Meet Dr. Ken Thai, PharmD—CEO of 986 Degrees Corporation (a pharmacy franchise), multi-site independent pharmacy owner across Southern California and Nevada, and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at USC and Western University. A past president of CPhA (California Pharmacists Association) and current national VP at NCPA, he was honored with the 2022 NCPA Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year. His career blends leadership, education, and entrepreneurship, always anchored to better patient care.
In this conversation, we trace his path from a UCLA biology degree to a USC School of Pharmacy PharmD, followed by a Community Pharmacy Practice residency at USC. We dig into how he opened and scaled multiple independents—spanning long-term care, compounding, DME, infusion, and specialty—and why he built a franchise model to mentor and multiply pharmacist-owners. You’ll hear how he designs training that sticks, builds culture across locations, and keeps teams focused on outcomes.
We also talk about teaching and precepting: what pharmacy students need now, the mindset shift from clinician to owner, and practical steps to evaluate a market, choose services, and launch sustainably. Dr. Thai shares playbooks on onboarding, metrics that matter, quality systems, and how associations like CPhA and NCPA shape the future of independent pharmacy and pharmacy entrepreneurship.
If you’re a pharmacy student, new grad, independent owner, or healthcare entrepreneur, this episode is your blueprint for growth. Drop your questions in the comments, share with a colleague who’s thinking about ownership, and subscribe for more SGV stories at the intersection of leadership, small business, and patient care. Keywords: independent pharmacy, pharmacy franchise, pharmacy ownership, pharmacy management, USC School of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences, CPhA, NCPA, 986 Degrees, pharmacy entrepreneur.
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Music Credits
Intro
Euphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OG
Stinger
Scarlet Fire (Sting), Otis McDonald, YouTube Audio Library
Outro
Euphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OG
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My SGV Podcast:
Website: www.mysgv.net
Newsletter: Beyond the Mic
Patreon: MySGV Podcast
info@sgvmasterkey.com
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