Doing Things Differently: YARAL Pharma, Pennsylvania Policy, and the Birth Control Pharmacist | TWIRx

🎙️ This Week in Pharmacy (TWIRx) — January 9, 2026

Welcome to TWIRx — This Week in Pharmacy! I’m your host Todd Eury, and today’s episode is sponsored by YARAL Pharma, a generics company committed to “Doing Things Differently”—with a human-centered, untraditional approach that’s redefining relationships between industry and pharmacy practice. 

✅ Today’s Sponsor: YARAL Pharma

YARAL Pharma is committed to innovation, partnership, and supporting pharmacists at the front lines—especially as healthcare continues to restructure and the role of the pharmacist becomes more essential than ever. Their mission to Do Things Differently is more than a slogan—it’s a commitment to reshaping what a generics company can stand for in today’s healthcare marketplace. 

📰 This Week in Pharmacy — News

1) Amazon Pharmacy to Offer Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy Pill Nationwide

Amazon Pharmacy is now offering Novo Nordisk’s newly FDA-approved Wegovy pill, making the weight-loss medication available nationwide through both insurance coverage and cash-pay options. This move continues Amazon’s expansion into digital healthcare access—bringing blockbuster GLP-1 therapies directly to consumers and increasing competition among major pharmacy providers.
https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/amazon-pharmacy-offer-novo-nordisks-wegovy-pill

2) Dr. David Pope: AI, Online Pharmacies, and Why the Neighborhood Pharmacist Still Wins Trust

In a must-read guest column, Dr. David Pope argues that while AI and online pharmacy services are rapidly surging, the community pharmacist remains one of the most trusted healthcare professionals in America. He points to how pharmacy deserts, increasing reimbursement pressure, and policy reform will reshape pharmacy in 2026—and why the profession’s future will depend on protecting and empowering local pharmacy care.
https://drugstorenews.com/ai-and-online-pharmacy-surge-neighborhood-pharmacist-remains-most-trusted 

3) Pharmacist Leadership Spotlight: Illuminate Rx Names Ritu Malhotra, PharmD, as President

Illuminate Rx announced the appointment of Ritu Malhotra, PharmD, as its new President, reinforcing the growing trend of pharmacists stepping into leadership roles across pharmacy benefits and PBM reform. With decades of experience modernizing healthcare and pharmacy benefit strategy, Malhotra’s appointment signals Illuminate Rx’s focus on improving transparency and clarity in pharmacy benefits management.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/illuminate-rx-appoints-industry-veteran-ritu-malhotra-pharmd-as-president-to-advance-clarity-in-pharmacy-benefits-302657441.html

4) Viatris Exec David Marin Named New CEO of PCMA

The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA)—the leading PBM trade group—has named David Marin, previously Head of Global Government Affairs & Public Policy at Viatris, as its next President and CEO effective January 30, 2026. His selection comes at a pivotal time as PBMs face rising scrutiny and intensifying policy pressure nationwide.
https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/pcma-names-new-ceo-david-marin/809158/ 

🎤 Interviews & Segments

⭐ Segment 1 — Special Sponsor Interview

Stephen Beckman, CEO of YARAL Pharma

We kick off TWIRx with a special conversation featuring Stephen Beckman, CEO of YARAL Pharma, exploring what 2026 has in store for pharmacy and healthcare. We discuss the Pharmacy 50 Awards, the importance of honoring leadership across the profession, and why supporting pharmacists right now—during one of the most fragile and transformative moments in U.S. healthcare—is absolutely critical.

⭐ Featured Interview — Pennsylvania State Representative

Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa — 51st Legislative District

Today’s featured interview is with State Representative Charity Grimm Krupa, who represents Pennsylvania’s 51st Legislative District in the House of Representatives. We discuss real healthcare issues impacting Pennsylvanians—including medical cannabis, small business healthcare benefit strategies, and why it’s essential for healthcare professionals to stay connected with their state lawmakers. Rep. Krupa also shares why every citizen should aim to communicate with their own representatives at least once per year.

⭐ Segment 2 — Clinical & Policy Spotlight

Dr. Sally Rafie, PharmD — “The Birth Control Pharmacist”

In our second segment, we welcome Dr. Sally Rafie, PharmD, nationally known as the “Birth Control Pharmacist.” Dr. Rafie is a clinical pharmacist specialist at UC San Diego Health and an assistant clinical professor at the UC San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy, widely recognized for advancing pharmacists’ role in reproductive health care.

She is also the founder of Birth Control Pharmacist, an education and training company that equips pharmacists and healthcare teams to prescribe and deliver contraception care through evidence-based resources, clinical updates, and advocacy support—helping expand access to contraception through pharmacies nationwide.

🔔 Closing

That wraps up this week’s episode of This Week in Pharmacy. Thanks for tuning in—and thank you again to YARAL Pharma for sponsoring today’s TWIRx. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please share it with a fellow pharmacist, leave a review, and stay connected as we continue to cover the stories shaping the pharmacy profession.

See you next week on TWIRx when we celebrate the "50 Most Influential People in Pharmacy" Awards LIVE!!