MGRMC's Community-Owned Outpatient Pharmacy Set to Open by End of July

The new pharmacy will serve the entire Gila Valley community, not just hospital patients and staff.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 8:11pm

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A translucent, ghostly X-ray photograph revealing the intricate internal structure of a modern pharmacy counter, glowing with a faint blue light and conceptually representing the technical complexity and vital role of community-based healthcare infrastructure.An X-ray view of the new community-owned pharmacy's internal workings, highlighting its role as a vital healthcare resource for the Gila Valley region.Safford Today

Mount Graham Regional Medical Center (MGRMC) is preparing to open a new outpatient pharmacy called 'The Pharmacy at Mt. Graham' that will be the first community-owned pharmacy in the Gila Valley. The 3,154-square-foot facility is being constructed by local contractor Hughes Custom Performance and is on track to open by the end of July 2026 after receiving its temporary permit from the state.

Why it matters

The new community-owned pharmacy will expand local access to prescription services without corporate ownership, marking a first for the Gila Valley region. MGRMC sees this as an important initiative to provide better care for the entire local community, not just hospital patients and staff.

The details

The Pharmacy at Mt. Graham will operate as a full-service outpatient pharmacy open to the public, not just MGRMC patients. The drive-through window will be dedicated solely to pharmacy services. Special funding structures are making the $2.5 million project viable, allowing the hospital to turn those resources into direct services and benefits for residents. All three mechanical subcontractors on the construction project are also local companies.

  • The project had its groundbreaking on November 10, 2025.
  • MGRMC is targeting an end of July 2026 opening for the new pharmacy.
  • The pharmacy has already received its temporary permit from the state.

The players

Mount Graham Regional Medical Center (MGRMC)

The regional hospital serving the Gila Valley in Arizona, which is developing the new community-owned outpatient pharmacy.

Danny Smith

Speaking on behalf of MGRMC's marketing department, he explained the straightforward naming of 'The Pharmacy at Mt. Graham'.

Randy Bryce

MGRMC's Chief Operating Officer, who described the new pharmacy as one of the hospital's most visible and important initiatives.

Brian Hughes

The local contractor from Hughes Custom Performance who is overseeing the construction of the new 3,154-square-foot pharmacy facility.

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What they’re saying

“The marketing department may or may not have been responsible for naming the pharmacy at Graham… I think we've been talking about it so long that, as the pharmacy, it just seemed natural. The Pharmacy at Mt. Graham.”

— Danny Smith, MGRMC Marketing Department

“Our major project, which Danny hinted at, that's very visible, is the outpatient pharmacy. This again is an extension of us trying to take really good care of our community. This will be the first pharmacy in the Valley that is not privately or corporately owned, and with that designation of a community-owned pharmacy, we really intend to take really good care of our community. We'll take care of our staff, we'll take care of those that are patients, and we'll take very good care of our community at large.”

— Randy Bryce, MGRMC Chief Operating Officer

What’s next

MGRMC plans to release further details on the pharmacy's exact opening hours, services, and final launch date as the July target approaches.

The takeaway

The new community-owned pharmacy at MGRMC represents an important initiative to expand local access to prescription services without corporate ownership, marking a first for the Gila Valley region. This project aligns with the hospital's mission to provide high-quality care for the entire local community.