John Beckner Takes the Helm of MCV Foundation Leadership Council

For nearly two decades, John Beckner, RPh, would appear on television screens all over the Richmond area on weeknights to talk about everything from summer sunscreen application to the pits of seasonal allergies.  

A VCU School of Pharmacy alum and longtime pharmacy operations manager whose career included 17 years at Richmond’s homegrown grocery store chain Ukrop’s, Beckner hosted a live show each week on various health topics — women’s health, sports injuries, heart disease and cholesterol, just to name a few. He’d be accompanied by physicians and others who were willing to spend an hour on public access television discussing their areas of expertise and answering questions from viewers.  

It was a unique way to connect his own community of health care providers with a public seeking convenient access to important health-related information.    

Beckner may not be hosting a public access television show anymore — he proudly points out it had a longer run than the iconic American Western series Bonanza — but that sense of community engagement and making connections between patients and health professionals remains strong.  

After 12 years as an MCV Foundation trustee, including service as chair of the Personnel and Compensation Committee, this summer Beckner began a two-year term as chair of the foundation’s Leadership Council. The council was formed in 2017 to strengthen the foundation’s relationship with former trustees through continued engagement. 

The foundation continues to raise the visibility of the important research happening at VCU Health, and how much the health system impacts patients and that’s especially important as we continue to maximize our fundraising efforts.

Beckner is currently the senior director of strategic initiatives at the National Community Pharmacists Association, where he helps independent pharmacies across the country diversify their revenue streams through clinical and patient services. He also participates in advocacy on the state and federal level and hosts NCPA’s podcast, Independent Rx Forum. 

He sees MCV Foundation Leadership Council members as ambassadors making connections among the community, the foundation’s trustees and, ultimately, VCU Health and VCU Health Sciences. He described his peers on the council as having “star power,” and notes that their many years of service to the foundation and the MCV Campus are vital to the missions of both.  

He hopes to tap into that power and strengthen it for the benefit of the health system and health sciences schools.  

“The foundation continues to raise the visibility of the important research happening at VCU Health, and how much the health system impacts patients,” Becker said, “and that’s especially important as we continue to maximize our fundraising efforts.”  

Beckner also thinks that the Leadership Council can be an important sounding board for current foundation leadership.  

 “Members of the Leadership Council understand the inner workings of the health system and those perspectives are invaluable,” Beckner continued. As the foundation undergoes a national search for a new president and CEO, he recalled his experience during the leadership search at the School of Pharmacy when K.C. Ogbonna, Pharm.D., was hired as dean in 2022. While he wasn’t a member of the primary search committee, as an alum, he appreciated the opportunity to provide his input. 

“I see the Leadership Council as playing a similar role now,” Beckner said. “That’s an important way this group can remain engaged.”  

If you are interested in learning more about ways to get engage with the MCV Foundation in support of the MCV Campus, please contact Brian Thomas, interim president and CEO, at 804-828-0067 or bthomas@mcvfoundation.org.