Publix Leaders Named to 2025 Top Women in Health, Wellness & Beauty List

Drug Store News includes two Publix associates on its 2025 list of honorees

LAKELAND, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Drug Store News honored the accomplishments of two Publix associates on its annual Top Women in Health, Wellness & Beauty list. Sophia Azarian and Erica Phillips have been recognized as Rising Stars for their outstanding contributions to the retail pharmacy industry.

The Rising Star Award recognizes women who are considered up-and-coming leaders in their profession. A recipient is someone to watch who has had significant accomplishments and/or achieved notable success.

“These leaders exemplify the values that make Publix Pharmacy a trusted name in health and wellness,” said Publix Vice President of Pharmacy Dain Rusk. “Their unwavering commitment to excellence inspires our team to reach new heights and positively impact the communities we serve.”

Rising Star Award honorees

Senior Manager of Pharmacy Licensing, Quality and Accreditation Sophia Azarian

Azarian started working at Publix Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician and has held multiple positions over her 15-year career, including pharmacy intern, pharmacy manager and manager of quality and accreditation. In her current role as the senior manager of pharmacy licensing, quality and accreditation, Azarian oversees critical functions that ensure licensing compliance and quality for Publix’s more than 1,300 retail, compounding and specialty pharmacy locations. In 2019, she received the Publix Pharmacy Rxcellence Award for her demonstrated strategic vision and commitment to advancing pharmacy practice standards and enhancing health care delivery at Publix.

Director of Retail Pharmacy Operations Erica Phillips

Phillips has been with Publix Pharmacy for 15 years, serving in a variety of roles, including pharmacy intern, pharmacy manager, manager of pharmacy operations and her current role as the director of retail pharmacy operations. She is responsible for managing retail pharmacy operations across seven of Publix’s eight operating states, which includes overseeing recruitment efforts, workforce development and compliance with regulatory and company standards. Phillips continually evaluates processes for improvement, navigates pharmacy regulations across multiple states to support the delivery of care, and champions internal growth for associates across the organization.

To read about the recipients of this year’s Top Women in Health, Wellness & Beauty Award, visit drugstorenews.com/dsn-announces-2025-top-women-health-wellness-beauty-winners.

Publix, the largest employee-owned company in the U.S. with more than 260,000 associates, currently operates 1,426 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky. For 28 consecutive years, the company has been recognized by Fortune as a great place to work. In addition, Publix’s dedication to superior quality and customer service is recognized among the top in the grocery business. For more information, visit the company’s newsroom at corporate.publix.com/newsroom.