By Rebecca Riccio
CVS/pharmacy and the CVS Caremark Charitable Trust are among Georgetown Pediatrics' most generous donors. But as explained by Gordon Howard, area vice president of CVS/pharmacy, CVS values the relationship just as much as the hospital does.
Q. You have been a driving force behind CVS' support for Georgetown Pediatrics. What inspires you to advocate so strongly on Georgetown's behalf?
A. About seven years ago, I met a little girl recovering from cancer. She was only about ten years old, but she spoke with incredible passion about the Georgetown doctors who saved her life. I was deeply moved by what she and her family were going through, and it's been a thrill to watch her thrive ever since. Throughout the years, I've heard similar stories from dozens of families. They are profoundly grateful that their children still have a future ahead of them. You hear the reverence in their voices and just know this is a special place. Amazingly, when the physicians describe these cases, they deflect all the credit back to the patients and families. Their modesty humbles me. I wish everyone could experience the hospital the way I have. What started out as a professional relationship has become deeply personal.
Q. As a CVS executive, do you think the relationship also benefits your company?
A. There is no question that working with Georgetown is good for CVS. Even though CVS is perceived as a large company, we still see ourselves as the neighborhood drugstore. Taking care of our neighbors matters to us. CVS pharmacies are an integral part of the healthcare system in Washington, D.C., but they are only part of the equation. The hospital is another part. Combining our efforts makes us both more effective.
Q. What do those combined efforts look like in action?
A. The Kids Mobile Medical Clinic is a great example. The van brings firstrate care to some of the city's most underserved areas — some of the neighborhoods where CVS has pharmacies. We’re thrilled to support the mobile clinic financially so it can come into our neighborhoods to provide primary care. Afterward, when the van leaves, our pharmacists can help many of those families stay on track.
Q. So, CVS employees are part of your relationship with the hospital?
A. Absolutely, and not just when they are on the clock. Volunteerism is an important part of our CVS culture. I promote community engagement because our employees see that they can have a positive impact in their own neighborhoods and feel good about working at CVS.
Q. Which Georgetown programs do your employees especially enjoy?
A. When the Kids Mobile Medical Clinic sponsors health fairs around the city, CVS volunteers set up a tent and provide free health screenings. It's very effective. We also sponsor the children's pavilion at the Georgetown Jingle, which raises money for pediatric hematology and oncology. While parents go to the silent auction, kids get to have fun, too. CVS volunteers have a great time entertaining them while helping the hospital raise money.
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| At the Georgetown Jingle last December: (Left to right) Gordon Howard with James Packard- Gomez, Dr. Aziza Shad and Erwin Gomez. |
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