SOUTHFIELD, Michigan– Phil Hagerman, president and CEO of Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy in Flint, has been named Grant Thornton Leader & Innovator of the Year.

The award was announced at an April 28 reception at Lawrence Technological University, which co-sponsors the annual award along with Grant Thornton LLP, WWJ NewsRadio 950 and the Great Lakes Innovation and Technology Report (GLITR). Hagerman was chosen from among 45 nominees profiled during the past 12 months in GLITR.

The Leaders & Innovators program was developed by Lawrence Tech to recognize Michigan business executives who are engaged in cutting-edge professions and industries expected to be key to Michigan’s economic future. The profiles that appear on Tuesdays in GLITR are edited by Matt Roush, who served as master of ceremonies at the reception.

Hagerman started Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy with his father some 35 years ago to distribute medications that require more oversight than usual. It employs nurses and other professionals who teach patients how to properly use medications. With over 450 employees drawing from a diverse background of experience and education, Diplomat can claim the largest and most experienced staff of any independent specialty pharmacy in the nation.

In selecting him as this year’s winner, the Leader & Innovator judges noted that Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy has stayed at the forefront of the pharmacy industry by embracing and using technology to improve processes and better serve patients.

Diplomat developed the Electronic Navigator patient care software system called e-Nav, which delivers electronically scheduled medication histories, symptom management notifications and contraindication warnings to physicians. The e-Nav system broadens reporting and data capabilities for physicians and health plans.

It the first independent pharmacy in Michigan to install the new generation of prescription robotics to improve patient safety and efficiency. It worked closely with its software supplier to design reports and compliance tools to better manage its client base.

Diplomat pioneered a dialysis medication delivery program that served over 3,000 patients at over 100 dialysis centers in Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and Ohio.

Hagerman is an adjunct instructor of clinical pharmacy at Ferris State University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy. He has served as a consultant for the U.S. Department of Justice and as an expert witness in cases of drug diversion.

Hagerman has received the Innovative Pharmacy Practice award from the Michigan Pharmacists Association, and the Blue Chip award for outstanding business practices from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The following executives were profiled by GLITR during the past 12 months:

Reg Adams, Co-Founder and President, WindTronics, Inc.

Larry R. Andrus, CEO, Trivalent Group, Inc.

Lisabeth Ardisana, Principal, Owner and CEO, ASG Renaissance

David Baarman, Director of Advanced Technologies, Fulton Innovation

Scott Bade, President, ImageSoft Inc.

Jon Baugh, Founder and CEO, Dermanaut

Lori Blaker, President and CEO, Technical Training Inc.

Sri Bramadesam, Vice President/President, Detroit Engineered Products/Autoline Industries USA

Jeffrey Brittan, President, CEO and Founder, StructureTec

Fred Calero, President, COO and Co-Founder, Enovate

Carolyn Cassin, President and CEO, Michigan Women’s Foundation

Beth Chappell, President and CEO, Detroit Economic Club

David Cole, Chairman, Center for Automotive Research

Paul Condeelis, Director, Product Development, Romeo RIM, Inc.

Rick Darter, CEO and President, Rave Computer Association, Inc.

Doug Dormer, Founder and CEO, White Pine Systems, LLC

Chris Fisher, Co-Founder and Director of Biology, NanoVir LLC

Joan Gehrke, Chairperson of the Board, St. John Hospital Foundation

Phil Hagerman, President and CEO, Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy

Charles Hess, Co-Founder and CEO, Fisher/Unitech

Matthew Hill, Founder and CEO, Liquid Web Inc.

Andy Kotarba, President and CEO, Dewpoint

Timothy Leuliette, Executive Chairman, DURA Automotive Systems

Kelly Major-Green, Executive Vice President, United Way of Southeastern Michigan

Jeff Mason, Executive Director, University Research Corridor

Robert Mazur, Co-Founder, B.A. Maze Inc.

Jeffery Millin, President, CEO and Co-Founder, Pioneer Surgical Technology Inc.

Gary Neel, President and CEO, McCann Midwest

Simon Ng, Co-Founder, NextCAT Inc.

Jules Olsman, President, Olsman, Mueller, Wallace & MacKenzie

Larry Pliska, President and Founder, Planterra Corporation

John Popovich, Jr., President and CEO, Henry Ford Hospital

Jeffery Prough, Founder, CEO and President, Critical Signal Technologies

Steven Robert, CIO, Billhighway.com

Charles Rothstein, Founder and Managing Director, Beringea LLC

Ron Schoenherr, President and CEO, XCEND Group Inc.

John Silvani, President, First Tech Direct

Larry Smith, President and CEO, BioGreen Solutions

Mark Stern, General Counsel and Partner, Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP

Sheri Teodoru, CEO, CFI Group

Jason Teshuba, Founder and CEO, Mango Languages

Leslie Touma, Founder and CEO, Michigan Security Network

Nathan Zack, Founder, CEO and President, Great Lakes Electronics Corp.

George Zimmermann, Vice President, Travel Michigan, Michigan Economic Development Corp.

Michael Zwick, President, Assets International LLC

Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, offers more than 100 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degree programs in the Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Engineering and Management. Founded in 1932, the 4,500-student, private university pioneered evening classes and today has a growing number of weekend and online programs. Lawrence Tech’s 102-acre campus is in Southfield, and programs are also offered in Detroit, Lansing, Petoskey, Traverse City and Toronto. Lawrence Tech also partners with universities in Mexico, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.