Uniting the Voice of Independent Pharmacy in Texas

The Texas Pharmacy Association’s Independent Pharmacy Academy (IPA) aims to unite and strengthen the voice of independent pharmacy in Texas for more robust and effective pharmacy advocacy, as well as to advance independent community pharmacy practice by creating a forum to share innovative and entrepreneurial practices, discuss business challenges, and identify solutions. IPA membership is open to ALL independent pharmacy owners and staff pharmacists. IPA members are required to be TPA members.

Inaugural Academy Chair Aaron Gibson, Pharm.D., expressed excitement about the possibilities. “The formation of the Independent Pharmacy Academy is a giant leap forward to ensure that independent pharmacy in Texas has a powerful, unified voice that can effectively influence the legislative process," he said.

The resources and unity of the Independent Pharmacy Academy played a vital role in making the 2021 Texas legislative session one of the most successful for pharmacy in recent memory. With TPA leading the way, pharmacy advocates were able to secure monumental wins on priority issues affecting pharmacy, particularly on the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) front. While there were some disappointments, pharmacy made considerable progress on practice issues and laid the groundwork for future successes.

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IPA Membership

TPA's Independent Pharmacy Academy membership is open to ALL independent pharmacy owners and independent pharmacists. Associate membership is open to any active member of TPA who supports and delivers related services and products for independent pharmacy. Independent Pharmacy Academy members are required to be TPA members.

IPA Leadership

2026–2026 IPA Board of Directors

Members of the Academy board are:

• Chair: Crystal McEntire, Pharm.D. (Hyland's Pharmacy, Wheeler, TX)
• Chair-elect: Shawn Sams, Pharm.D. (Louis Morgan Drug #4, Longview, TX)
• Immediate Past Chair: Ben McNabb, Pharm.D. (Love Oak Pharmacy, Eastland, TX)
• Director 1: Adam Bayer, Pharm.D. (Hillcrest Pharmacy, Vernon, TX)
• Director 2: Raj Chhadua, Pharm.D. (ReNue Apothecary, Frisco, TX)
• Director 3: Thomas Garza, Pharm.D. (Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy, San Benito, TX)
• Director 4: Pete Powers, R.Ph. (The Med-Shop Pharmacy, Gilmer, TX)
• Director 5: Laura Temple, R.Ph. (Laura's Pharmacy, Azle, TX)
  
• Director 6: Lee Ann Hampton, Pharm.D. (Paris Apothecary, Paris, TX)
• Director Emeritus: Ray Carvajal, R.Ph. (Carvajal Pharmacy, San Antonio, TX)
• Director Emeritus: Trena Weidmann, Pharm.D. (P&S Rexall Pharmacy, Corsicana, TX
  

IPA Town Hall Meetings

March 6, 2025 Town Hall Meeting

The Texas Pharmacy Association's Independent Pharmacy Academy (IPA) held a town hall meeting on March 6, 2025, to allow independent pharmacists to hear directly from Academy board members, Texas Pharmacy Association CEO RoxAnn Dominguez, and TPA lobbyists about legislative and regulatory activities as the 2025 legislative session is underway.

IPA Annual Meetings

2025 IPA Annual Meeting

The Texas Pharmacy Association’s Independent Pharmacy Academy (IPA) held its annual meeting Sunday, July 20 during the 2025 TPA Conference & Expo. IPA Chair Ben McNabb highlighted the Academy's achievements during the past year. TPA lobbyists Duane Galligher and Karen Reagan provided a behind-the-scenes perspective on the 2025 Texas legislative session, including both pharmacy victories and challenges the profession faced. They took questions from Academy members about how we can be even more effective next session, and discussed plans for advocacy efforts during the legislative interim. Finally, TPA President Jason Davis installed Crystal McEntire (owner of Hyland's Pharmacy in Wheeler) as Chair of IPA, as well as Shawn Sams (owner of Louis Morgan Drug #4 in Longview) as Chair-Elect and Lee Ann Hampton (owner of Paris Apothecary in Paris) as Director #6.

Enjoy Discounted NCPA Membership!

TPA members receive a discount at NCPA! While TPA’s primary advocacy focus is in Texas, the National Community Pharmacists Association advocates on both a local and federal level for independent community pharmacies. Choose the red button below to learn more about this TPA member benefit.