Steve Jobs once said, “We’re not going to get a chance to get people to remember much about us.” Only a handful of leaders are remembered, not for what they led, but why. They’re remembered as risk takers; the “crazy ones” who dare to care beyond products and profits. The leaders who care about serving people and making the world a better place for them.
Dr. Stephen Vogt, Pharm.D., the founder of BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy, is among that rare handful. He passed away on April 19, 2022, after fighting a valiant battle against glioblastoma.
He was a leader who understood the power of stirring the human heart and devoted his entire professional career to helping patients gain access to life-saving treatments. Through his steadfast belief in the power of working together with people, he helped change the world for millions of patients battling chronic conditions. For 32 years, until his retirement in October of 2021, he served as CEO of BioPlus and built it into the #1 independent specialty pharmacy in the United States.
As Dr. Vogt shared with the company before he passed: “Blessed is the man who gets the opportunity to devote his life to something bigger than himself and who finds himself surrounded by friends who share his passion. In this way, I am disproportionately blessed."
Dr. Vogt’s leadership and commitment to excellence and adapting to the changing needs of patients, providers, payers, and pharma resulted in numerous achievements and accolades over the years. BioPlus was named one of the best online pharmacies for 2020 by Money.com, earned a 4.8 rating on Google, was accredited by URAC, VIPPS, and ACHC with a Distinction in Oncology, and was ranked as one of the Top 100 Best Workplaces in Central Florida for several years running. All of this resulted from Dr. Vogt’s heart-filled leadership.
Mark Montgomery, who succeeded Dr. Vogt as CEO and remains in the position today, shares that “Dr. Vogt was a man of honor, integrity, and deep faith. He will be greatly missed by all of us in his BioPlus family. Our thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Vogt’s wife, children, grandchildren, other family, and his many friends.”
Dr. Vogt deeply cared for his family, as well as the greater community. His lifelong commitment to community care is evidenced by the many charity relationships BioPlus engaged in over the decades, including a 2gether program that supported improved treatment access through partnerships with nonprofit foundations.
In lieu of flowers, donations would be welcomed to the nonprofit OneWorld Health to continue Dr. Vogt’s 2gether mission to improve patient access to lifesaving treatments in under-resourced communities across the globe. Donations can be made here or by texting 2gether to 41444. For every $2 or $22 or even $222, the Vogt family will donate 2 times the amount raised to honor Dr. Vogt’s relentless devotion to patients’ access to healthcare.