A 1976 graduate of West Virginia University School of Pharmacy, Bruce Roberts opened Leesburg Pharmacy in Leesburg, Virginia shortly after graduation. The pharmacy has since become a leader in providing innovative services such as compounding, nutritional counseling, health screenings, hospice care, and various disease state management services. Roberts previously owned two other pharmacies in Loudon County, Virginia, and Esprit Homecare, a provider of home infusion, nursing, physical therapy, occupational ther-apy, and respiratory care services to both adult and pediatric clients, as well as durable medical equipment.

He has long been recognized as a leader in community pharmacy and has repeatedly been called on to lend his advice and expertise to a number of pharmacy organizations. He is the vice chair of the board of CARE Pharmacies, a 40-store independent pharmacy franchise in metropolitan Washington, D.C. He is a fellow and board member of the Inter-national Academy of Compounding Pharmacists and a member of the board of the American Society for Automation in Pharmacy.

Roberts has been recognized by his peers for his innovation and excellence in community pharmacy practice. Roberts is the recipient of the 1998 Innovative Pharmacist of Virginia, NCPA's 1998 Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year, and the 2000 APhA Community Practitioner of the Year awards.

Roberts is also past chair of the National Advisory Board for Cardinal Health, as well as a member of the Expert Advisory Panel on Compounding for the United States Pharmacopoeia. He serves as chair of the Loudoun Cam-pus Advisory Board for Shenandoah University, serves on the university's board of trustees, and on its Pharmacy Advisory Board. He is very active in Leesburg and Loudoun County, where he has served as chairman of the United Way and presently serves as a member of the vestry of St. James Episcopal Church. He has been recognized for his contributions to the community many times, including being named the 1990 Loudon County Business Person of the Year, the 1994 Loudon County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year, and 2001 George C. Marshall Corporate Citizen of the Year by the town of Leesburg. Roberts and his wife of 24 years, Rachel, have four children (Molly 22, Lucy 19, Sally 17, and John 13)

About the lecture

"What is the ownership advantage?"

NCPA CEO Bruce Roberts, R.Ph., will discuss the many advantages afforded pharmacists who choose to own their own practice. These advantages are financial, professional, and personal in nature. Ownership allows you, the pharmacist, to be in control. You control the type of practice you establish. You control the services you provide your patients. You control the number of hours you work each week. This lecture will provide you the opportunity to explore the ownership advantage"

Quoted from the 2003 Linda H. and Calvin J. Anthony Lecture Announcement Brochure