Our History
The Alliance Pharmacy was founded in May 2000 as a non-profit 501(C) 3 organization by two gentlemen with Hemophilia who understood the unique needs of community members and shared the desire to provide support to other charitable organizations that assist patients with chronic diseases. The pharmacy, licensed across the country, can provide prescription medications, including factor products to patients from coast to coast.
The volunteer board of The Alliance Pharmacy consists of pharmacists currently engaged with HTCs and other individuals with extensive involvement with the hemophilia community. Together the staff and board have over 175 years of experience in the bleeding disorders community. The Alliance Pharmacy is also affiliate member of the Hemophilia Alliance offering services such as administration of patient assistance programs, wholesale distribution, and administration of manufacturer trial drug programs.
Our Mission
The Alliance Pharmacy is dedicated to generating funds for other charitable organizations that assist individuals in managing their care of chronic diseases and that do research to find cures for chronic diseases; to assist individuals with chronic diseases and their families with managing their medical care; to provide medication to chronically ill individuals at no or reduced cost to them; and to engage in activities to raise or solicit funds, grants and/or gifts in furtherance of the Corporation’s fundraising and education activities in support of charitable purposes.
Our Goal
The Alliance Pharmacy will play a vital role in partnering with the treating physician, the family, and the health plan to manage therapy, supply pharmaceuticals, provide support to patients and families, and coordinate insurance coverage.
The Alliance Pharmacy will work closely with the clinical care team to ensure the best health outcomes, which minimizes costly hospitalizations, through appropriate dosing, improved adherence, and timely interventions.
Currently, The Alliance Pharmacy works with Hemophilia Treatment Centers (HTCs) nationwide to coordinate care by consulting with the clinical care team. TAP provides transparency to the clinical team so the treatment program is constantly monitored and can be adjusted to meet the patient’s needs.
Meet the Team
Qualified Professionals
Vincent Fusaro, RPh
President & Pharmacy Program Manager
Vincent is the Co-Founder and President of Positudes, Inc., June 2000 now dba The Alliance Pharmacy. As President and Director of Pharmacy for The Alliance Pharmacy, he is responsible for all Pharmacy and Wholesale Distribution Services and Operations.
Vincent graduated St. John’s University Pharmacy School in 1981. He has the unique distinction of having over 40 years of Professional experience in healthcare industry along with a lifetime of experience as a person living with Severe Hemophilia B. He holds active Pharmacist licensure in 10 states and maintains in good standing approximately 100 professional licenses for The Alliance Pharmacy.
Maryann Fusaro
Vice President / Pharmacy Administrator
Maryann is Vice President of Positudes, Inc. and has been actively involved with the organization since its founding in June 2000. As Vice President, Licensing Coordinator and Pharmacy Administrator, Maryann manages all of the organizations State Pharmacy, Wholesale Distribution and staff Pharmacist Licenses.
Maryann holds certification from Hofstra University’s Program for Management of Non-Profit Organizations and has over 40 years of experience working with persons with Hemophilia and the Hemophilia community.
Michael Fusaro, PharmD
Head of Regulatory Compliance & Senior Pharmacist
Michael has over 10 years of experience as a pharmacist working with the bleeding disorder community and as the son of a hemophiliac, a lifetime of personal experience. He graduated St. John’s University with his PharmD. in 2008.
As the Director of Regulatory Compliance & Senior Pharmacist of The Alliance Pharmacy (TAP), Michael oversees the revision and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal laws as well as meeting the standards of our numerous accreditations. Michael maintains active pharmacist licenses in 12 states including New York where he resides.
Ayoung Fusaro, PharmD
Senior Clinical Staff Pharmaicst
Ayoung graduated St. John’s University, Queens NY, receiving a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2008. She has over 10 years’ experience in Medication Therapy Management and bleeding disorder disease state management.
Ayoung has been a Pharmacist with The Alliance Pharmacy since 2011 and provides leadership in the clinical coordination and care of patients with complex chronic disease.
Stacy Kollar, CPhT
Certified Pharmacy Technician
Stacy is a Certified Pharmacy Technician for The Alliance Pharmacy. Since receiving her Certification in 2011 she has been the lead technician working in the pharmacy. Stacy, working with TAP Pharmacists co-manages the Manufacturer Trial Programs, Factor Program and Wholesale Drug Distribution operation.
Christine Benko, CPhT
Certified Pharmacy Technician
Christine has 9 years of pharmacy experience and has been a certified pharmacy technician for 8 years. She has worked in retail, long-term care, and specialty pharmacy settings throughout her career.
Christine is a New York State Notary Public and has an associates degree in digital photography.
Joseph Smith
Facility Technician
Joseph is our newest employee, joining the Alliance Pharmacy in June 2022. Joseph holds a B.S. in Bioscience, achieved from SUNY Farmingdale in 2021. Joseph provides support for the Wholesale Drug Distribution operation. He ensures a clean facility and regulates inventory of supplies to facilitate daily operations.
Meet our Board Members
Mark Plencner, RPh
Chairman
Mark received his pharmacy degree from North Dakota State University and served for 34 years in Institutional Practice, with multiple practice interests including decentralized, emergency room, and operating room pharmacy practice. Prior to joining the Hemophilia Alliance in 2017, he served 21 years as the pharmacy manager of the Roger Maris Cancer Center/North Dakota Hemostasis and Thrombosis Treatment Center.
Mark developed the first 340b program at this institution. During this time, he also served as President of the Hemophilia Alliance GPO, Board Chair of the Hemophilia Alliance, and Board member/Board Chair of The Alliance Pharmacy (TAP). He has been active in education of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, having served as a preceptor for pharmacy students at North Dakota State University and as both and on-campus and web-based instructor for the North Dakota State School of Science Pharmacy Technician Program.
Mark is married to Stacy and has two grown sons, Josh (Jessica) Fayetteville, NY and Joseph (Katy), Phoenix, AZ, and two grandchildren.
Joseph Bailey, PharmD
Vice Chair
Joe Bailey is the Pharmacist-In-Charge for BloodCenter of Wisconsin / Comprehensive Center for Bleeding Disorders in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In addition to working with the HTC’s 340b specialty pharmacy, Joe also serves as BCW’s Designated Representative for drug wholesale distribution operations. Joe obtained his PharmD from Purdue University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2010 and is currently pursuing an MBA with healthcare emphasis from West Texas A&M University.
Joe has experience in community pharmacy management, is an associate professor in the College of Letters and Science at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and has been working with bleeding disorder management in specialty pharmacy and wholesale distribution for over 5 years. He holds pharmacist licensure in WI, IL, IN, and MI and engages in wholesale distribution activities in WI, IL, and IA.
Gladys A Lee, MBA, MS, CCRP
Treasurer
Gladys joined the bleeding disorders community in 2002. She served as the HTC 340B Pharmacy Administrator of a large, urban treatment center until 2014. Gladys has also served on several local bleeding disorders community boards, including serving on the Hemophilia Alliance board from 2008 – 2014. She joined the Alliance Pharmacy board in 2016.
Gladys relocated to Georgia and joined Emory’s Children Center Clinical Trials Office. She is a member of the Hemophilia of Georgia Center for Bleeding and Clotting Disorders of Emory treatment center. Gladys received her MBA from Roosevelt University and her MS in Clinical Research from Rush University.
Jeff Blake, MBA
Secretary
With over 30 years of experience in the employee benefits, healthcare and pharmacy field, Jeff is the President and CEO of The Hemophilia Alliance. Under his leadership and direction, Jeff leads the Hemophilia Alliance’s Team in its multiple service areas – Group Purchasing, Advocacy and Public Policy, Member & Community Relations, and Operations & Marketing. The Hemophilia Alliance works to ensure member Hemophilia Treatment Centers have the expertise, resources and public support to sustain their integrated clinical and pharmacy services for individuals with bleeding and clotting disorders.
Prior to joining the Hemophilia Alliance, Jeff was the Pharmacy Operations and Marketing Director for the Indiana Hemophilia & Thrombosis Center (IHTC), where he oversaw manufacturer and payer contracting, in addition to IHTC pharmacy program operations and marketing.
Jeff received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Bowling Green State University and his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Indianapolis. Jeff also received the Certified Employee Benefits Designation from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Joe Pugliese
Director
Joe Pugliese has been involved in the hemophilia community for the last 43 years. He started in 1978 as a sales representative in Chicago with the Armour Pharmaceutical Company. He held a variety of positions over the years including General Manager of Hemophilia Business Unit, and Vice President and General Manager of North America for Aventis Behring (successor company of Armour).
He joined Amerisource Bergen Specialty Group as President of the Specialty Pharmacy business in 2004 and departed in 2005 to pursue other interests in the hemophilia community.
He signed on as a consultant to the Hemophilia Alliance to start their group purchasing organization in 2006 and was named the President of the Hemophilia Alliance in 2008. The organization has grown from 5 members in 2007 to 107 members today. The board gave Joe the additional title of CEO in 2014 in recognition of his outstanding work in supporting the HTC network. Joe is looking forward to seeing this organization deliver its goal of achieving operational excellence in providing services for the hemophilia community.
Joe became Chairman of The Alliance Pharmacy in late 2010. The pharmacy, a 501(c)(3), is licensed as a pharmacy in all 50 states, has received ACHC accreditation, and has received its VAWD accreditation. The pharmacy manages distribution for a number of manufacturers. Joe stepped down as Chair in 2017 but remains a very active Director.
Joe founded the Hemophilia Alliance Foundation in 2013 and has served on the boards of THSNA and WFH USA.
He has received the Community Advocate award from NHF, the Eternal Spirit Award from the Coalition for Hemophilia B and the Bradley Cross award from Patient Services Inc.
Joe has been married to Karen for 48 years. They have five children, two daughters-in-law, two son in-laws and 11 grandchildren.
Vincent Fusaro, RPh
President, Pharmacy Program Manager, and Director (Non-Voting)
Vincent is the Co-Founder and President of Positudes, Inc., June 2000 now dba The Alliance Pharmacy. As President and Director of Pharmacy for The Alliance Pharmacy, he is responsible for all Pharmacy and Wholesale Distribution Services and Operations.
Vincent graduated St. John’s University Pharmacy School in 1981. He has the unique distinction of having over 35 years of Professional experience in healthcare industry along with a lifetime of experience as a person living with Severe Hemophilia B. He holds active Pharmacist licensure in 10 states and maintains in good standing approximately 100 professional licenses for The Alliance Pharmacy.
Jeff Amond, MSSW
Director
Jeff is currently a Director of Payer Relations for the Hemophilia Alliance, serving the Mid-Western United States. He has been with the Hemophilia Alliance since September of 2017.
Jeff started his career in hemophilia in 2004 when he was hired as the Psychosocial Specialist for the American Red Cross Badger Center for Bleeding Disorders in Madison, Wisconsin. In November 2005, the program and its staff became employees of the University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics (UWHC). Jeff was the Hemophilia Treatment Center Clinical Social Worker until 2017. In addition to being the Clinical Social Worker, he was responsible for overseeing most aspects of their 340B Program insurance and reimbursement activities. Jeff was the primary contact for insurance companies and worked very closely with patients on their health insurance needs and issues.
Jeff received his Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse in 1996 and his Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 2001. Jeff lives in Waunakee, Wisconsin with his wife Kate and three children (Emerson, Bennett & Jack).
Alison Bartko, RPh, BS Pharm
Director
Alison is the Director of Pharmacy and 340B Coordinator for the Hemostasis and Thrombosis Center of Nevada. She has been employed here since December 2018 and the pharmacy opened in her new facility in August 2019.
Alison is licensed in Nevada and Ohio. She received my B.S. in Pharmacy from the University of Toledo. She has hospital and PBM pharmacy experience.
Alison has been married to her husband, John for 21 years and they have three children. Her advocacy in the bleeding disorders community began when her second daughter was born in 2005 with afibrinogenemia. She has spoken in front of the Blood Products Advisory Committee regarding access for clotting factor to patients with factor I deficiency in the United States. She has served on the Board of Directors of her local chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation as well as participated in state advocacy days in Carson City.
Steven Tran, PharmD, BCGP
Director
Steven is the Pharmacy Manager of The Hemostasis & Thrombosis Center at Oregon Health & Science University. He directs, coordinates, and supervises all aspects of pharmacy services at the HTC. His prior pharmacy experience includes: specialty pharmacy, bone marrow transplant, solid organ transplant, medication therapy management, and community pharmacy – both in the US and in the UK. He has held various leadership roles such as Regional Clinical Lead and Pharmacist-in-Charge.
Steven is a dedicated and compassionate pharmacist with a strong belief in advocating for patients with bleeding disorders, empowering them to make informed decisions about their health. His commitment lies in ensuring his patients receive the highest level of care, education, and support. He is also a staunch advocate for patient safety, consistently implementing rigorous protocols and quality assurance measures to minimize errors and adverse events.
Steven is a Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist and received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry with a biochemistry emphasis from Pacific University. Outside of work, he enjoys watching ‘90s sitcoms, visiting new restaurants, and spending time with loved ones.
John Myers, RPh, MBA
Director
John Myers is the Director of Pharmacy Operations at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. John has over 34 years of pharmacy experience and currently has oversite of the Home Care Infusion Pharmacy, Specialty Pharmacy and the Retail Community Pharmacies. He began working at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center as a staff pharmacist and later transferred to the Division of Home Care Services. In 2007, he was named the Director of Home Care Pharmacy. Under his leadership, Home Care Services’ has received the PRC National Excellence in Healthcare award, Magnet recognitions, Joint Commission Infusion/Specialty Accreditations and URAC Specialty Pharmacy accreditation.
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Home Care Pharmacy provides a full range of infusion, enteral and specialty pharmacy services, for patients living in OH, KY, and IN. The Home Care Pharmacy is also the in-house pharmacy provider for Cincinnati Children’s Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC). For more than 25 years, The Home Care Pharmacy has been dispensing bleeding disorder medications to HTC patients and working closely with HTC staff to provide coordinated care and consistency in service.
John earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Cincinnati, College of Pharmacy, and a Masters of Business Administration degree from Xavier University. He served on the Board of Directors of the Hemophilia Alliance from 2014-2020. John is currently serving on The Alliance Pharmacy (TAP) Board of Directors.
Carol Madeiros
Director Emeritus
Carol Madeiros graduated from Siena College in 1985 and has been employed by Abbott/Abbvie for 31 years in the pharmaceutical specialty field. In 2013, She established the Lawrence Madeiros Scholarship fund/Adirondack Spintacular, in memory of her husband, Larry Madeiros, co-founder of Positudes. This non-profit offers scholarships to kids living with a chronic disorder and furthering their education at a college or university.
Meet our Partner
The Alliance Pharmacy partners with The Hemophilia Alliance to bring our services to Alliance members across the country and achieve our goal to support the Bleeding Disorder community.
The Hemophilia Alliance is a not-for-profit organization that comprises federally funded hemophilia treatment centers (HTCs) that either have, or are seeking to have, pharmacy programs under Section 340B of the Public Health Service Act.
The purpose of The “Hemophilia Alliance” is to promote the common interests of our member HTCs. In addition to providing support through advocacy, we provide consultant expertise and organizational support in the following areas:
Operations
Regulatory compliance
Payer relations
Revenue cycle management
Legal updates affecting practices
Contract pharmacy