Richard Schirripa is a retired pharmacy professional who spent more than 50 years leading multiple stores in Brooklyn and Manhattan as the owner, president, and chief executive officer. Richard Schirripa began his career at the age of 14 as a stock boy at Drug Rich Pharmacy in Brooklyn. He worked his way up to store manager, which provided him with insight into every level of pharmacy operations.
A decade after receiving his pharmacy degree from the Brooklyn College of Pharmacy and his pharmacy license in the State of New York, Richard Schirripa opened Madison Avenue Pharmacy, Inc., in 1989 in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. During his time as a pharmacy leader in Manhattan, Mr. Schirripa began his extensive philanthropic work.
Under Richard Schirripa’s leadership, Madison Avenue Pharmacy became one of the city’s first pharmacies to support the Health For Heroes Program at Mount Sinai Hospital. Funded by a $1 million grant from the Bear Stearns Charitable Foundation, the Health For Heroes Program offers critical medication to first responders involved in the September 11 rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center, as well as other individuals impacted by the event.
A longtime member of the New York City medical community, Richard Schirripa played a vital role at Madison Avenue Pharmacy, which was the first and largest pharmacy to offer pharmacy services for September 11 first responders. The program allowed his pharmacy to provide necessary medications, as well as medical equipment, at no cost. Speaking about the launch of the program in 2002, then-president and chief executive officer of the Mount Sinai Medical Center, Kenneth Berns, said it was the facility’s “duty to do everything we can to ensure these heroes do not suffer ill health effects as a result of their selfless acts.” Both medical care workers and rescue and recovery volunteers were eligible for the program.
After about one year of providing cost-free services, medications, and related products to first responders through the Bear Stearns/Mount Sinai Health for Heroes Program, Richard Schirripa and his Madison Avenue Pharmacy became the primary independent pharmacy providing pharmaceutical services through the World Trade Center Health Program, which was also managed through Mountain Sinai Hospital.
As part of the World Trade Center Health Program, Richard Schirripa and his staff delivered high-quality pharmacy services to some of the city’s most valued and in-need first responders and volunteers. More than two decades later, the World Trade Center Health Program Clinical Center of Excellence at Mount Sinai continues to provide a range of critical services.
Established as part of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, programs and services are managed through the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety. Under the Zadroga Act, all services, including medical monitoring, treatment, mental health support, and benefits counseling are provided to 9/11 first responders and volunteers at no charge. During his time as the owner and leader of Madison Avenue Pharmacy, Richard Schirripa received a JD Power Award in the Health Mart Pharmacy category, in addition to a Pharmacy of the Year award.
Beyond his work on behalf of first responders and volunteers, Richard Schirripa supported the Metropolitan Hospital patient population during the 1980s AIDS epidemic. Since retiring, he has continued to support the New York City community by volunteering at the ELC Food Pantry of Northport/East Northport.