Grant Thornton Leader & Innovator of the Year award for Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy president

Phil Hagerman, president and CEO of Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy in Flint, has been named Grant Thornton Leader & Innovator of the Year.

The award was announced at Thursday night's reception at Lawrence Technological University, which co-sponsors the annual award along with Grant Thornton LLP, WWJ Newsradio 950 and the Great Lakes Innovation and Technology Report. Hagerman was chosen from among 45 nominees profiled during the past 12 months in GLITR.

The Leaders & Innovators program was developed by Lawrence Tech to recognize Michigan business executives who are engaged in cutting-edge professions and industries expected to be key to Michigan's economic future.

Hagerman started Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy with his father some 35 years ago to distribute medications that require more oversight than usual. It employs nurses and other professionals who teach patients how to properly use medications. With more than 450 employees drawing from a diverse background of experience and education, Diplomat can claim the largest and most experienced staff of any independent specialty pharmacy in the nation.

The company recently moved from suburban Swartz Creek into the 350,000-square-foot former General Motors Great Lakes Technology Center on the south side of Flint, where it plans to invest $12 million to refurbish the building.

In remarks in accepting the award, Hagerman noted that the great thing about being CEO is that "you get to collect all the brass earned by the people who work with you." And he said Diplomat has hired 70 people so far this year, and plans to hire 150 more before the year is over.

He said that his father taught him one lesson about how to succeed in business: "Work hard, take good care of people and the rest will fall into place." And he credited his wife for helping him "keep the big picture in mind... don't forget to go home and thank the people who keep your life in balance."

In selecting him as this year's winner, the Leader & Innovator judges noted that Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy has stayed at the forefront of the pharmacy industry by embracing and using technology to improve processes and better serve patients.

Diplomat developed the Electronic Navigator patient care software system called e-Nav, which delivers electronically scheduled medication histories, symptom management notifications and contraindication warnings to physicians. The e-Nav system broadens reporting and data capabilities for physicians and health plans.

Diplomat is the first independent pharmacy in Michigan to install the new generation of prescription robotics to improve patient safety and efficiency. In order to better manage its client base, Diplomat worked closely with its software supplier to design reports and compliance tools.