McKesson ideaShare 2025: Pharmacy of the Year Finalist Keri Bates Reflects on Teamwork, Community, and the Road Ahead

As a finalist for the prestigious Pharmacy of the Year Award at McKesson ideaShare, Keri Bates, PharmD, reflects on what the recognition means for her and her team at Rocky Ridge Drug Company. In this conversation, she shares how the nomination validates years of hard work, highlights the deep relationships built with the community, and inspires continued growth and innovation. For Bates, the honor is not just personal—it’s a tribute to her team’s dedication and the trust they’ve earned from their patients.

Q: You’re a finalist for the Pharmacy of the Year Award, which will be presented at this year’s McKesson ideaShare meeting. What does this mean to you?

Keri Bates, PharmD: It's a huge honor. It's exciting, and I think, in a way, it serves as a little bit of validation for the hard work that we’ve put in. It’s nice to have a little pat on the back for that. But yeah, I think it also serves as motivation to keep going—to keep pushing myself and the staff outside of our comfort zone and boundaries, and to branch out and try new things.

Q: If your pharmacy were to win this award, what would be the most significant impact or meaning this achievement would hold for you personally, for your team, and for the community you serve?

Bates: Yeah, I think that if we were to win this, it would really be a testament to the hard work that my staff has put in. I would love nothing more than for them to have that honor—that we would win—because they really deserve it. They have put so much work in, and I’m just so proud of what this team has accomplished together.

I think it’s also a testament to the relationship they’ve developed with the community and our customers. Because really, that’s what it’s all about—developing those relationships with the customers. That’s why Rocky Ridge Drug exists—because we have them to provide our services to.