacy Service Corporation at the time) in September 1990. For 29 years Pete has represented independent pharmacy in the state of Kansas. His focus has been to always move us forward, both as Currus and as independent pharmacies. He has been a passionate champion for us all.

While Pete’s accomplishments over the past 29 years are too numerous to detail, one of his biggest accomplishments is keeping our corporation strong and growing the services we offer. Pete has helped to guide our buying program through many changes over the years, including the merger of Pace into IPC in 2017.

During Pete’s tenure our advocacy services have become wide ranging, and have expanded to the national level. Pete was invited to a presidential press conference in 1994 and routinely communicates with both our state and national level representatives.

Pete has received the Kansas Pharmacy Association Board of Trustees award as well as their Champion of Pharmacy. He has fought hard in the statehouse to ensure that the needs of independent pharmacies are always front and center. He has helped to ensure that independent pharmacy has always had a seat at the table with state Medicaid.

Pete is most proud of the advocacy that Currus provides for our members, including the Entrepreneurial Opportunities Group (EOG) program that he started in 1997 to provide scholarships for KU School of Pharmacy students interested in pursuing a career in independent pharmacy.

Jake Windscheffel, Currus Chair had this to say: “Thanks to Pete’s leadership over the past 29 years, Currus continues to be committed, stable and strong. As we move forward we will continue to provide all of our services and advocacy and to support Kansas independent pharmacies in the pursuit of healthy communities.”

“I am proud of what the Currus staff and Board have done to keep our corporation’s many programs moving forward in a very dynamic pharmacy market. I am honored to have helped lead such an important organization that has had a history of strength in guiding Kansas independents,” said Stern.

Growing up in Houston, there was an independent pharmacy just a few blocks from Pete’s childhood home. He was there so often buying baseball cards that it became somewhat of a second home to Pete. He has always seen the significant impact independent pharmacies can have on their community.

Pete’s retirement date will be later this fall. He will continue to serve on the Pace Alliance Board of Directors after retirement. We hope you will celebrate with us over the next several months the significant impact that Pete Stern has had on independent pharmacy in the state of Kansas.

The Board has named a search committee and has enlisted the help of a national search firm; the search for Pete’s replacement is underway.