About Gilbert
Biography
Joan and Gilbert Zilner are the architects of the Diamond Drug Company in Indiana County and are known for the company’s pioneering and innovation under their leadership.
They began medical related careers in their youth: Gib, at a local drugstore where he grew up in Arnold, and Joan, during summers at Indiana Hospital and later, with her mother, at Gatti Pharmacy.
They graduated in 1960 from pharmacy school at Duquesne University and worked at Gatti Pharmacy and Thrift Drug until 1970, when they purchased the Diamond Drug Store business in downtown Indiana.
Diamond Drug began service to a personal care home in Hillsdale, starting the Zilners’ company growth to become the largest independently owned long-term care pharmacy provider in the state. Now with clients in 48 states, Diamond has been the largest pharmacy provider to correctional institutions in the United States since 2001.
The Zilners operate two retail pharmacies, a retail medical supply store, a retail mailorder pharmacy, an FDA-certified drug repacking business and a healthcare software company, all in Indiana, as well as long-term care pharmacies in Lancaster and Reading. Diamond has a workforce of about 960 people.
Still very involved in the company, Joan serves as president and Gib as vice president. Their son Mark is the chief operating officer. Diamond has been named the Family Business of the Year by IUP, and the Employer of the Year by the Indiana Business and Professional Women. The company ranked among the Top 100 Businesses by Pennsylvania Business Central, and has been named to several lists of the fastest growing businesses in the U.S.
Most recently Joan and Gib were honored by Duquesne University’s Mylan School of Pharmacy as distinguished alumni, the first husband and wife to be honored together. The university will induct them into the Century Club of Distinguished Alumni in October.
Both have dedicated their efforts to numerous community service and professional organizations in Indiana County. Joan has served the Jimmy Stewart Museum, the St. Vincent DePaul Society thrift store, the Indiana County Technology Center’s Perkins tech prep advisory board, St. Bernard Church finance council, the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, the Grandmothers Corps, Indiana Hospital Auxiliary and the American Red Cross. Gib has been a part of Aging Services Inc., including two terms as board president; the Indiana County Airport Authority, the Knights of Columbus, the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists and the National Community Pharmacists Association.