While North Carolina was not Leigh Fritz's first home, it has become her home away from home and a place she is proud to serve through the pharmacy profession. Leigh currently is the Pharmacy Director at High Point Medical Center as well as Pharmacy Director for Greensboro Hospital, which is planned to open in 2029, and both part of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. With more than 25 years of pharmacy experience, Leigh has practiced in community retail, infusion, oncology, ambulatory care, and inpatient acute care pharmacy settings. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to ensuring patients receive safe and effective medication therapy while collaborating with healthcare teams to improve outcomes and the patient experience. Leigh earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Nova Southeastern University and completed both PGY1 and PGY2 residency training at The Ohio State University Medical Center, where she also earned a Master of Science in Pharmacy Health System Administration. Her career has included professional experiences in Florida, Ohio, Utah, and North Carolina, providing a broad perspective on the practice of pharmacy.

Early in her career, Leigh worked for Walgreens and was selected for its Business Management Internship program, where she received advanced leadership and operational training. She has since held progressive leadership roles and has been recognized as a Certified Pharmacy Executive Leader (CPEL) by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). A consistent theme throughout Leigh's career is supporting patients and families through complex transitions of care. Her work with oncology patients at the University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Hospital and her leadership within North Carolina health systems have reinforced her belief that exceptional pharmacy care extends beyond the patient to include caregivers and loved ones. Leigh is an active member of the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists (NCAP) and ASHP. She is passionate about developing future pharmacy professionals through residency training, student mentorship, and pharmacy technician apprenticeship programs.

Outside of pharmacy, Leigh serves as Treasurer of Pivot (pivotnow.org) and supports workforce development initiatives for students entering healthcare careers with Guilford Apprenticeship Partners (gapnc.org). She and her husband, Dan, are the proud parents of two boys and are active in their church community because of the saving grace of Jesus.

“Real Patient care with Real Pharmacists”

I am a practicing pharmacist with 11 years of experience in the community pharmacy setting. I currently serve patients at Piedmont Plaza Pharmacy and have been a pharmacy manager for the past seven years. Throughout my career, I have built strong relationships with patients and colleagues and gained firsthand experience with the challenges pharmacists face every day. I am running for the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy because I want to support pharmacists and help ensure that patients receive safe, effective care. My priorities are protecting the pharmacist–patient relationship, supporting the responsible use of artificial intelligence in pharmacy, and promoting a safe work environment so pharmacy teams can provide the best possible care. If elected, I will bring frontline pharmacy experience, a collaborative approach, and a strong commitment to patient safety and the integrity of the profession.

About me:

I was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, I earned bachelor’s degrees in Chemistry and Biology from UNC Charlotte before completing my PharmD at Wingate University. I later earned an MBA from UNC Greensboro and am currently pursuing a master’s degree in Pharmacy Administration at UNC-Chapel Hill. I enjoy learning, exploring new ideas, and spending time with my wife and son. In my free time, I enjoy visiting the beach or the mountains. I welcome you to contact me at jpkastan@gmail.com.

It is my honor to seek election to the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy. I believe the board must continue to protect the health, safety and welfare of North Carolinians while helping the profession respond thoughtfully to a rapidly changing healthcare environment. I would bring the perspective of a community pharmacist, pharmacy leader and lifelong North Carolinian committed to strong standards, practical collaboration and patient-centered progress.

I earned my Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Campbell University School of Pharmacy in 2009 after completing a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at North Carolina State University. I live in Clemmons with my wife, Jessica, who is also a Campbell-trained pharmacist, and our son, Brooks.

My pharmacy career began as an intern for Walgreens in 2008. After graduating from Campbell, I continued as a pharmacist and pharmacy manager at multiple pharmacies in the Winston-Salem area. I’ve held a variety of leadership roles over the last decade leading pharmacy teams across North Carolina, primarily in the Triad, Triangle and Sandhills regions.

My experience has given me a practical understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing pharmacists, technicians, patients and pharmacy operators. It has also strengthened my commitment to quality improvement, workforce development and collaboration with professional, regulatory and academic partners.

I am a strong advocate for pharmacists practicing at the top of their education and training. I’m a proud member of NCAP and have the great pleasure to partner directly with Campbell, High Point and UNC Chapel Hill schools of pharmacy to both champion community pharmacy and advocate for the profession at large. Through these partnerships we’ve been able to launch new clinical services such as pharmacist-prescribed hormonal contraceptives and expand access to care in underserved communities of NC. One of my greatest joys each year is attending NCAP Legislative Day and facilitating pharmacy students to do the same. I’ve precepted numerous students and supported multiple residency programs across the state.

I believe sound regulation should protect patients, support accountability and enable pharmacy professionals to use their expertise to improve access and outcomes. The board's work requires balanced leadership, careful listening and a clear focus on public protection, and I would be honored to contribute my experience and perspective. I respectfully ask for your vote for Josh McDuffie for the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy. 

I currently serve as the Pharmacy Manager at Novant Health Clemmons Medical Center in Clemmons, North Carolina, where I oversee pharmacy operations and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to support the safe and effective use of medications. Since assuming this role in the fall of 2022, I have focused on operational excellence, team engagement, and advancing patient care across the organization.

I earned my Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Campbell University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences in 2008. My interest in pharmacy began while working as a pharmacy technician at an independent pharmacy in northwestern North Carolina. That experience introduced me to the impact pharmacists have on their patients and communities and inspired me to pursue a career in the profession. While in pharmacy school, I interned with CVS Pharmacy and upon graduation joined the company as a pharmacy manager. After several years with CVS, I continued my community pharmacy career with Walmart Pharmacy. During my years in community practice, I developed a strong interest in clinical pharmacy services and preventive care, leading health screenings, immunization clinics, and wellness programs throughout the communities I served. These experiences strengthened my clinical skills and appreciation for the expanding role of pharmacists in patient care, ultimately leading me to transition into acute care pharmacy in 2019.

In addition to my professional responsibilities, I have remained actively involved in education, leadership development, and community service. I completed Leadership Lewisville-Clemmons through the Lewisville-Clemmons Chamber of Commerce in 2024 and earned a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management from Fitchburg State University in 2025. Since 2024, I have served on the Board of Directors for Insight Human Services, supporting programs that improve the health and well-being of individuals and families throughout our region. Beginning in the fall of 2026, I will serve as a guest lecturer in Pharmacy Management at the High Point University Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy. As a former certified North Carolina high school teacher, I have always been passionate about education, public service, and developing future healthcare professionals.

My wife, Ashley, works for Novant Health in Supply Chain. We live in Clemmons and are the proud parents of three children: Gracyn, a student at the Middle College of Forsyth; Lane, a student at the Early College of Forsyth; and Finley, a student at Clemmons Middle School. I remain committed to serving my community and supporting the continued growth and advancement of the pharmacy profession throughout North Carolina.