By Jon Johnson/Gila Herald
jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com
SAFFORD — Dozens of local leaders, community members, hospital staff, and volunteers gathered on the Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center campus Monday morning to celebrate a major milestone in local healthcare: the official ribbon-cutting for The Pharmacy at Mt. Graham.
Emceed by MGRMC Vice President of Marketing and Community Relations Danny Smith, the event brought together members of the Mount Graham Regional Medical Center (MGRMC) Board of Directors, the MGRMC Auxiliary, hospital leadership, and local civic officials to unveil the new 3,154-square-foot facility located at 1600 S. 20th Avenue in Safford.
The $2.5 million project represents the Gila Valley’s first community-owned, non-profit outpatient pharmacy, designed to serve the general public alongside MGRMC patients and staff, and is open seven days a week.
A mission rooted in community history
Opening the ceremony, MGRMC CEO Dr. Bart Carter reflected on the hospital’s history, pointing out how the determination of past leaders in the early 1970s paved the way for modern expansions.
“We, as an administrative team and board, are motivated and encouraged in this journey that we are in by those who have come before us,” Dr. Carter said. “Why build a pharmacy? Well, if you understand our mission and values, the reason for building a pharmacy is to take better care of people… This is a retail pharmacy that’s open to all the public, to all the people who live in the Gila Valley and surrounding communities. It’s not a hospital pharmacy. It is The Pharmacy at Mt. Graham.”
Dr. Carter highlighted integrated tech features designed for convenience, including a drive-through window where clinic patients can pick up prescriptions immediately following an appointment. He also outlined plans for an upcoming “meds-to-beds” program, which will deliver discharge medications directly to hospitalized patients before they leave for home.
“Because we’re a not-for-profit organization, we don’t have to take profits and send them as dividends to shareholders,” Dr. Carter added, commending the board’s courage and vision. “We can retain whatever money we’re able to make and use it then to the betterment of the community.”
Serving patients close to home
MGRMC Board President Caro Gaethje spoke on behalf of the board of directors, emphasizing the tangible impact the facility will have on everyday lives.
“When we celebrate something like this, I think it is important to remember that we are not just celebrating a new building or another service,” Gaethje said. “We are celebrating what this means for the people of our community, for our patients. Having a pharmacy right here on campus means convenience… It means being able to leave your appointment or the hospital with the medications you need and get back home to your family. Those things may sound simple, but when someone is sick or caring for a loved one, those simple things can make a tremendous difference.”
MGRMC Chief Operating Officer Randy Bryce, a pharmacist by profession, noted how vital direct prescription access is to modern medical care and reiterated the facility’s commitment to service over corporate bottom lines.
“This is a pharmacy that is community-owned and directed,” Bryce said. “This is a pharmacy that will take good care of you, and that’s really important to us… We didn’t—we weren’t desperate when we hired our pharmacy staff. We picked the best of the best, so we wanted to have the best people here working, and that’s what we did.”
Built by the community, for the community
Designed by architect Edward Marley of Swaim Associates — who has worked on MGRMC projects for 20 years — and constructed by local builder Hughes Custom Performance (HCP), the new pharmacy heavily prioritized local labor and trades.
“As a member of the community, as a member of HCP, we are extremely grateful to the hospital, to the administration, to the board, and to the facilities guys that we work with,” said Brian Hughes of HCP. “Being a local contractor, it means a lot to stay here and provide services in this community. Just for this building, at least 85 percent of the local trades helped put this thing together.”
MGRMC Pharmacy Director Jade Ashby, who has served at the hospital for 18 years alongside Bryce and Carter, noted that while the hospital’s pharmacy team has long supported inpatient care, this new venture expands that expertise to the entire region.
“As an outpatient pharmacy that services the whole community, like Dr. Carter said, we seek to be that same resource to the community,” Ashby said.
Representing the Safford City Council on behalf of Mayor Richard Ortega, Councilwoman Alma Flores shared a personal connection to the hospital’s journey.
“I actually began my career at Mount Graham Regional Medical Center back in 2000, and the last 25 years, I’ve been able to watch the hospital evolve, and it is just amazing,” Flores said. “Things don’t just happen overnight, but you can see by this amazing building everything that the hospital continues to achieve… On behalf of Safford City Council, I just really want to thank all of you for this amazing building.”
Hours and operations
Following a soft launch for hospital staff a month ago, The Pharmacy at Mt. Graham is now fully open to the public seven days a week. Pharmacy Manager Josh Goodman and staff are assisting residents with transferring existing prescriptions from other pharmacies upon request.
- Location: 1600 S. 20th Avenue, Safford, AZ
- Schedule: Open 7 days a week. Monday – Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday: 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Key Features: Full retail prescription services, drive-through pickup window, integrated electronic health records with campus providers, and upcoming inpatient meds-to-beds delivery
