GPhA announces new CEO
Dear fellow members of the Georgia Pharmacy Association:
I hope this message finds you well. We are thrilled to share some exciting news with you today. After an extensive and thorough search process, we are pleased to announce that Dawn A. Randolph, MPA, has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of the Georgia Pharmacy Association, effective February 1, 2024.
Dawn brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of leadership in the healthcare and mental health industry, having previously worked for the United States Senate as a congressional aide to US Senator Sam Nunn; the American Heart Association; The Bobby Dodd institute (formerly AADD); the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse (now the Georgia Council 4 Recovery where she served as COO); the Georgia Planned Giving Council; and her current position as the CFO of the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network. Her passion for innovation in healthcare, combined with her strategic vision and commitment to GPhA’s mission, makes her the ideal candidate to lead our organization into the future.
Dawn has a strong background in healthcare policy, having previously been involved with Medicaid reform, systems-of-care, parity for mental health and substance-use disorder in health plans, community-based treatment options, prevention and early intervention, social determinants of health, new federal and state funding strategies, and evidence-based practices. Her dedication to advocating for better healthcare aligns seamlessly with GPhA’s goals, and we are confident that her innovative approach will drive the association to new heights.
We are grateful for the dedication and hard work of the search committee, whose efforts ensured a rigorous and comprehensive selection process. We believe that Dawn’s leadership will bring fresh perspectives, foster collaboration, and enhance the impact of GPhA on our members and the broader healthcare community.
Please join us in welcoming Dawn Randolph to the GPhA family. We are excited about the positive changes and growth that her leadership will undoubtedly bring. Dawn will be reaching out in the coming weeks to connect and learn more about your priorities and expectations for the association. We will also host a live Zoom call on January 10 at 6:00 p.m. so everyone can meet and ask questions. Please watch your emails for an invite to this event.
Thank you for your continued support of the Georgia Pharmacy Association. We look forward to an exciting and successful future under Dawn’s guidance.
Best regards,
Joe Ed Holt, RPh President The Georgia Pharmacy Association
The official press release (click here for a PDF version):
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DAWN A. RANDOLPH, MPA, JOINS GEORGIA PHARMACY ASSOCIATION AS FIRST FEMALE CEO
Sandy Springs, Georgia – January 8, 2024 – The Georgia Pharmacy Association (GPhA) announced today Dawn A. Randolph, MPA, will be joining the organization as chief executive officer. Randolph comes to GPhA from her long career in public administration and policy in the fields of healthcare, disability, mental health, and substance use disorders. In her new role, Randolph will lead GPhA into a new era to tackle emerging healthcare challenges.
Joe Ed Holt, chairman of the board, is excited to bring in a new CEO, “GPhA welcomes Dawn, whose breadth and depth of experience comes at an important time for GPhA. The healthcare environment is still being reshaped by the pandemic. Pharmacists experience stress inducing demands from all aspects of their work, and we want to ensure they have the support and advocacy to advance their practice while living a healthy life.”
Randolph comes to GPhA from the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network where she has been the CFO, providing contract management and financial skills after the untimely loss of their former CEO. Randolph stepped in to stabilize the financial standing of the organization in 2022 and took it through a complete overhaul in financial practices.
Prior to her role as a CFO and during the pandemic, she was the subject-matter expert and principal researcher to convert in-person curricula to online self-led courses for the Columbo Plan Global Centre for Credentialing and Certification through a multi-year multi-million-dollar grant from the US Department of State. She supported the project from RFP development to launch. Johnathan Hamrick , chair of the CPE Advisory Committee noted; “In addition to Dawn’s leadership and policy skills, we have the added bonus of her passion for continuing education and hands-on experience building and delivering curricula.”
Randolph got her start in public policy and administration as a congressional aide to US Senator Sam Nunn. It was with the senator that she developed her deep love of Georgia and the commitment to ensure all Georgians have access to quality healthcare. During her time as a congressional aide, she managed cases for veterans and military service members then moved into policy facilitation for large regulatory projects such as the East-West Connector and the Sydney Lanier Bridge construction.
“Dawn’s long career working with government at all levels allows her to bring a strong policy and regulatory perspective to our organization, which every association needs but few have at this level,” said Dawn Sasine, chair of GPhA’s Legislative Policy Committee She is also trained in fundraising and highly knowledgeable in project and financial management. She came along at the perfect time.”.
Randolph also built a consulting practice specializing in public policy, project management and strategic development for government and nonprofit clients. In this capacity she has worked with more than 41 clients over the past 20 years. She has assisted her clients in more than $360 million in state appropriations while also managing projects underwritten by $18 million in grant and donor funds. Prior to her consulting work she was the chief operating officer of the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse (now the Georgia Council 4 Recovery), where she helped develop the structure for a new business model to support modern advocacy and administer the merger of two existing organizations into a new 501(c)3 non-profit.
“Dawn’s vast experience in membership development and public policy will help grow GPhA. Her knowledge of Georgia and the foundation world will provide access to new resources to support both the work of our association and our foundation,” said Interim Executive Director Mahlon Davidson. He went on to say “Pharmacists care deeply about their patients, and we want to ensure Georgians have good access across the state to a pharmacist, who is vital in their healthcare journey. I know Dawn will help facilitate filling the gaps in Georgia’s healthcare landscape.”
Maintaining ties to research and continuing education resources is critical to the Georgia Pharmacy Association. Randolph will remain an adjunct professor in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University, designing and leading courses for undergraduate and graduate students around leadership, organizational behavior, digital citizenship, project evaluation, and management.
Randolph holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Georgia State University (summa cum laude) with a concentration in management, budget, and finance, and a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Service and International Politics from the Pennsylvania State University. She is a member of the Georgia Society of Association Executives, serves as a trustee of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority Foundation, and is the vice chair of the Henry County Zoning Advisory Board. She lives in Stockbridge, Georgia with her husband Chris and their three cats: Bentley, Ferrari, and Lamborghini.
ABOUT GPhA: The Georgia Pharmacy Association represents Georgia’s pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and their patients. Our members encompass pharmacists and technicians who practice in retail space, clinical and health systems, independent pharmacies, and academic institutions. The association provides advocacy, continuing education, networking, and support to pharmacists across Georgia and extends to students studying the practice of pharmacy through scholarships and networking.
