Connect 2026 has officially come and gone, and what a week it was.
In the beginning of June, we welcomed pharmacists, pharmacy staff, exhibitors, sponsors, and industry leaders from all over the country to join us at the Gaylord in Nashville, Tennessee. Over five jam-packed days, attendees came together to play, learn, collaborate, and strengthen the relationships that move independent pharmacy forward.
This year was all about more. More attendees. More exhibitors. More educational opportunities. More conversations to inspire meaningful change.
Connect kicked off the day before classes and sessions even started with our first-ever golf outing, giving attendees a chance to connect outside the classroom and build relationships before the conference officially began.
Throughout the week, attendees explored the exhibit hall, attended educational sessions, and connected with peers facing many of the same challenges in today’s pharmacy landscape.
But what stood out most this year was the focus on honest, transparent conversation.
Sessions like Ask Andy—LIVE! brought that to life in real time. Designed as an open Q&A forum, the session gave attendees the opportunity to ask leadership direct questions—whether about industry challenges, product direction, or the future of independent pharmacy.
Those conversations highlighted a few key themes shaping the industry today:
Maybe most importantly, Ask Andy reinforced RedSail’s commitment to listening by turning customer feedback into action, whether through product improvements, new programs, or ongoing investment in solutions that help pharmacies succeed.
This year’s educational programming covered a wide range of topics from pharmacy operations and business growth strategies to emerging technologies and workflow optimization. The conference’s most-attended sessions reflected the issues that matter most to pharmacies today: AI, Med Sync, and staff burnout.
The keynote session left a particularly lasting impact. Focused on burnout in entrepreneurship and healthcare, it delivered a message that resonated across the room: success in business cannot come at the expense of your life outside of it.
Through personal stories, attendees were reminded that while hustle can drive results, it can come with hidden costs like missed moments, exhaustion, and misalignment between professional success and personal fulfillment. The message was clear: growth without alignment leads to burnout.
It also introduced a more sustainable definition of success. A definition that balances business performance with personal fulfillment, meaningful work, and time for what matters most.
This idea was carried out throughout the week. Whether talks focused on automation, AI, or workflow optimization, the goal was consistent: helping pharmacies create systems that reduce burnout, improve efficiency, and support both staff and patient care.
Across sessions and conversations, one theme came up repeatedly: the future of independent pharmacy will be shaped by adaptability.
From improving patient access and affordability to expanding services and embracing new care delivery models, pharmacies are evolving quickly. The tools supporting them are evolving just as fast. This helps pharmacies to streamline operations, connect with patients in new ways, and compete in a rapidly changing market.
Discussions during Ask Andy highlighted:
Together, these efforts reflect a broader goal: helping independent pharmacies act with the scale and efficiency of large organizations while maintaining the personalized care that makes them unique.
The week also included several memorable firsts, including the premiere of our first feature film, which brought attendees together for a unique, shared experience.
But some of the most valuable moments happened outside of the scheduled events.
They happened over coffee breaks. During conversations in the exhibit hall. Between holes on the golf course. Around lunch tables. In the hallways. Passing introductions that turned into lasting connections.
Those seemingly small moments remind us why Connect exists in the first place.
Independent pharmacy can be challenging, but it’s powered by one of the most collaborative and passionate communities in healthcare. Every year, Connect provides an opportunity to step away from the day-to-day demands of pharmacy and spend time with people who understand the challenges, celebrate the successes, and are committed to building a stronger, more sustainable future together.
To everyone who attended, exhibited, sponsored, presented, and helped make Connect 2026 such a success: thank you.
Your passion, engagement, and commitment to independent pharmacy are what make this event possible, and we’re honored to be part of this incredible community.
We’re already looking ahead to next year and can’t wait to see you in San Diego for Connect 2027. If you’re a RedSail user, register by July 31st to receive our biggest discount, just $500/ticket.
