Greg Keily: Leading through decades of change and innovation
Greg Keily’s pharmacy career has been shaped by change, community and family. From purchasing his first pharmacy in 1982 to embracing modern technology and expanded scope of practice, Greg has witnessed the evolution of community pharmacy firsthand. Along the way, he built a successful family business, welcoming both of his children into the profession and helping guide pharmacy through decades of transformation.
In the early days, the Gold Coast was a quiet country town only being busy on school holidays. It had a small pharmacy community where most owners knew one another. Today, there are over 150 pharmacies on the Gold Coast, many being owned by multiple owners.What’s one moment from your years in pharmacy that you’ll never forget?
I sporadically attended monthly local Guild meetings in backrooms at local watering holes. Invariably, the price of Senega and Ammonia was discussed and what we were all charging.
How has community pharmacy changed over the years?
Pharmacy has embraced modern technology going from typewriter and prescription book in my early days to currently a dispensing robot and electronic recording and claiming and the evolution of full scope of practice.
What’s been the biggest benefit of being part of The Guild community throughout your ownership years?
During my Guild years, I was appreciative of having someone to contact if I had a problem. Having easy access to award pay rates, having a powerful body to negotiate with the government on my behalf and having diverse members who collectively guided pharmacy into the future were all benefits of being a Guild member.
My unforgettable moments were when firstly, my son Jason graduated in pharmacy and became a part owner and then later, my daughter Nicole graduated and also became a part owner in the pharmacy.
What advice would you give to a young pharmacist or new owner starting out today?
I think the way forward is to have a few working owners in partnership as pharmacy has become so diverse it is now impossible to be a master in all the operations of a modern pharmacy. In the early days, I could manage all pharmacy operations personally but today that is impossible.
Diversification between working partners in the pharmacy operations is, I think the best way into a rapidly changing uncertain future.