Don Huonker

Huonker began his career with the nationwide company in 1995 as a management trainee in St. Louis. He became a store manager a year later and then became a district manager in Houston in 1998.

After earning his B.S. degree from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy in 1984, he earned his MBA degree from Webster University in 1999.

Soon after his move with the company to Houston, he went on special assignment at the corporate office, working on the company's SIMS Plus computer system. This earned him a promotion to a director of store operations in 2002. He was named a vice president of store operations in 2003. Then in 2005, he was named vice president of pharmacy services and was promoted to corporate vice president of pharmacy services in 2006.

Walgreens also provides additional services to pharmacy patients and prescription drug and medical plans through Walgreens Health Services, its managed care division.

Don Huonker sat down with NotaBene to talk about the importance of graduate education and the challenges facing the health care industry today.

NB: What are the most important tools you received from your Webster degree?

DH: I benefited the most from the accounting and finance classes. I have a five-year degree as a Registered Pharmacist, but the curriculum was concentrated in the sciences and pharmacology. I had very little business training prior to my MBA classes. Those classes have proved to be invaluable.

NB: How has this degree helped you strategically position yourself for promotion?

DH: I learned to question why and to not accept the status quo. In today's fast-paced and changing business environment, it is imperative to always look for a better way, and to study your competitors and other companies in non-related fields for ideas and inspiration.

NB: What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the healthcare industry today?

DH: One of the biggest challenges is the ever-increasing costs. Costs have continued to increase at a pace far above inflation. Combined with the fact that there are 47 million uninsured individuals within the U.S., healthcare is becoming less accessible to those who need it.

This presents great opportunities for Walgreens to bring new programs and value to the healthcare system and, in turn, reduce healthcare spending while improving outcomes for patients.

NB: What is the next big endeavor for you?

DH: My next big endeavor is transforming our pharmacies that are focused mainly on dispensing prescriptions, to pharmacies with greater focus on new services that reduce spending and improve outcomes. In the future, we will be paid based upon how well we execute solutions to improve outcomes. It will also be challenging to transform this business model during this time of massive upheaval in the health care system.

NB: What kind of advice would you give graduates just beginning careers in the pharmaceutical industry?

DH: I would advise graduates to keep their minds open to options available within their field and to volunteer for the tough assignments that will give them valuable experience.

NB: Why did you choose Webster?

DH: I chose Webster because of the focus on the student and the flexibility. A great example of this flexibility was one of my accounting classes.   The instructor had just injured her leg and had difficulty with mobility. Rather than canceling the class, we held class at her home. This proved to be one of my most enjoyable and informative classes. Now that is flexibility and adaptability!

NB: What was one of your most satisfying academic accomplishments?

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