Throughout National Healthcare Supply Chain Week (October 4-10), we’re proud to celebrate our supply chain colleagues and their significant contributions to patient care. We’re grateful for the impactful ways they support healthcare organizations and their communities.
Every day, Cardinal Health Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions employees help move medications and specialty therapies through a complex healthcare supply chain connecting manufacturers, distribution centers, healthcare providers and patients. Across the United States, we support more than 70,000 pharmaceutical and specialty deliveries each day,1 helping customers access the products they need when and where they need them.
Our scale is supported by specialized expertise across distribution, logistics and 3PL services and a team of employees who are dedicated to delivering for our customers and patients.
As we celebrate National Healthcare Supply Chain Week, we share the stories of Kathy King and Mitch Baranski, and their deep commitment to strengthening our role as the backbone of healthcare.
A career built on purpose: Kathy King
After more than 40 years in healthcare supply chain roles, Kathy King still loves coming to work each day. A member of the 3PL services team in La Vergne, Tennessee, she has built her career around a simple, yet powerful, belief: The work Cardinal Health employees do every day can positively impact a patient’s life.
For more than 30 years, our 3PL business has helped biopharmaceutical manufacturers navigate the complexities of bringing innovative therapies to market and ultimately, to patients. Throughout her career, King has worked across nearly every area of the operation, from pick-pack and refrigerated storage to ambient operations and supervision. Today, King is a senior coordinator of warehouse operations, a position that allows her to do what she loves; train employees and help them grow in their careers. In every role, King has remained focused on the people who ultimately depend on the products moving smoothly through the supply chain.
"When you have a product you supply to patients that makes their life better and gives them hope for a future — there's nothing better than that," King said.
She is especially energized as she considers the future of healthcare and the growing role of innovative therapies improving patient outcomes. She enjoys learning about new areas of the business, including emerging therapies, while helping others develop the knowledge and skills needed to support the next generation of innovation.
After retiring in January 2024, Kathy realized she missed the sense of purpose and community she found at Cardinal Health. She returned in August of the same year and continues doing what she enjoys most: helping others succeed while contributing to work that makes a meaningful difference for patients.
"It's not a job if you love what you do and you know that you're making a difference every single day," she said. "It's a very fulfilling career."
Carrying a legacy forward: Mitch Baranski
When Mitch Baranski was recognized internally by his colleagues for exemplifying exceptional leadership and making a lasting impact on teammates, customers and the organization, his first thought was not about personal achievement, it was about the team that helped make it possible.
"There are so many different people across our business who make it happen," Baranski said. "My team shows up each day to deliver on our commitments to our customers and patients."
Since joining Cardinal Health in 2022, Baranski has taken on greater leadership responsibilities, and is currently a site leader for our Lakeland, Florida, distribution center. Today, he leads a team of 250 employees, overseeing daily operations. His focus on operational excellence and customer service helps ensure customers can depend on us to deliver when it matters most.
Baranski credits much of his leadership approach to mentors, including his father, Craig, who has worked in operations at Cardinal Health for more than 20 years. One lesson that has stayed with Baranski is putting people first by creating an environment where employees feel supported and valued.
As his career has progressed, Baranski has focused on creating opportunities for others. He hopes to be remembered for helping employees grow, develop new skills and see possibilities they may not have considered for themselves.
"If I positively impacted an employee and helped guide them into a role they didn't even see as possible, I know I did my job," he said.
Through leadership, mentorship and a commitment to developing people, Baranski continues to strengthen connections that support employees, customers and patients.
One purpose, lasting impact
While King and Baranski followed different career paths, both know that products, processes and technology are only part of it. The true strength of the healthcare supply chain lies in the people who respond to the needs of pharmacies, hospitals and physician offices who provide trusted care to patients in their communities.
From mentoring the next generation of employees to supporting emerging therapies and helping teams deliver for customers each day, King and Baranski bring a sense of purpose to their work that extends beyond their individual roles. Their stories serve as a reminder that behind every delivery is a team of people working to improve the lives of people each day.
Learn more about Cardinal Health’s supply chain:
Being there for healthcare providers when it matters most
1 Based on internal data on file at Cardinal Health