Pharmacy's Federal Recognition

USPHS IPEC Award - Members of the University of Central Florida team

A new USPHS award builds upon a growing tradition of distinguishing pharmacy’s role in public health.

The Public Health Excellence in Interprofessional Education Collaboration Award, a joint effort with the Interprofessional Education Collaborative, joins the USPHS Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Award in the organization’s cadre of prestigious recognitions.

Seeking to recognize health education programs that have significantly impacted their communities through multidisciplinary collaboration, the new award focuses specifically on programs improving health knowledge, awareness and behavior. The inaugural award was given to one national winner, with five honorable mentions.

“Public health starts with education,” emphasized Rear Admiral Pamela M. Schweitzer, Pharm.D., BCACP, chief professional officer of pharmacy, U.S. Public Health Service. “To build a strong community health infrastructure, we must continue to learn collaboratively and serve collectively. In doing so, we can effectively promote and advance the health of our Nation.”

“Interprofessional health care practice is achievable and it works,” says Richard W. Valachovic, D.M.D., M.P.H., president of IPEC and president and CEO of the American Dental Education Association. “We applaud the students and faculty of the University of Central Florida, and all of the nominees, for showing that if we educate health professionals together, patients and the entire health care system benefit.”

USPHS IPEC Award - Members of the University of Central Florida team
At the Summer 2017 IPEC Council Meeting, the USPHS IPEC Inaugural Award was presented to members of the University of Central Florida team for their program: Harnessing the Strength of Inter-Professional Teams to Provide Comprehensive Care for the Farmworkers of Apopka, Florida.

 

The Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Practice Award recognizes student pharmacists who have made significant contributions to public health by promoting wellness and healthy communities. 

Below are the recipients of both awards.

Public Health Excellence in Interprofessional Education Collaboration Award

2017 USPHS IPEC Inaugural Award: Overall Winner

University of Central Florida

Harnessing the Strength of Inter-Professional Teams to Provide Comprehensive Care for the Farmworkers of Apopka, Florida

  • Judith S. Simms-Cendan, M.D., College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Heather Peralta, DHSc, MSN, RN, College of Nursing
  • Priya K. Patel, B.S., College of Medicine (MedPACt)
  • Alexander Diaz, B.S., College of Medicine (MedPACt)

2017 USPHS IPEC Honorable Mention: Health Communications and Health Technology

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine 

Community Paramedicine

  • Victoria Reinhartz, Pharm.D., School of Pharmacy
  • James Crutchfield, NREMT-P, CCEMT-P, CCHW, Manatee County Public Safety Department
  • David Nonell, M.D., Manatee County Emergency Medical Services
  • Melissa Larkin-Skinner, MBA, LMHC, Centerstone of Florida

2017 USPHS IPEC Honorable Mention: Behavioral Health

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Bridging the Gap: Caring for Birmingham’s Most Vulnerable Populations

  • Cynthia S. Selleck, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, School of Nursing
  • Maria R. Shirey, Ph.D., MBA, RN, NEA-BC, ANEF, FACHE, FAAN, School of Nursing

2017 USPHS IPEC Honorable Mention: Public Health Infrastructure

Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health
Professions 

Crimson Care Collaborative: An Interprofessional Academic-Practice Partnership

  • Patricia A. Reidy, DNP, FNP-BC, School of Nursing
  • Marya J. Cohen, M.D., M.P.H., Harvard Medical School

2017 USPHS IPEC Honorable Mention: Community Empowerment and Education

East Tennessee State University

East Tennessee State University Prescription Drug Abuse
and Misuse Working Group

  • Robert P. Pack, Ph.D., M.P.H., School of Public Health
  • Nicholas Hagemeier, Pharm.D., Ph.D., Gatton College of Pharmacy
  • Fred Tudiver, M.D., College of Family Medicine
  • Angela Hagaman, M.A., LPCA, College of Public Health

2017 USPHS IPEC Honorable Mention: At Risk and Vulnerable Communities

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Increasing Access to Healthcare Services through an Interprofessional, Student-Led, Health Education and Medical Screening Program for Homeless Men in Birmingham Alabama

  • James R. Kilgore, Ph.D., PA-C, School of Health Professions
  • Kimberly Meadows Clark, Firehouse Ministries
  • Doug Kovash, Firehouse Ministries
  • J.M. Trimm, Ph.D, School of Health Professions
Learn more about the Public Health Excellence in Interprofessional Education Collaboration Award 2018 application cycle.

USPHS Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Award

2016–2017 Top Award Recipients

Emily Highsmith

University of Pacific

For demonstrated leadership in organizations devoted to improving vaccination rates, ensuring affordable healthcare access, and serving the homeless.

Ali Scrimenti

University at Buffalo, The State University of New York 

For service to the public through the many projects she coordinated to promote patient health and disease treatment awareness. 

Rayburn Mumbuna

West Coast University

For leadership, commitment, and involvement in providing services in HIV/AIDS prevention including travel to Zambia on humanitarian missions.

Chandler Schexnayder

Xavier University of Louisiana

Recognition of his strong commitment to serve the underserved by hosting local health fairs, creating an initiative to promote oral health, and playing an integral role on the healthcare team in Haiti.

Kalyann Kauv

Virginia Commonwealth University

Recognition of her relentless effort to improve medication adherence in underserved urban communities.

Sefa Kploanyi

Touro College of Pharmacy–New York

For co-founding the Pharmacist for Public (PPH) student organization and providing community outreach focused on nutrition, HIV, and Hepatitis education and screening.

Taylor Griffies

Campbell University

For her commitment to serving underserved populations locally and abroad. This includes extensive health education programs, mental health awareness, and medical mission trips to Honduras.

Do you know a student who has made significant contributions to public health by promoting wellness and healthy communities? Nominate him or her for the USPHS Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Award. Learn more about the current application cycle.

Angela Pruitt

Chicago State University

For educating underserved youth on health literacy and empowering them to make a difference in their communities.

Katie Brooks

The University of Oklahoma

For her active involvement and leadership in a wide array of public health projects locally and abroad.

Melissa Bradley

Auburn University

Recognition of her dedication to improving access to healthcare in underserved communities through volunteerism and sustained leadership in efforts to establish a free clinic.

Meredith Welty

Wingate University

For her leadership in reducing health disparities by establishing an educational program, through her university, to provide health literacy to new and expecting parents served by the crisis pregnancy center in her community.

Sonia Andrea Laguado

The University of Texas at Austin

Recognition of her commitment to combatting the opioid epidemic demonstrated by her leadership and community engagement in her role as the founding student director of her university’s Operation Naloxone.

Alexander Mills

Purdue University

Recognition for outstanding efforts towards providing and transforming wound care compression therapy services for underserved populations in western Kenya.

Hang Tran

Pacific University, Oregon

Recognition for her leadership and dedication towards the development of student-led community public health initiatives, peer training and team building, and interprofessional health services to positively impact the lives of thousands of patients.

Andrew Gaiser

Duquesne University, Pennsylvania

Recognition for his contribution and outstanding efforts to enhance access to naloxone rescue medications and promote screening for hepatitis C.