Q: Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Alpharetta, GA, near Atlanta and have spent the last 17 years in Charlotte, NC.
Q: Where did you go to college/graduate school?
University of Georgia
Q: What are your favorites?
Food: Any fresh seafood but especially grouper and oysters.
Movie: A River Runs Through It
Musicians: Allman Brothers Band and Turnpike Troubadours
Destination: Anywhere in the Caribbean
Q: What do you like to do outside of work?
Biking, hiking, and fishing with family (wife and three sons ages 6, 8, and 10).
Q: What kind of work does your company do in 340B and what makes it stand out?
Omnicell 340B is a technology-enabled partner that administers 340B programs in mixed-use, retail and contract pharmacy environments. What is unique to Omnicell 340B is how we provide enhanced services and expertise that go beyond what technology alone can provide to help covered entities of all types realize optimal program performance.
Q: Why did you choose to work in the 340B space?
I entered the 340B space through consulting work that we were doing with hospitals around reducing their drug spend. We learned that many 340B hospitals needed customized solutions to manage their 340B programs – this was the beginning of what is now Omnicell 340B. I am very passionate about the good that the 340B program does and how it supports our safety-net providers and I’m thankful for the opportunity to work with the 340B community.
Q: What do you feel is your most significant contribution to the 340B world or to a 340B customer/client?
Each time one of our customers has a HRSA audit with zero finding, that is great contribution in my mind. Confounding to many, the 340B program has been under attack for many years. Each successful audit is an important contribution to protecting the 340B value for that covered entity and the overall strength of the 340B program.
Q: What advice do you have for a young professional who has recently launched a career in the 340B space?
First, I’d say to always stay focused on your customers objectives. The success of your individual goals and your company’s goals will naturally be realized if your customers are successful.
I’d also recommend saying “yes” or raising your hand when others are asking for help or there is a task or project that may be especially challenging. While difficult, you’ll learn and grow professionally doing what you’ve never done before or what others don’t want to take on.
Jeff Spencer can be reached at jeffrey.spencer@omnicell.com.
