KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Oct. 3, 2022) – James R. Schiffer, a partner in the law firm of Allegaert Berger & Vogel LLP whose law practice draws on his many years of pharmacy and business experience, was awarded the 2022 John W. Dargavel Medal by the National Community Pharmacists Association Foundation as part of NCPA’s Annual Convention, which was held Oct. 1-4, in Kansas City, Mo.
The McKesson Corporation sponsors the annual award that honors an individual whose contributions on behalf of independent pharmacy embody the spirit of leadership and accomplishment personified by John W. Dargavel, who was executive secretary of the National Association of Retail Druggists, now NCPA, from 1933-1961. In fact, the NCPA Foundation was established in 1953 to honor Dargavel.
Twenty-five years after he became a pharmacist, Schiffer enrolled in law school. He is focused on representing businesses, trade associations and individuals, most of whom are health care providers, in a variety of health care related matters, including government administrative investigations and administrative law proceedings, contract and business negotiations, and litigation issues. Schiffer represents pharmacy clients with respect to audits and investigations conducted by and on behalf of commercial insurers and their associated pharmacy benefit managers. His experience also includes representing clients before several federal and state government agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; the New York Board of Pharmacy’s Office of Professional Discipline; the New Jersey Board of Pharmacy; the New York State Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit; and various agencies within the New York State Department of Health.
Since 1987, Schiffer has served as an adjunct professor at Long Island University’s Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Additionally, he regularly presents pharmacy continuing education programs through LIU’s Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy, the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York, the Garden State Pharmacy Owners, and NCPA at its Annual Convention.
Schiffer has been a member of NCPA since 1974 and has received other awards from NCPA during this time for his efforts on behalf of community pharmacy. He has been named by American Druggist as one of the nation’s most influential pharmacy leaders for his work concerning the activities of pharmacy benefit management companies, and he has received several national awards from pharmacy organizations for his work on behalf of the profession. Schiffer is the recipient of the 2013 Bowl of Hygeia Award in New York in recognition of his outstanding civic leadership as a pharmacist.
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The NCPA Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established in 1953 to honor John W. Dargavel, who was executive secretary of the National Association of Retail Druggists (NARD), now NCPA. Contributions to the foundation are tax-deductible as charitable donations to the extent permitted under federal tax law. The NCPA Foundation promotes the sustainability and growth of independent community pharmacies through scholarships, grants, and ownership development. For more information, go to www.ncpafoundation.org.
