NACDS Names Michael R. Wysong Next President and CEO

Michael Wysong has spent more than three decades working in healthcare and retail pharmacy and currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of CARE Pharmacies, a member-owned network of community pharmacies across the country. Since becoming CEO in 2010, he has helped guide CARE through a period of steady growth, expanding the network to more than 200 locations across 27 states and Washington, D.C., while growing annual sales to nearly $2 billion. Today, CARE ranks among the Top 20 largest pharmacy chains in the United States, while still maintaining its focus on supporting locally owned pharmacies.

During Wysong’s leadership, CARE has been recognized several times as a “Hot 100” retailer by the National Retail Federation and was named by Chain Drug Review as Regional Drug Chain of the Year in 2021, and by Drug Store News as the Pharmacy Innovator of the Year for 2026. In 2024, Drug Store News included Wysong among the 50 most influential people in retail health, highlighting his role in advancing specialty pharmacy and helping pharmacies stay competitive in a rapidly changing industry. Before joining CARE, Wysong held leadership roles with Baxter Healthcare, Allegiance Healthcare, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen, where he served as lead vice president of retail sales. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the Virginia Military Institute and received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Mount St. Mary’s University.

Throughout his career, Wysong has also remained active in industry leadership and mentorship. He previously served as chairman of the Board of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS). He also helped launch collaborative initiatives such as The Buyers Alliance and Round Table Sourcing. He has worked with organizations like the Global Good Fund and the Honor Foundation, mentoring emerging leaders.

Those who work with Wysong often point to his practical, hands-on leadership style and his strong support for community pharmacies. He has focused on helping local pharmacists stay competitive while preserving the personal relationships and community care that make neighborhood pharmacies so important to patients.