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LAS VEGAS, July 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- In support of its Women in Pharmacy program to help women pharmacists become successful independent pharmacy owners, Cardinal Health will host its fourth annual Pharmacy Ownership Boot Camp on Saturday, July 25, during the company's Retail Business Conference (RBC) in Las Vegas.

"The Boot Camp is designed to give pharmacists and student pharmacists the business acumen and confidence needed to own their own pharmacies," said Eden Sulzer, director of Women in Pharmacy program at Cardinal Health. "The program will serve as a crash course in ownership and a forum for sharing ideas and inspiration. Our goal is for attendees to leave feeling empowered to reach their dreams of becoming successful independent pharmacy owners, serving their communities."

The Pharmacy Ownership Boot Camp is open to all RBC attendees interested in owning a pharmacy, or looking to refresh their skills, as well as male and female pharmacy students. This year's attendees will hear from experts in pharmacy finance, marketing and entrepreneurship. The intense, daylong lesson in what it takes to own and operate a successful community pharmacy will feature:

• Paths to Pharmacy Ownership Workshop, which highlights the basics of start-ups, acquisitions and franchises
• Financial Fitness tips addressing how to build personal equity
• Driving Growth through Services -- identifying potentially untapped revenue opportunities
• Panel discussion with new and established pharmacy owners
• Guided tour of tradeshow floor, and the opportunity to network with nearly 400 manufacturer, automation, software and pharmacy business vendors
• "Mix, Mingle & Mocha" networking reception, where aspiring pharmacy owners can meet, learn from and be inspired by successful pharmacy entrepreneurs

"According to the 2014 National Pharmacist Workforce Study, women now make up 57 percent of all U.S. pharmacists, but there has been no increase in female pharmacy ownership in over a decade," Sulzer said. "We believe that key barriers include access to capital and a real or perceived lack of business or financial acumen. Our Pharmacy Ownership Boot Camp will specifically address these concerns, and offer guidance on how to successfully run an independent pharmacy."

Other Women in Pharmacy program events at RBC include a booth on the tradeshow floor and a continuing education opportunity addressing the unique security issues of female pharmacy owners.

The Pharmacy Ownership Boot Camp is just one part of Cardinal Health's initiative to help women pharmacists seize the opportunity of pharmacy ownership. In support of this effort, Cardinal Health has donated more than $5 million in pharmacy school scholarships to male and female students striving to eventually own their own pharmacy, as well as providing mentoring, networking, and opportunities to learn financial and business development strategies.

About the Cardinal Health Retail Business Conference (RBC)

The Cardinal Health Retail Business Conference (RBC), held July 22-25 in Las Vegas, provides independent pharmacists and pharmacy franchise owners with the opportunity to network with and learn from thousands of their peers from across the nation, while gaining new insights to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their businesses. The annual event provides independent pharmacy owners, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and other pharmacy industry professionals across the United States with access to pharmaceutical manufacturers, buying opportunities, continuing education sessions and programs to help pharmacists reduce costs and improve patient care and efficiency. For more information, visit www.CardinalHealth.com/RBC or use #RBCWin on Twitter.

About Cardinal Health

Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is a $91 billion health care services company that improves the cost-effectiveness of health care. Cardinal Health helps pharmacies, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories and physician offices focus on patient care while reducing costs, enhancing efficiency and improving quality. Cardinal Health is an essential link in the health care supply chain, providing pharmaceuticals and medical products and services to more than 100,000 locations each day and is also the industry-leading direct-to-home medical supplies distributor. The company is a leading manufacturer of medical and surgical products, including gloves, surgical apparel and fluid management products. In addition, the company operates the nation's largest network of radiopharmacies that dispense products to aid in the early diagnosis and treatment of disease. Ranked #26 on the Fortune 500, Cardinal Health employs 34,000 people worldwide. More information about the company may be found at www.cardinalhealth.com and @CardinalHealth on Twitter.

SOURCE Cardinal Health