By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD — Mount Graham Regional Medical Center (MGRMC) is preparing to open The Pharmacy at Mt. Graham, a new outpatient pharmacy that will serve the entire community, not just hospital patients and staff.
Hospital officials shared the latest update during MGRMC’s quarterly Community Partnership Panel meeting on Thursday.
Danny Smith, speaking on behalf of the marketing department, explained the new facility’s straightforward name.
“The marketing department may or may not have been responsible for naming the pharmacy at Graham… I think we’ve been talking about it so long that, as the pharmacy, it just seemed natural. The Pharmacy at Mt. Graham,” he said.
Smith also clarified that the drive-through window will be dedicated solely to pharmacy services and that the services will be open to all.
“The drive-through will not serve Chick-fil-A or Panera Bread,” he joked. “You don’t just have to be a patient here on the campus for some reason, just like Walgreens.”
Randy Bryce, MGRMC Chief Operating Officer, described the project as one of the hospital’s most visible and important initiatives.
“Our major project, which Danny hinted at, that’s very visible, is the outpatient pharmacy,” Bryce said. “This again is an extension of us trying to take really good care of our community. This will be the first pharmacy in the Valley that is not privately or corporately owned, and with that designation of a community-owned pharmacy, we really intend to take really good care of our community. We’ll take care of our staff, we’ll take care of those that are patients, and we’ll take very good care of our community at large.”
Bryce added that special funding structures are making the project viable, allowing the hospital to turn those resources into direct services and benefits for residents. He expressed excitement about the construction progress after a morning walkthrough with the builder. The 3,154-square-foot facility at 1600 S. 20th Avenue is being built by local contractor Hughes Custom Performance, under the direction of Brian Hughes.
“It is excellent; the construction is wonderful, they’re doing a great job,” Bryce said. He noted that all three mechanical subcontractors are also local, calling it “putting our money where our mouth is and having our community help us.”
The pharmacy has already received its temporary permit from the state, and officials are targeting opening by the end of July.
“We’re really close to an opening in that pharmacy,” Bryce said. “We’re planning for an end of July go-live… We’ve already received from the state our temporary permit. So everything is lining up. We’re really anticipating a good operation with that.”
The project had its groundbreaking on Nov. 10, 2025, and is reported to cost $2.5 million.
Once open, The Pharmacy at Mt. Graham will operate as a full-service, community-owned outpatient pharmacy, marking a first for the Gila Valley and expanding local access to prescription services without corporate ownership.
Further details on exact opening hours, services, and the final launch date will be released as the July target approaches. For more information, contact MGRMC at (928) 348-4000 or visit the hospital’s website.
