OAKWOOD, VA (April 15, 2026) –Appalachian College of Pharmacy (ACP) Alumnus Derek Webb will deliver the commencement address May 2 as ACP confers the Doctor of Pharmacy degree on its members of the Class of 2026 during graduation exercises at the Oakwood campus. The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree will also be awarded that day to students completing ACP’s DrPH program of study.
Webb, who graduated in 2008 as a member of ACP’s inaugural graduating class, is the current director of government affairs-East for Empower Pharmacy based out of Houston, TX. In that capacity, he leads multi-state legislative and regulatory strategy to expand access to high-quality, affordable compounded medications while enabling licensure, facility expansion and business growth. He joined Empower Pharmacy in October 2025, where he as worked to advance legislative and regulatory priorities supporting patient access, pharmacy operations and growth.
Webb has nearly 20 years of experience advancing healthcare policy, pharmacy regulation, and stakeholder engagement across multiple states, with deep expertise in compounding pharmacy and 503A/503B regulatory frameworks.
“We look forward to welcoming Derek back to campus as our commencement speaker next month,” said ACP Provost and Dean Susan Mayhew. “He is a member of our inaugural graduating class and his pharmacy experiences since graduating are a testament to the career a Doctor of Pharmacy degree can lead to as he has spent years not only in a traditional pharmacy setting, but now as a full-time advocate for commonsense pharmacy laws and regulations.”
Upon his graduation from ACP, Webb began working for K-VA-T Foods Inc., until October 2025 when he began working with Empower. At K-VA-T, he first worked as a pharmacy manager, taking care of daily operations, ensuring compliance, safety and patient satisfaction at K-VA-T’s Abingdon, VA store. While there, he led a high-performing team focused on operational efficiency and clinical excellence; collaborated with physicians and regulatory partners to improve patient outcomes through policy-aligned practice; and analyzed business metrics to drive profitability and operational growth.
He next served as a pharmacy administrator for K-VA-T where he led communication with regulatory agencies and pharmacy boards, ensuring compliance and proactive advocacy; oversaw operations for 130 pharmacy locations, coordinating policy integration and quality initiatives; was a media spokesperson and public health advocate, regularly featured on WCYB ‘Healthy Living’ segments; directed telemedicine and immunization programs supporting community health and access to care; and led pharmacy mergers, acquisitions, and infrastructure expansion projects across state lines.
At the same time, he also represented K-VA-T Foods Inc. before state legislatures, regulatory agencies and pharmacy boards, successfully influencing policies impacting pharmacy practice and patient access
Webb continues to serve on the Virginia Board of Pharmacy, to which he was first appointed in July 2024. There, he is the chair of the regulatory committee, leading updates to state pharmacy by-laws and oversight of disciplinary actions.
He was recently elected as the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) District 2 president and serves on the NABP law and legislation committee. He is also engaged with NAIC leadership to explore multi-state policy collaboration.
Webb also previously served as the Mayor of the Town of Abingdon from July 2020 to January 2023 and currently serves as a member of its Town Council.
Since 2011, he has owned Phinneas Enterprises, LLC in Abingdon, specializing in locating and leasing rental properties; and has worked as a personal coach for Lululemon Team Webb in Abingdon.
Webb has also been a key opinion leader and speaker for Pharmacy Times and WCYB on a variety of pharmacy-related topics.
He was named as a 2020 Tri Cities Business Journal 40 under 40 award winner; scored in top 99 percent on Pharmacy Board Exam; was the youngest Mayor to ever serve in the Town of Abingdon; and tallied the highest number of votes ever for an Abingdon Council member.
Webb earned his bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from King College in 2005 prior to enrolling at ACP. While at ACP, he was a member of the student chapters of the American Pharmacists Association the Virginia Pharmacists Association. He was also a member and past vice president of the Rho Chi honor society. He was the ACP Class of 2008 speaker and earned the TEVA Pharmaceuticals USA Award for outstanding achievement in the study of Pharmacy; the ACP Pharmaceutics highest GPA Award; the Merck Award for outstanding achievement in the study of Pharmacy; and was on the Dean’s List. He served as vice president of his class.
Webb and his wife, Rebecca, reside in Abingdon with their daughter, Eleanor, age 14.
ABOUT ACP:
The Appalachian College of Pharmacy is the only three-year Doctor of Pharmacy program in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Founded in 2003, the college accepted its first students in 2005. It is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Its mission is to cultivate a learning community committed to education, community outreach and the professional development of pharmacists. Its graduate pharmacists are now practicing throughout the United States. Learn more at www.acp.edu.
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