Harding College of Pharmacy Receives

Pre-Candidate Accreditation

The Harding University College of Pharmacy, Searcy, has received pre-candidate accreditation status and will seat its inaugural class this fall, according to a recent article in the Arkansas Pharmacist.

“A newly instituted doctor of pharmacy program of a college or school of pharmacy must be granted each of two pre-accreditation statuses at the appropriate stage of its development,” Dr. Julie Hixson-Wallace, dean of the College of Pharmacy, said. “Our faculty members are hired and we look forward to enrolling 60 students for our inaugural class in August.”

Thirty five students, representing 11 states, have been interviewed and accepted for enrollment this fall. More than 245 applications have been received for the approximately 25 remaining spots.

Granting of pre-candidate status indicates that a college’s or school’s planning for the doctor of pharmacy program has taken into account Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) standards and guidelines and suggests reasonable assurances of moving to the next step, that of candidate status. ACPE will schedule a site visit for 2009 to consider the college’s advancement to candidate status. 

The College of Pharmacy will offer a four-year program of study leading to the doctor of pharmacy degree. Plans for the new health sciences center, according to the article, are proceeding on schedule. The 40,000-sqare-foot facility will house both

06/09/08

Ivey Hired as Executive Director at VPhA

David L. Ivey, Fredericksburg, formerly president and CEO of the National Aeronautic Association, has been hired by the Virginia Pharmacists Association (VPhA) as executive director.

Ivey, who began his duties May 1, was selected during a national search. A political science graduate of Hendrix College, he began his association management career in Washington, D.C., following service in the Air Force. He has headed organizations focused on transportation, public parking and aviation.

06/23/08

APA Installs Officers; Announces

Awards at 127th Annual Convention

Pharmacists from across the state of Alabama gathered in Biloxi, Miss., June 12-15 for the Alabama Pharmacy Association (APA) Annual Convention and Trade Show. Event activities included continuing education (CE) seminars for pharmacists and technicians, an exhibit hall, a golf tournament and other social events.

New APA officers were installed and attended their first board of trustees meeting.

APA officers for 2008-2009 are David Darby, Andalusia, president; Steve Snyder, Wetumpka, president-elect; Ronnie Opolka, Guntersville, vice president; Daniel Mims, Pike Road, treasurer; Steve Love, Lillian, past president; and Michael Hogue, Mount Olive, academy chair.

Colleges of Pharmacy include R. Lee Evans, Auburn, Auburn SOP; Bobby Bryant, Birmingham, Samford SOP; Tony Hughes, Auburn, Auburn ASP president; and Emily Hawes, Birmingham, Samford ASP president. 

District trustees are Chris Burgess, Fairhope, District 1; Desak Hicks, Coffeeville, District 2; Joe Dalton, Dothan, District 3; Latonage Porter, Montgomery, District 4; Dane Yarbrough, Tuscaloosa, District 5; Kenny Sanders, Bessemer, District 6; Donnie Calhoun, Anniston, District 7; Buddy Bunch, Guntersville, District 8; Gerald Newbern, Florence, District 9; Dustin Beaty, Jasper, District 10; Kimberly Braxton-Lloyd, Auburn, District 11; Danny Cottrell, Brewton, District 12; Clay Wilson, Birmingham, trustee-at-large #1; and Rhonda Harden, Tuskegee, trustee-at-large #2.

Outstanding APA members received awards for their achievements, including the highest honor, the Bowl of Hygeia Award, given to a pharmacist who has made outstanding professional contributions and has participated in community or governmental activities that reflect well on the pharmacy profession. Recipient of that award was Rick Stephens, Tuscaloosa. David Darby, Andalusia, received the Lester White Good Government Award; Neal Presley, Opp, was recipient of the Distinguished Young Pharmacists Award; Pattisue Carranza, Orange Beach, received the J. Wayne Staggs Distinguished Service award; Lynda Staggs, Huntsville, was recipient of the Innovative Pharmacy Practice Award; and Cynthia Rodgers, Brewton, was named Pharmacy Technician of the Year.                

“The theme of the 2008 convention was ‘Traditional Values, Progressive Ideas’. APA was founded in 1881 and many of the ideals set forth by the original leaders of this organization, such as the pharmacist’s role in the community and the need to help educate the public about healthcare, are very much a part of pharmacy today,” states APA executive director Louise Jones.

APA’s Annual Convention and Trade Show offers pharmacists from all practice settings the opportunity to obtain required CE credits, stay current on topics affecting the pharmaceutical profession, share business ideas with colleagues, visit with company representatives of the pharmaceutical products and services industry, catch up with old friends and meet new ones working in their profession.  

“The theme of the 2008 convention was ‘Traditional Values, Progressive Ideas’. APA was founded in 1881 and many of the ideals set forth by the original leaders of this organization, such as the pharmacist’s role in the community and the need to help educate the public about healthcare, are very much a part of pharmacy today,” states APA executive director Louise Jones.

APA’s Annual Convention and Trade Show offers pharmacists from all practice settings the opportunity to obtain required CE credits, stay current on topics affecting the pharmaceutical profession, share business ideas with colleagues, visit with company representatives of the pharmaceutical products and services industry, catch up with old friends and meet new ones working in their profession.

06/23/08

UGA College of Pharmacy Graduates 144 Students

The University of Georgia College of Pharmacy graduated 144 Doctor of Pharmacy and non–traditional Doctor of Pharmacy students in ceremonies May 3. Of those students, 97 graduated with honors: 13 summa cum laude, 38 magna cum laude and 46 cum laude.

In addition, a record number of 28 graduates were selected to attend postgraduate residency programs in Georgia and across the United States.

Graduation festivities began with the 60th annual pharmacy awards banquet where 18 students received 15 separate awards for special achievement, academic excellence and professionalism.

Amy Lynn Kendrick, Augusta, received the Robert C. Wilson Award, as an outstanding member of the graduating class. Charles Kimani Maina, Winterville, received the Kenneth L. Waters Award, which recognizes academic excellence, leadership qualities, professional attitude and service. Catherine Brooks Ward,  Thomasville, was recipient of the Durward N. Entrekin Pharmacy Student Leadership Award.

The Lilly Achievement Award recognized Amy Louise Woodhouse, Smyrna, for academic achievement, and Sarah DuPree Coffee, Atlanta, Adam Christopher Frey,  Athens, and Karen Elizabeth Najolia Haslauer, Kenner, La., received the Merck Awards, also for academic excellence.

The APhA-ASP Mortar & Pestle Professionalism Award went to Jason Owen Milton, Clarksville. The Facts and Comparisons Award of Excellence in Clinical Communications went to Lindsey Hildreth Welch, Thomson, for high academic achievement and outstanding clinical communication skills.

The GlaxoSmithKline Patient Care Award was given to Russell Andrew Crow,  Gainesville, for exemplary performance during clinical rotation; and the McKesson Award, based on professional practice activities, was presented Michelle Lee Schlueter, Atlanta.

The Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. Excellence in Pharmacy Award for high academic achievement and professional motivation was awarded to Andrew Wesley White,  Albany. Steven Brian King, Doulgasville, received the Perrigo Award of Excellence in Non-prescription Medication Studies.

The Pharmdawg Award for service to the profession, the college and the community was presented to William Ford Douglass, Atlanta, and to Phillip Harvey Howell,  Athens. Kellianne Boyle, Monroe, received the Redfearn Award for community service. Shelley Lynn Bates, Hull, received the Roche Pharmacy Communications Award, which is based on effective patient communication, an interest in patient care and commitment to the profession of pharmacy. Lexie Melaine Turner, Battle Mountain, Nev., received the TEVA Pharmaceuticals USA Outstanding Student Award.

06/09/08

South Carolina Board of Pharmacy

Hubert Mobley, RPh, has been appointed a member of the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation - Board of Pharmacy. His appointment will end June 30, 2013.

06/09/08

Alabama State Board of Pharmacy

Donnie Calhoun, RPh, has been appointed a member of the Alabama State Board of Pharmacy. That appointment will expire December 31, 2012.

06/09/08

News from the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy

Chung “David” Chu, distinguished research scientist, received $496,711 for a continuing study of the synthesis and biotransformation of anti-HIV prodrugs from the National Institutes of Health.

Azza El-Remessy, assistant professor, received $150,000 from Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International for study of the pro-inflammatory role of peroxynitrite diabetic retinopathy.

Susan Fagan, assistant dean for MCG programs, received $80,799 from the Medical College of Georgia for a continuing study using minocycline to improve neurologic outcome.

Kalen Porter, clinical assistant professor, became a certified asthma educator by passing the national asthma educator certification exam.

Mohamed Abdelsaid, a CET graduate student, was awarded first place in MCG graduate research day (poster presentation) and Roshini Prakash, a CET graduate student, was awarded second place in VA Research day (poster presentation).

Shelley Hooks, assistant professor, received $123,262 from the Elsa U. Pardee Foundation for the study of RSG regulation of LPA signaling in ovarian cancer.

Brian Cummings, assistant professor, has been elected as a councilor on the In Vitro and Alternative Methods Specialty Section of Society of Toxicology.

Vasu Nair, William H. Terry, Sr., professor, Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar, received the UGA Inventor’s Award that recognizes the researcher behind a unique, creative, and innovative discovery that has made an impact on the community.

Daniel Forrister, assistant professor, selected to be a UGA Service-Learning Fellow for 2008-09; the year-long appointment provides an opportunity for selected faculty to investigate, develop, implement, and integrate service learning into their teaching, research and public service work, while becoming recognized campus leaders in service-learning pedagogy and community engagement.

Graduate student Mohamed Abd El Said was awarded Best Poster prize for Program in Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics at Graduate Research Day at MCG.

Jennifer Boykin was selected recipient of the 2008 RXportfolios National Achievement Award, based on content, quality of writing and overall achievements professionally displayed in her RX Portfolio.

Richard Lo and Andrew Rogalski have been named to Blue Key Honor Society.

06/09/08