Through advocacy and innovation, John Musil has dedicated his career to advancing the field of pharmacy.
Just two years after completing his University of Arizona Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 1994, John founded Avella Specialty Pharmacy in Scottsdale to supply specialty drugs that treat rare health conditions. Under his leadership, Avella became one of the fastest-growing companies in the country. By the time it was purchased by a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group in 2018, it was filling 50,000 specialty prescriptions each month and generating more than $1.5 billion in revenue.
John’s achievements have earned him recognition both within the state and nationwide. Among his accolades, he was named the Arizona Pharmacy Association’s Pharmacist of the Year in 2004 and the National Community Pharmacists Association’s Independent Pharmacist of the Year in 2003, and in 2021 he was inducted into the Arizona Pharmacy Association Hall of Fame.
Throughout his career, John has remained a dedicated supporter of the university and the College of Pharmacy. He is a member and current treasurer of the University of Arizona Foundation Board of Directors and the pharmacy college’s national advisory board, where he provides valuable insights to both students and faculty. And he made a generous gift to the college to establish the Musil Family Endowed Chair in Drug Discovery to attract accomplished faculty members specializing in cutting-edge research.
