On May 26, 2009, the Laurel Health System Board of Directors recognized Craig Konzen, an employee at the Soldiers + Sailors Memorial Hospital (SSMH) Pharmacy, for "his thorough knowledge of dietary supplements, and his willingness to share that knowledge with the communities Laurel Health System serves." Konzen was also congratulated for the tremendous savings he continually facilitates in Laurel Health System’s prescription costs.

Konzen is a staff pharmacist in his fifth year of employment at the SSMH Pharmacy, having worked previously in retail pharmacy for Kroger in Atlanta, Georgia. To train quickly before receiving his Pennsylvania license, Konzen worked 12-hour night shifts for seven days straight at Kroger, then flew to Elmira and drove to Wellsboro to work on his “off” week for 6 months.

While working in retail pharmacy, he realized that to be able to answer all of his patients’ questions, he needed to have a better knowledge of alternative therapies. Konzen enrolled and completed training in Clinical Nutrition and Homeopathy; his personal mentor in homeopathy was also the personal physician to the Queen Mother of Great Britain. After completing his training, Konzen went to work for HealthTrust Alliance in Atlanta, Georgia and worked in alternative medicine with physicians and pharmacists around the country, ultimately becoming a professional speaker on various topics in healthcare. Here in Tioga County, Konzen gives presentations on a range of topics to the Tall Pines Dining Club, the Senior Centers, the Liberty community luncheon, the Morris 55 Club, and the Republican Ladies Club in Wellsboro.

Thanks to Konzen's input, one of the most prominent products having a major impact on the Hospital's patient care is Enterobiotic Plus. This product restores beneficial bacteria to the intestinal tract, replacing good bacteria lost through diarrhea or antibiotic use. The SSMH medical staff has approved its use on every patient in the hospital placed on antibiotic therapy.

Konzen has also taken ownership of Laurel Health System's prescription costs, frequently calling physicians to ask for less expensive alternatives on their prescriptions.