Meet Joshua Bobrin: IPC’s New EVP & General Counsel

IPC recently welcomed Joshua Bobrin as Executive Vice President and General Counsel. With more than 18 years of in-house legal experience across multiple industries, Josh brings a strategic, business focused perspective to IPC at a pivotal time for independent pharmacy.

We sat down with Josh to learn more about his background, what drew him to IPC, and how he sees legal support for the future of community pharmacy.

At the time I joined IPC, I had been practicing for over 18 years. Most of that time was spent in house, working directly for companies rather than at a law firm. Most recently I was with Globus Medical in the life sciences space. Before that, I worked in manufacturing and financial services.

Switching industries forces you to acclimate quickly. You have to learn the policy environment, the business drivers, and the pain points in order to be effective as legal counsel.

What I have learned is that while industries differ, many of the legal concerns are the same. Companies want to move sales forward. They do not want legal to be a roadblock. Contracts tend to raise similar friction points across sectors. Seeing those commonalities has helped me focus on delivering practical, solutions-oriented guidance that helps the business move forward.

I was looking for a new challenge, but I also wanted to be part of a strong mission. Earlier in my career I worked for Vanguard, which is structured around investor ownership. I appreciated the alignment between ownership and outcomes.

IPC has that same alignment. It is member owned, and its mission is directly tied to improving outcomes for independent pharmacy owners and the communities they serve.

There is also a personal connection. My grandfather and great grandfather were independent pharmacists in the Philadelphia area. I grew up hearing stories about working in the store, the soda fountain, and the role the pharmacy played in the community. That history made joining IPC especially meaningful for me.

One thing that really resonated with me during the board meeting was hearing the role of our retiring general counsel Paul Karch described as being a trusted advisor to the board and the organization. That is a big aspiration for me to achieve one day with our board, our members and everyone at IPC.

Since joining, I have been focused on learning as much as possible. There is a lot of history at IPC, and I want to build on that foundation. My goal is to carry forward the strengths that already exist while continuing to earn trust across the organization.

It is incredibly important for me to understand what life looks like day to day for pharmacists and store owners. What are the challenges? What are the pain points? What is working well?

I have asked board members if I can spend a day or two in their stores as a fly on the wall. I want to see operations firsthand. I believe that perspective will make me a better lawyer for IPC and a better resource for members.

It is both a challenging and exciting time. There are legislative changes, market pressures, and emerging technologies like AI that are reshaping the landscape.

I do not see this role as the department of no. The twin goals should always be moving the business forward and mitigating risk.

As a cooperative, IPC’s assets ultimately belong to its members. We need to be thoughtful and careful about risk, but we also need to be nimble and innovative. My role is to help navigate that balance so we can unlock opportunities without exposing the organization to unnecessary risk.

I believe in balancing growth with protection. We need to identify the big risks and keep our eye on them, but we cannot allow fear of risk to prevent us from moving forward.

In a co op structure, we do not have unlimited padding. We are maximizing benefit to members. That makes it even more important to approach decisions strategically and with a long-term perspective.

IPC may be relatively small, but it is incredibly nimble and creative. In just my first few weeks, I have seen teams constantly asking what more can be done for members.

From rebate optimization to digital health initiatives to creative HR strategies, there is a mindset of not standing still. People are thinking about how to deliver more value and how to do it differently. That has been impressive to see.

Family is extremely important to me. My two oldest sons are in college and my daughter is in her senior year of high school.  When my wife and I are fortunate enough to have our kids at home, we enjoy spending time together, whether that is watching movies or just being together.

I have also joined a hiking group and organized a pub trivia group to stay engaged in the community. I enjoy cooking and trying new recipes. It is a great way to unwind and experiment a little.

I would say Jason Sudeikis, channeling a bit of Ted Lasso. I am a big believer in positivity and growth mindset.

If I had to give it a title, maybe The Trusted Advisor. That idea of supporting a team, staying optimistic, and helping people move forward really resonates with me.