2011 Next-Generation Pharmacist Awards: Meet the Finalists

Civic Leader of the Year

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Peter Crouch, BSPharm

Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner, Eden Drug

Eden, North Carolina

Peter Crouch’s commitment to his community extends from the personal health of his patients to the health of the local economy.

Although he has been a pharmacist for 35 years, Crouch has not slowed down— Eden Drug handles 500 to 600 prescriptions per day, and reached the 1,000,000 mark in the summer of 2010. The pharmacy offers a variety of specialized services, including drug testing for local businesses, vaccine clinics for groups doing mission work abroad, and education programs.

Crouch fosters personal relationships with patients and encourages his staff to do the same. He rewards employees on a monthly basis for engaging in community work and encourages them to write 10 handwritten notes to patients monthly. The staff also coordinated a backpack drive, ultimately delivering 1700 bags stuffed with supplies to local schoolchildren.

Crouch is currently spearheading an innovative “spread the wealth” initiative designed to support the local economy. Inspired by the idea that 70% of money spent locally directly benefits the community, Crouch distributed $2000 in specially stamped $2 bills to his 35 employees. The employees must spend the money locally without paying bills and give at least 10% to charity. The stamps allow Crouch to track the bills as they make their way through the community.

A pharmacist consultant for Hospice of Rockingham County since 1995, Crouch is a member of the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists.

John Forbes, RPh

Owner, Medicap Pharmacy

Urbandale, Iowa

John Forbes was named Urbandale Citizen of the Year for 2009, and a look at his extensive civic involvement demonstrates why he was an excellent choice.

A member of the Urbandale City Council, Chamber of Commerce, and Public Library board, as well as the Urbandale High School Booster Club, Forbes cares deeply about the foundation of his community and remains constantly involved in its future.

Forbes also coordinated the Central Iowa Honor Flight Committee, a group that raises money to send World War II veterans to visit the memorial in Washington, DC. Forbes has helped raise more than $1.5 million so far to sponsor 3 of the flights, which allow the veterins to travel all expenses paid on a chartered 747. He also serves as the medical director on the trips, overseeing a staff of 3 physicians.

When he is behind the counter at Medicap Pharmacy in Urbandale, Forbes abides by a philosophy of preventive medicine. In the late 1990s, he established one of the first screening and preventive health programs in Urbandale, offering blood pressure and bone density screenings, retina checks, and other services. Certified in immunization as well as pharmaceutical care, Forbes and his pharmacy staff also immunize between 8000 and 10,000 patients per year.

Past president of the Polk County Pharmacists Association and the Iowa Pharmacy Association Board of Directors, Forbes was honored with the Bowl of Hygeia in 2010 for his outstanding service to the community.

John Gotowko, RPh, MS, MBA, FASCP

Director of Pharmacy, Wende Correctional Facility

Alden, New York

In his position as the Director of Pharmacy at the maximum security Wende Correctional Facility, John Gotowko strives to treat each patient he meets with dignity and respect.

This commitment to quality health care for all benefits hundreds of patients, including the 950 inmates at the facility, those in an 80-bed acute care regional medical unit and a 28-bed dialysis unit, 244 inmates in the primary mental health unit, and 50 inmates in an off-campus minimum security facility.

Gotowko has served on the Niagara County Board of Health since 2001, and has served 3 years each in the roles of president and vice president. He works to inform the other health care professionals on the Board about the role of pharmacists and their importance in public health. Gotowko has been instrumental in helping the Board make informed decisions when developing policies regarding pharmaceuticals.

Gotowko also works to improve his community by volunteering his time to help with prescription drug take-back programs, emergency preparedness drills, mass prophylaxis dispensing operations, and immunization awareness events. He used his own resources to become certified for vaccination so that he could volunteer at health department points of dispensing for the H1N1 vaccine.

A member of the New York State Education Department Office of Professions Board of Pharmacy for 10 years, Gotowko has also served on the New York State Department of Health Drug Utilization Review Committee for Medicaid for 7 years.

 Entrepreneur of the Year

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Ken Fields, PharmD

President/Owner, ApproRx and Waynesville Pharmacy

Waynesville, Ohio

Ken Fields’ entrepreneurial ventures maximize the expertise of pharmacists to the benefit of the surrounding community.

Dr. Fields’ 2 pharmacies both offer lab services, including international normalized ratio (INR) testing, A1C testing, and hypertension monitoring. This has proved extremely convenient for patients, but it’s life saving as well—many times Dr. Fields’ lab has discovered dangerous INRs and uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension that saved possible trips to the emergency department (ED).

In addition to monitoring chronic conditions, Dr. Fields and his pharmacist wife run the Fields Mini-Medical Clinic, which was launched to meet the needs of local patients who are underinsured or uninsured. The service is also open to those who want immediate care without visiting an ED. Along with an onsite physician, the Fields help meet the basic medical needs of their community.

This young entrepreneur also helps patients who are opioid dependent. With support from Reckitt Benckiser, Dr. Fields opened a Suboxone clinic, which provides a team-based approach to addiction treatment. Currently serving 99 patients, the clinic has had excellent outcomes so far.

Dr. Fields founded ApproRx, a pharmacist-friendly pharmacy benefits manager that caters to securing medication therapy management (MTM) and wellness payments for pharmacists. ApproRx does not use mail order, and instead 90-day supplies of prescriptions are dispensed at the retail level. He has also convinced third party administrators and insurance plans that it is to their benefit to sell plans that include MTM services by pharmacists.

Doug Kaleugher, BSPharm

President/ Owner, Med-Fast Pharmacy

Aliquippa, Pennsylvania

Doug Kaleugher, a nontraditional pharmacist-entrepreneur, develops all types of businesses to solve problems in the field.

Kaleugher considered enrolling in law school until an encounter at a poorly run pharmacy sparked his interest in improving the profession. Today, Kaleugher owns 5 Med-Fast pharmacies that use a fleet of 30 cars for their free delivery service. To meet his pharmacies’ demand for vehicles, Kaleugher bought a rental car franchise and is testing the idea of renting cars via his pharmacy.

Kaleugher continues to diversify. His mail-order business processes 6000 prescriptions per week, and his long-term care business is growing rapidly. Although his interests are varied—he also owns a limousine service and a sign-making company—Kaleugher is committed first and foremost to providing the best customer service for his patients. This is evidenced by the fact that the Med-Fast Pharmacy 24-hour line is his own cell number.

Kaleugher encourages an entrepreneurial spirit in his employees as well. When a pharmacy technician revealed a passion for compounding, he gave her the space to start her own successful compounding business. In addition, employees are invited to offer suggestions to save money or streamline operations, with the best ideas receiving prizes at the end of the year.

Although business-savvy, Kaleugher is not all about the bottom line. When the father of one of his long-time employees grew ill, Kaleugher quietly covered his medical costs, demonstrating that taking care of others remains this entrepreneur’s driving force.

Michael Schwartzwald, RPh

CEO/President, Black Forest Pharmacy Services, Ltd Owner, GuidePoint Pharmacy

Brainerd, Minnesota

Michael Schwartzwald capitalized on his experience revitalizing failing pharmacies to start his own successful ventures.

A former pharmacy manager for CUB Pharmacy, Schwartzwald was tasked with turning around struggling pharmacies. In 3 years, he transformed 3 pharmacies from underperforming to flourishing. The secret to Schwartzwald’s success was a simple but critical combination of technology, patient counseling, and high-quality customer service.

With the tools in place, Schwartzwald took the plunge into independent ownership. He purchased GuidePoint Pharmacy in Brainerd in 2001, and has since become the majority owner of 5 more pharmacies. Schwartzwald offers a suite of important services to his patients, including MTM, health and wellness screenings, compounding services, insulin pump training and footwear products for patients with diabetes, and immunization clinics.

Schwartzwald willingly shares his business acumen with other entrepreneurs. He is a HealthMart Ambassador and helps other independent pharmacists in Wisconsin and Minnesota develop or strengthen their businesses. When a local small town pharmacy was sold, potentially forcing its patients to switch to mail order, Schwartzwald stepped in. By offering to mentor 2 young pharmacists in pharmacy ownership, he helped save the business, which had been in operation since 1903.

Schwartzwald has received a Best in Class award from Outcomes for the delivery of superior MTM in central Minnesota and an Innovation Award from Mirixa in recognition of best pharmacy practices in managing patient outcomes.

Future Pharmacist of the Year

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Kyle Burcher

University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, 2012

Athens, Georgia

Kyle Burcher stands out for his tireless dedication to patient care and pharmacy advocacy.

Burcher often volunteers his time, always with the goal of using his pharmacy expertise to help others. He has served as a counselor at a camp that provides diabetes education for children with type 1 diabetes, volunteered at the Arkansas Free Health Center, developed pamphlets on proper diet for patients with diabetes for the American Diabetes Association, and raised money for the Easter Seals of North Georgia.

Burcher recently played a pivotal role in a massive Multicultural Health Fair at the state’s largest flea market. Anticipating the needs of the local Hispanic population, Burcher arranged to have 4 translators from the Spanish Club accompany the 51 pharmacy students. The volunteers provided screening and education to more than 350 patients.

This future pharmacist is an active member of the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP). At this year’s APhA-ASP-sponsored Dawgtoberfest, a health fair for the college community, Burcher coordinated pharmacy students to provide vaccinations and education to faculty members and students.

Burcher is also a strong pharmacy advocate. He organized a letter writing campaign in advance of the Georgia Pharmacy Association’s Pharmacy Legislative Day that resulted in 62 letters advocating propharmacy legislation. Burcher also participated in the National Association of Chain Drug Stores RxImpact Day, where he met with members of Congress to discuss the benefits of the Medication Therapy Management Benefits Act of 2011.

Gina Pettineo

Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy, 2011

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Gina Pettineo is a proactive future pharmacist who makes education a huge part of her approach to pharmacy practice.

An excellent student, Pettineo shares her enthusiasm and knowledge about patient care with her peers. She has coordinated training events for fellow pharmacy students to help them successfully perform health screenings. She planned a Patient Counseling Competition to help classmates practice their clinical skills. Pettineo also organized student volunteers from each college of pharmacy in the state for the Florida Pharmacy Association’s Tallahassee Health Fair, leading to a very successful event.

Pettineo has also been responsible for coordinating a variety of patient care events in her Florida community, including the Day for Children, which taught medication safety to kids, Boomers & Beyond, an event that included bone density screenings and skin damage assessments, and the Glucose Games fundraiser and diabetes awareness event.

Pettineo is extremely active politically as well. After seeing the positive impact that immunizing pharmacists have on health care, she wrote a resolution for the Florida legislature advocating to extend the right to immunize to pharmacy technicians under the supervision of a pharmacist. Although the resulting bill did not ultimately pass, her efforts prove her to be a strong pharmacy advocate.

In addition to her service activities, Pettineo is a student representative on the Florida Pharmacy Association Executive Committee, served as 2009-2010 president of her university’s chapter APhA-ASP, and is a member of Phi Lambda Sigma and the American Society of HealthSystem Pharmacists (ASHP).

Edward Saito

Creighton University, 2012

Omaha, Nebraska

Edward Saito’s 4.0 grade point average belies the fact that he gives an incredible amount of time and energy to extracurricular service projects.

As coordinator of the Institute of Latin America Concern (ILAC) Summer Program, Saito helped organize a service trip to the Dominican Republic. In advance of their stay, Saito and other pharmacy students collected toiletries and other staples for donation. During the 2-month program, the students provided pharmaceutical services to a rural community. They also participated in service projects to help meet the basic needs of the population, such as building housing and installing plumbing.

Saito also volunteers in the community around Creighton University’s campus in Omaha, Nebraska. He provided cardiovascular risk screening and health care information at the Binational Health and Wellness Fair and Black Family Health and Wellness Fair, as well as for Project Homeless. All 3 events benefit underprivileged members of the Omaha community. In addition, Saito helps staff the student-run immunization clinic.

Concerned about the impact of pharmaceuticals in the environment, Saito drafted a grant proposal and organized the budget for Mission Medication Disposal, a student-led initiative that works for the safe and ecologically sound disposal of medications.

In addition to his achievements in scholarship and his dedication to serving others, Saito also belongs to a variety of professional organizations. He is currently serving as president of Rho Chi National Pharmacy Honor Society, is active in APhA-ASP, and is a member of Phi Lambda Sigma.

 Industry Advocate of the Year

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Anthony Brooklere, RPh

Owner/Pharmacist, Adamsville Pharmacy

Adamsville, Alabama

Throughout his 53-year career, Anthony Brooklere has raised the level of patient care in Alabama and improved the position of more than a thousand independent pharmacists.

Brooklere is one of the original founders of the American Pharmacy Cooperative Inc (APCI), a buying group for independent pharmacists. Started in 1985, ACPI allows independent pharmacists to capitalize on their buying power, giving them a greater voice within the industry and allowing them to stay competitive. The group has grown from an initial collective of 100 pharmacies in Alabama to include 1488 stores in 24 states.

Brooklere also insists on high standards for patient care, as evidenced by his work with the Alabama Board of Pharmacy, of which he is a past president. Because of his efforts, the board passed a requirement that Alabama pharmacists must consult with new patients when dispensing prescriptions.

For 43 years, Brooklere has owned his own pharmacy, and in that time he has passed his love of pharmacy on to both of his children, who are also pharmacists. Brooklere and his son have even joined forces, and together own 3 pharmacies to meet the needs of their community.

Brooklere is a member and past president of the Alabama Pharmacist Association. He is also the recipient of numerous awards, including the Auburn University School of Pharmacy Distinguished Alumni Service Award, Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Alumni Leadership Award, and the Bowl of Hygeia.

Jerry Kaup, RPh

Owner/Pharmacist, Kaup Pharmacy

Fort Recovery, Ohio

“Full service” hardly describes the scope of what Jerry Kaup provides for his patients in rural Ohio and Indiana.

Kaup and his wife, who is also a pharmacist, have grown their business from a single pharmacy location in 1980 to 5 thriving pharmacies that provide services tailored to meet the needs of the local population. They make themselves available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week for their patients.

Seeing the need for durable medical equipment in the community, Kaup expanded to offer goods such as hospital beds, oxygen, and wheelchairs. He added a warehouse and showroom to display the equipment, which also includes lift chairs and mobility scooters. A home infusion division and compounding services were also added in response to demand from customers.

Kaup offers mail and home delivery to his patients. He carries a full line of diabetic supplies and support stockings in his pharmacies, and employs reimbursement specialists to help facilitate the process of billing these items to Medicare, Medicaid, and insurance companies.

Pharmacy advocacy is also very important to Kaup, and he has worked to ensure that lawmakers understand the crucial role of pharmacists, particularly in rural communities. Kaup invited a staffer from the office of Representative John Boehner (R, Ohio) to visit his pharmacy to demonstrate the value of the services he provides and reinforce the importance of reimbursement across market segments.

Autumn Wells, PharmD

Clinical Community Pharmacist and Pharmacy Manager, Family Drug, Inc 

Big Stone Gap, Virginia

Autumn Wells advances the field of pharmacy by providing critical diabetes services and training future generations of pharmacy professionals.

Dr. Wells is the only nationally certified diabetes educator in a 4-county area around Big Stone Gap, Virginia. A known regional diabetes expert, Dr. Wells sees patients from as far as 2 counties away who seek her expertise. She has added diabetic shoe fitting and diabetes education services to her pharmacy, as well as MTM, compounding, disease state management, and vaccination.

She is also an advocate for the industry in her various association roles, including president of the Lonesome Pine Pharmacists Association, a division of the Virginia Pharmacists Association. Dr. Wells has served on the Virginia Pharmacists Association’s Legislative and Local Association Revitalization committees and currently serves on the Communication Steering Committee for the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA).

Dr. Wells is also dedicated to teaching future generations. An adjunct professor at Mountain Empire Community College, she teaches pharmacy technician and medical terminology courses. In recognition of her commitment to her students, Dr. Wells was named Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year for the 2008-2009 academic year.

An active member of a variety of other national pharmacy organizations, Dr. Wells attends industry meetings regularly. She was honored with the Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award from the Virginia Pharmacists Association and also participates in many volunteer activities within her community.

Lifetime Achievement

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Stephen Giroux, RPh

Owner, Middleport Family Health Center

Middleport, New York

For Stephen Giroux, independent pharmacy has been a love from a young age. His best friend’s father was an independent pharmacist, and from age 8 Giroux would spend his free time helping in the pharmacy.

Pharmacy ownership was important to Giroux, so within 2 years after graduation from pharmacy school, he made his dream a reality. Early in his career, he met the president of the NCPA, and was inspired to become active on behalf of the independent pharmacy community. Giroux soon became involved in his state association, and began lobbying for the interests of independent pharmacy at the local, state, and national levels.

In 2008, Giroux served as the president of NCPA. His tenure came during a challenging time for independent pharmacists. Some of the issues facing NCPA members included decreased reimbursements, the threat of average manufacturer’s price, and the downturn in the economy. Giroux persevered and continued to provide much needed leadership, even when things seemed bleak.

Giroux has also become a spokesperson for pharmacy. He has consulted with national leaders on health care issues, giving advice about best practices and how to pay for them. Giroux also advocates for the role of the pharmacist, stressing the fact that pharmacists are the most accessible health care providers and that their counseling is often the first and last link in the health care chain.

Giroux has won numerous awards, including the NCPA Leadership Award and the McKesson Leadership Award.

Steven Judy, RPh

Co-owner and Pharmacist, Judy’s Drug Store

Petersburg, West Virginia

Editor’s Note: Steven Judy’s nomination for this award was made posthumously.

Steven Judy, RPh, was known by his peers for his understanding of pharmacy technology, but his patients will remember his compassionate care.

The son of a pharmacist, Judy worked for his father and eventually took over the business. His professional philosophy was to ensure that every patient was cared for individually, and that his and her needs were met completely. To that end, Judy created a diabetic education department in his pharmacy and introduced compounding and delivery services.

In times of real need, the community could count on Judy. In 1985, a flood in Petersburg, West Virginia, closed every business in town, except for the hospital and Judy’s Drug. Judy stayed open to assist the National Guard in getting prescriptions to patients who needed them.

Judy was a member of the NCPA Innovation and Technology Committee, and he advocated for the use of technology to improve safety, convenience, and health outcomes. ComputerTalk for the Pharmacist Publisher Bill Lockwood described Judy as his “go-to guy” for insight into pharmacy technology. Judy represented independent pharmacists on the board of the American Society for Automation in Pharmacy.

Judy served on the West Virginia State Board of Pharmacy for 6 years. He was also a member of the West Virginia Drug Utilization Review Board for Medicaid, chairman of the Grant County Board of Health, and president of the Grant County Chamber of Commerce. He won the Bowl of Hygeia in 2005.

Whitaker Moose, Sr, BSPharm

Moose Drug Company

Mount Pleasant, North Carolina

For Whit Moose, Sr, pharmacy is in the family: his grandfather opened Moose Drug Company in 1882, and his sons are fourth-generation pharmacists.

After receiving his pharmacy degree, Moose joined the family business, and worked to innovate the pharmacy model his grandfather started. Under his stewardship, Moose Drug has expanded to 5 locations, all of which focus on patient care and providing cutting edge community-based clinical services.

Besides passing his passion for pharmacy to his sons, Moose secures the future of pharmacy by mentoring students. He started a community residency program in 2001, and has worked with 13 residents who have gone on to successful pharmacy careers. He also invites students completing experiential rotations into Moose Drug, where they have the chance to enhance clinical services, work on medication safety protocols, and organize community outreach programs.

Moose spent 23 years on the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy, with 3 terms as president. He is a past president of the NCPA and past president of the North Carolina Pharmaceutical Association, where he founded the North Carolina Leaders Forum to discuss legislative issues at the state level.

Moose is a highly respected civic leader, having served on the boards of the Red Cross, Carbarrus Meals on Wheels, and the Salvation Army, among others. He has won numerous awards, including the Bowl of Hygeia, UNC School of Pharmacy Alumna Association Pharmacist of the Year, and the M. Keith Fearing Jr Community Pharmacy Practice Award.

Gianna Talone-Sullivan, PharmD

Foundress/Director of Pharmacy, Mission of Mercy

Frederick, Maryland

Gianna TaloneSullivan’s personal philosophy is that every patient is important and deserving of her undivided attention, no matter his or her personal circumstances.

Dr. Talone-Sullivan started her career as vice president of Pharmacy Services for United Health Care/Physician’s Health Plan in Arizona. She worked with PCS Health Systems to institute a National Drug Formulary and managed a National Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee composed of nationally recognized practitioners.

In 1991, Dr. Talone-Sullivan founded Mission of Mercy, a nonprofit organization that provides free health care, prescriptions, and dental care to uninsured and underinsured people. Started in Arizona, the organization now has expanded to Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Using recreational vehicles that are outfitted as mobile medical clinics, Mission of Mercy has volunteers from multiple health care professions. The organization has grown from 6 volunteers the first year to more than 640 staff and volunteers today.

The Missions of Mercy clinics see up to 150 patients per day and dispense more than 300 prescriptions per day. Dr. Talone-Sullivan capitalizes on indigent pharmacy programs in cooperation with pharmaceutical companies so she can offer the latest pharmacologic therapies. Since its inception, Mission of Mercy has completed a total of more than 280,000 patient visits, dispensed more than 520,000 free prescriptions, and provided more than 55,000 free dental procedures.

Dr. Talone-Sullivan does not take a salary from Mission of Mercy, choosing to work as a part-time community pharmacist.

 Long-Term Care Pharmacist of the Year

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Mark Adler, RPh

Owner/Pharmacist, Adler’s Pharmacy

Sicklerville, New Jersey

Mark Adler knows that advances made in the long-term care space can benefit many different kinds of patients.

Adler has seen his business thrive. He outgrew the original pharmacy he opened in 1997, and has since added 2 locations and expanded into long-term care to meet his community’s needs. Although Adler works primarily with group homes and assisted living facilities to deliver and manage their patients’ medications, he upgraded his packaging system and expanded to include retail patients and others outside of the traditional long-term care market.

Those experienced with the long-term care market know that nonadherence and medication and dispensing errors are often a concern. Through his own experience and the use of the latest pharmacy technology, Adler took a system that showed a 36% error rate and reduced it to less than 1%.

Adler has also instituted a program that will help patients who eventually transition out of long-term care. In addition to receiving their medications, these patients are also provided ongoing counseling on the proper way to take them, in order to help ensure the best quality of life.

Adler’s model for long-term care patients was implemented successfully in the realm of sports medicine. To comply with a law that requires 1 person to distribute all medication to athletes, local basketball teams have adopted Adler’s methods. The National Collegiate Athletic Association aims to use the model for Division I schools, and will soon add Division II programs.

Brian Beach, PharmD,

FACA Vice-President/ Co-owner, KelleyRoss Prescription Pharmacy

Seattle, Washington

Brian Beach has worked his way from staff pharmacist to partner at Kelley-Ross Prescription Pharmacy, along the way ensuring the highest quality patient care for his patients.

In 2005, Kelley-Ross Prescription Pharmacy began to serve long-term care customers. To this end, the pharmacy added packaging technology to simplify medication administration for customers who take multiple medications daily and improve safety in long-term care settings.

When Dr. Beach became a partner in 2007, Kelley-Ross opened a pharmacy exclusively dedicated to long-term patients under his leadership. Two thousands patients are served by the pharmacy, which treats conditions ranging from HIV to mental health conditions and also dispenses standard nursing home medication therapies. The pharmacy provides 200 outpatient and 4 inpatient nurses with strip packaging for their clients on a weekly basis.

Dr. Beach’s adoption of technology allowed nurses to streamline medication regimens that sometimes included bottles from as many as 15 different pharmacies.

Dr. Beach is responsible for the implementation and maintenance of Pharmacy Quality Initiatives within his long-term care pharmacy. Evidence of his diligence can be seen in the pharmacy’s numbers from March 2011, when they provided their clients with more than 100,000 doses of medication with a documented error rate of less than 0.001%.

Dr. Beach shares his ideas with other pharmacies so that they can duplicate his high volume and low error rate. For his efforts, he received the 2006 Pharmacist Mutual Distinguished Young Pharmacist of the year in the state of Washington.

Tina Fiebelkorn, BSPharm

Consultant Pharmacist, Fiebelkorn Pharmacy Consulting Services, PLLC

Getzville, New York

A former hospital pharmacist, Tina Fiebelkorn has found her niche in longterm care pharmacy.

Fiebelkorn is extremely dedicated to her elderly patients. Certified in geriatric pharmacy, Fiebelkorn is a consultant pharmacist for 5 nursing homes, and is also employed part time with a local HMO, where she provides MTM services for patients with Medicare Part D. Her program has saved the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services millions in prescription medication costs while bringing positive outcomes for her elderly patients.

Fiebelkorn strives to make improvements to long-term care. She is a member of an ad hoc consultant pharmacy group that meets 4 to 6 times per year to discuss and network about patient problems and issues. She is also an active member of ASHP and the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP). In her work with the New York chapter of ASCP, she helps advocate for the needs of elderly patients.

One of the first women to become certified for immunization, Fiebelkorn also serves as a preceptor at the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy, where she educates students about the role of the consultant pharmacist and works in drug disposal programs and wellness clinics.

Fiebelkorn won the APhA One-toOne Counseling Award in 2008. She was also the featured speaker in the APhAASP interview series “Pharmacists— Medication Experts & Partners in Clinical Care,” for which she discussed the role of the consultant pharmacist.

Military Pharmacist of the Year

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MAJ Jeffrey Neigh, PharmD, BCPS

Deputy Chief, Eisenhower Army Medical Center Department of Pharmacy

Fort Gordon, Georgia

No matter what the situation, MAJ Jeffrey Neigh demonstrates a tireless work ethic and a strong focus on patient care.

Dr. Neigh began his career with a commission at Fort Hood, Texas, where he was chief of the inpatient and outpatient facilities and responsible for more than 35,000 active duty soldiers. Despite staffing shortages, Dr. Neigh worked tirelessly to ensure that patient care was never compromised. During this time, he was deployed to Kuwait, where he served as chief of pharmacy with the 21st Combat Support Hospital.

Upon his return, Dr. Neigh completed a residency at Brooke Army Medical Center and Wilford Hall Medical Center. After obtaining certification in pharmacotherapy, Neigh became the chief of clinical pharmacy. There he ran the Medication Use Committee, oversaw the residency program, and served as a credentialed provider for diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension.

In 2008, Dr. Neigh became deputy chief, pharmacy at Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia. Even in this supervisory role, Neigh continues to directly impact patients by regularly staffing the oncology and outpatient pharmacies. He implemented the Warrior Transition pharmacy oversight program, which reviews more than 400 patient profiles weekly for safety concerns Dr. Neigh has worked to streamline record keeping and policies regarding medication reconciliation and implemented patient safety features in online formularies.

Dr. Neigh was awarded the Albert B. Prescott Leadership Award in 2010. He is currently beginning full-time study toward masters degrees in business administration and health care administration.

MAJ Jessica Spitler, PharmD, MBA

Pharmacy Operations Chief

Patrick Air Force Base, Florida

MAJ Jessica Spitler elevates the level of pharmacy services at every post to which she assigned.

At Maxwell Air Force Base, she spearheaded several customer service and patient safety initiatives and won the GlaxoSmithKline Circle of Excellence Award. At Davis-Montham Air Force Base, she developed a model homeland defense medication program and oversaw a $1.2 million pharmacy renovation. Overseas, she was the command’s pharmacy consultant, advising 14 pharmacies in 7 locations.

In her current position, Dr. Spitler oversees a budget of $18.3 million, a prescription load of 434,000 per year, and 37 staff members. She is a driving force behind an initiative for smoking cessation, and has reduced her base’s rate of tobacco use to 16.3%. Dr. Spitler helped developed clinical pharmacy services on the base, including MTM and a pharmacist-run cardiovascular clinic. For those getting ready to deploy, Dr. Spitler instituted a pre-screening system, so that duty-limiting medications are identified and the proper amounts of medication can be taken on deployments.

Dr. Spitler worked with her county to create an emergency response plan and established a solid mass prophylaxis/dispensing program. She organized 2 emergency exercises, one of which included immunizations by pharmacists. Recently certified in pharmacotherapy, Dr. Spitler also leads community poison prevention and pharmacy awareness events.

Dr. Spitler has won 2 Pharmacist of the Year awards from the Air Force. She was recently elected to be a federal delegate to APhA, and will chair the Federal Pharmacy Caucus in 2012.

LTC Gwendolyn Thompson, RPh, MPA, PharmD, BCPS

Chief, Department of Pharmacy

Fort Hood, Texas

For 16 years as a clinical pharmacist in the military, LTC Gwendolyn Thompson has been shaping policy and positively affecting patients.

Dr. Thompson has worked home and abroad, including a deployment at the 10th Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad. Her experience in Iraq has helped her treat returning soldiers, because she understands their experiences and can effectively explain to them how prescribed medications can help them heal.

Dr. Thompson started the first pharmacist-run disease state management clinic at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center to address asthma, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, tobacco cessation, and anticoagulation. She was instrumental in assisting the pharmacy consultant for the Office of the Surgeon General with policy development for a sole prescriber program, controlled substance take-back program, the use of Suboxone for narcotic addiction, and polypharmacy.

In 2009, Dr. Thompson was the pharmacy consultant to the Office of the Surgeon General’s Pain Management Task Force, and given the mission of providing recommendations for a holistic, multidisciplinary, multimodal, and comprehensive pain management strategy for patients facing chronic pain. In March 2011, the Secretary of Defense approved the 109 recommendations of the task force, which include the creation of integrative pain centers at Army medical centers. A Pain Center for Excellence will also be established to promote consistent pain practice, education, and research throughout the Army.

Dr. Thompson has been recognized by the Army for her proficiency as a clinical pharmacist and strategist.

Patient Care Provider of the Year

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Traci Brooks, PharmD

Clinical Pharmacist, Womack Army Medical Center

Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Traci Brooks, a civilian clinical pharmacist for the Army, brings support and relief to enlisted patients and their caregivers.

Having completed residencies in clinical pharmacy and pain and palliative care, Dr. Brooks is uniquely qualified to serve soldiers returning from deployment. She initiated pharmacist involvement in the Warrior Transition Battalion (WTB), establishing relationships with other health care providers, attending patientfocused interdisciplinary meetings, and meeting patients to monitor and discuss their therapies.

Dr. Brooks is intimately involved in pain management, and staffs one of the first pharmacist-run detoxification programs in the United States. She works closely with the pain clinic physicians in managing outpatient Suboxone therapy. She also heads the expanded pilot program for the Electronic Medication Management Assistant (EMMA), a home solution for medication administration that helps patients maintain adherence.

Along with the Nurse Case Manager, Dr. Brooks identifies EMMA candidates from the WTB who are high risk, such as patients with traumatic brain injury, patients at risk of suicide, and patients with pain management issues. Once a patient is identified, Dr. Brooks helps set up the machine and educates the soldiers on its proper use.

Residents and pharmacy students have the opportunity to work with this unique, and sometimes difficult, patient population, thanks to Dr. Brooks. She encourages young pharmacists to be aware of the medical and emotional complications of brain injuries, so that they can be more empathetic and effective caregivers.

Steffany Loper, PharmD

Pharmacy Manager, Kroger

Delaware, Ohio

Steffany Loper goes the extra mile for her patients and teaches her pharmacy students to do the same.

Because the economy has negatively impacted her patients, Dr. Loper helps them save money by dispensing generics when possible, connecting them with assistance programs, and setting up free delivery accounts for elderly customers. She believes that showing patients the value of health care can increase adherence and improve outcomes.

Dr. Loper works to ensure that future generations of pharmacists have a solid background in high-quality patient care. As a preceptor for pharmacy students from The Ohio State University and Ohio Northern University, Dr. Loper ensures that students are immersed in patient counseling from the beginning of their rotation. Her students are able to put classroom knowledge to use with real patients, and her patients benefit from the in-depth, one-on-one interaction.

Dr. Loper believes that teaching pharmacy students how to communicate effectively with patients will help bring the field to a more holistic level of care in the future. She encourages her students to spend time with patients with diabetes, hypertension, and asthma to discuss lifestyle modifications and monitoring devices. Although she acknowledges that there is a lot of fiscal pressure on pharmacists to reduce wait times and increase prescription counts, she teaches her students that being a patient care provider comes first.

Dr. Loper received Kroger’s Pharmacist of the Year Award in 2008 for increasing the number of immunizations at her store from 750 to more than 1100 per year.

Justin Wilson, PharmD

Owner/Chief Pharmacist, ValuMed Pharmacy

Midwest City, Oklahoma

Justin Wilson’s guiding philosophy is that whatever is right for the patient is also right for pharmacy.

Dr. Wilson’s pharmacy offers MTM and diabetes education along with more innovative services, including vaccinations for international travel and compounded cosmopharmaceuticals. Dr. Wilson is currently working with physicians’ offices and insurance companies to prepare a prescription synchronization system for his patients taking multiple medications so that they can obtain all their medications once per month. Using spreadsheets and an iPad app, Dr. Wilson will be able to track patients’ medication regimens, with the goal of improving adherence and outcomes.

The pharmacy’s investment in technology ensures that Dr. Wilson’s staff has the most time possible to counsel patients— and the results are often life changing. Dr. Wilson had one young woman patient with uncontrolled diabetes who wanted a child but miscarried multiple times. He enrolled her in the pharmacy’s diabetes education program and consulted with her physician to get her an insulin pump. This ultimately resulted in the patient giving birth to a healthy son.

Dr. Wilson ensures excellent patient care in his practice and works to educate others about its importance. He speaks at national conferences and is also a preceptor and instructor at the University of Oklahoma School of Pharmacy.

For his dedication to the present and future state of pharmacy, Dr. Wilson has won numerous awards, including Pharmacist Mutual’s Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy’s Crystal APPLE Award, and NCPA’s Preceptor of the Year Award.

Rising Star of the Year

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Abby Caplan, PharmD

Clinical Coordinator, Kerr Health LLC of Kerr Drug, Inc

Zebulon, North Carolina

With just 4 years’ experience under her belt, Abby Caplan is shepherding pharmacy practice into a new era.

As clinical coordinator at Kerr Health in Zebulon, North Carolina, Dr. Caplan is an enthusiastic provider of disease state management and clinical services, including MTM, immunizations, point-of-care testing, and patient education.

Dr. Caplan’s accomplishments since graduating in 2007 embody the sea change taking place in pharmaceutical care and she has garnered national recognition. She was part of the Kerr team that was named MTM Provider of the Year by Outcomes Pharmaceutical Health Care in 2007, 2008, and 2009. She was also a diabetes educator for Kerr in 2008, when the health center was honored as one of the American Diabetes Association Providers of the Year.

In addition to providing outstanding patient care, Dr. Caplan has worked closely with legislators and state health plans to expand the pharmacist’s role at the state and national levels. She contributed to the landmark MTM bill introduced by Senator Kay Hagan (D, NC) in 2010 and collaborated with the North Carolina State Health Plan to launch a 12-month MTM wellness pilot that has yielded promising preliminary results.

Committed to advancing the profession, Dr. Caplan is also a clinical instructor for the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, where she serves as preceptor for students on community experiential rotations. Dr. Caplan has presented her research findings nationally and was published in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association.

LT Vince Deguzman, PharmD, MBA

Head, Pharmacy Department, US Naval Hospital Guam Pharmacy

Agana, Guam

Although he only graduated in 2007, LT Vince Deguzman has already made a huge impact in military pharmacy.

Dr. Deguzman’s first assignment was the head of the pharmacy department at the Boone Branch Heal Clinic in Virginia, where he managed a staff of 38 and a budget of $20 million per year and supervised the dispensing of 400,000 outpatient prescriptions. He shared his pharmacy automation expertise with 2 other Army facilities, helping them to improve their operations.

In his current position as the pharmacy department head in Naval Hospital Guam, Dr. Deguzman supervises 25 staff members and a $5 million annual budget. His team handles 150,000 outpatient and 10,000 inpatient prescriptions. Within 6 months of his arrival, he implemented new pharmacy technology, restructured the pharmacy workspace, and redesigned the department, leading to a 30% increase in productivity and a 40% increase in customer satisfaction. His pharmacy also became the leader in inventory management for all overseas Naval pharmacies.

Dr. Deguzman has also demonstrated grace under pressure. When flooding devastated the pharmacy during his time at Boone Clinic, he coordinated a complete inventory of damages, which totaled $500,000, and opened a fully functional temporary pharmacy within 6 days of the disaster. He used the rebuilding effort as an opportunity to improve the pharmacy, and supervised the creation of a state-of-the-art facility.

For his exceptional efforts, Dr. Deguzman was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.

Nick Patterson, PharmD

Clinical Pharmacist, Blanchfield Army Community Hospital

Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Although his career is just getting started, Nick Patterson has already improved the effectiveness and reputation of Blanchfield Army Community Hospital (BACH).

BACH is a 66-bed community hospital with 3 outpatient pharmacies. The facility supports 42,000 soldiers and 60,000 of their family members, and dispenses more than 800,000 prescriptions per year.

When Dr. Patterson was first hired as a clinical pharmacist at BACH, the facility was functioning but neglected, having been without a clinical pharmacist for 7 months. Dr. Patterson started immediately to implement clinical initiatives to improve patient outcomes, such as taking steps that ultimately reduced patient nonadherence in the Coumadin clinic from 25% to 10%. Dr. Patterson also has plans to open a lipid clinic at BACH’s Town Center Pharmacy.

Patterson works to directly improve patient lives as well. He recently helped an Army family obtain an experimental medication to treat their 3-year-old daughter with Dravet’s syndrome, a severe seizure disorder. When the insurance company refused to pay for the medication because it is not FDA-approved, Dr. Patterson helped the family complete paperwork with the manufacturer and BACH agreed to absorb the cost.

Dr. Patterson is an adjunct faculty member to the Academy of Health Sciences Physician Assistant Program, where he teaches pharmacology. He recently started a clinical rotation for University of Tennessee pharmacy students at BACH, and is working to establish intermediate and advanced pharmacy practice experiences for Sullivan University College of Pharmacy students as well.

Technician of the Year

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Amy Haines, CPhT

Pharmacy Technician, Bradley Drug

Nashville, Tennessee

Patients who fill their prescriptions at Bradley Drug know Amy Haines is on their side.

A technician of 17 years, Haines brings her sensitive, caring disposition to every patient encounter at Bradley Drug, a, family-owned independent pharmacy that also provides diabetes supplies and medical equipment to the local community. She handles even the most disgruntled patients and frustrated physicians with empathy, expertise, and an infectious sense of calm.

Haines is also supervisor to Bradley Drug’s staff of pharmacy technicians, who turn to her for guidance on professional issues as well as personal problems. Her pleasant demeanor and strong work ethic help create a cooperative team environment that has made Bradley Drug a leading independent pharmacy in the Nashville, Tennessee, area.

Her problem solving skills are indispensable to pharmacy operations at Bradley Drug. She is responsible for keeping its robotic dispensing system continuously filling to keep pace with the pharmacy’s high demand and meet patients’ expectations for fast, accurate service. On the busiest days, Haines is a pillar of strength, always keeping a cool head to quickly and effectively resolve issues.

Perhaps the best indicator of Haines’ success as a pharmacy technician is the glowing praise offered by those who work with her on a daily basis. Phil Bradley, owner of Bradley Drug, says she’s “absolutely fabulous,” and the best technician a pharmacy owner could ask for.

Jennifer Jelinek, CPhT

Director of Pharmacy Operations, J&D True Care Pharmacy

Warsaw, Missouri

Jennifer Jelinek shines as Director of Pharmacy Operations at J&D True Care Pharmacy, where coworkers know her as a proactive manager with superb people skills and a keen business sense.

Jelinek hires and trains all technicians and OTC personnel for J&D, optimizing the pharmacy’s workflow to honor each team member’s unique talents. She applies the same sharp instincts to patient care, always asking whether the personalized services provided at the state-of-theart pharmacy are keeping patients healthy and happy.

Inspired by the $4 generic programs at a local superstore, she implemented a customer loyalty card offering competitive pricing and a formulary that she promoted with local health care providers. Her insights proved instrumental to bringing in new business for J&D, which now processes 400 to 500 prescriptions per day.

A determined team player, Jelinek tackles challenges even if it means personal sacrifice. When OTC sales were lagging, she took a paintbrush to the walls, remodeling the area on her own time to create a more welcoming environment for shoppers. When it looked as though J&D would have to reduce staff to weather the bad economy, Jelinek took a voluntary pay cut.

Jelinek’s influence extends well beyond her network of colleagues and patients. She’s shared her refreshing outlook in articles for America’s Pharmacist, a publication of the NCPA. She also regularly attends NCPA conferences, returning with innovative ideas and new relationships to help J&D remain a vital resource for patients.

Jeanne Li, CPhT

Independent Consultant

Elk Grove, California

In her work as a practicing pharmacy technician and as owner of Pharmacy Resources, LLC, Jeanne Li is a champion for patients and a guiding light to her professional peers.

Li is a veteran technician with more than 25 years of experience in retail, inpatient, and outpatient settings. From her beginnings as a clerk to her current role as a pharmacy staffing specialist, Li sees every new setting as an opportunity not only to improve her skill set, but to build a foundation of hands-on expertise to share with other pharmacy technicians and pharmacists.

A compassionate advocate for patients, Li finds great reward in using her knowledge and determination to help people overcome barriers to care. One such patient, a new mother of twins, sought Li’s guidance when her son was denied coverage for a medication. Leveraging her experience as a reimbursement specialist for a home health company, Li fought the family’s insurance provider and won.

Li is also an active member of pharmacy organizations, an accomplished pharmacy author and educator, and a respected mentor to pharmacy technicians in her state. She served multiple terms as Chair for the California Society of HealthSystem Pharmacists’ (CSHP) Technician Division Executive Committee, bringing technicians’ issues to light within the pharmacist group.

In addition, Li contributes regularly to CSHP’s journal, sits on the advisory boards of several pharmacy technician schools, and travels to give talks to pharmacy technician students. In 2007, Li was honored with CSHP’s Technician Achievement Award for her service to the profession.

Technology Innovator of the Year

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Diane Gatchell, RPh

Director of Pharmacy, Greater Lawrence Family Health Center

Lawrence, Massachusetts

Diane Gatchell’s knack for technology grew out of necessity and a desire to serve others.

When she joined the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (GLFHC) in 2005, Gatchell wanted to make a difference in her hometown of Lawrence, Massachusetts. Armed with front line experience from a 14-year career in retail pharmacy, she helped establish GLFHC’s first Family Pharmacy, which now serves the center’s 120,000 predominately lowincome, underprivileged patients.

The Family Pharmacy opened its doors in 2005 and filled 130 prescriptions the first day. The operation grew rapidly under Gatchell’s direction, but she soon realized services were not reaching GLFHC’s more impoverished patients, some of whom lacked transportation to the main facility. Telepharmacy, she decided, was the best way to bring pharmacy care closer to the areas where patients worked and lived.

In 2007, Gatchell launched the first telepharmacy pilot program in Massachusetts. By enabling scripts to be filled by technicians at satellite locations and approved by pharmacists at GLFHC headquarters, the project dramatically increased access to medications and pharmacist counseling. Gatchell’s success led to a more than 10-fold increase in daily prescription volume, necessitating automation, which she researched and implemented for the Family Pharmacy in 2009.

Not content with these local victories, Gatchell now extols the benefits of telepharmacy for community health centers nationwide. In addition to conducting frequent tours of her pharmacy operations at GLFHC, she was a panelist at the 2008 National Association of Community Health Centers Annual Conference.

Chris Geronsin, RPh

Owner/Pharmacist, Beverly Hills Pharmacy

St. Louis, Missouri

At home on the cutting edge, Chris Geronsin considers technology “no different than the spatula on the counting tray.”

It’s precisely this comfort level that gives Geronsin the freedom to innovate, finding creative applications of the latest tools to solve problems that are unique to his customers. As owner of Beverly Hills Pharmacy in St. Louis, Missouri, Geronsin is pharmacist to both a large population of HIV patients and the stars of several local professional sports teams, including the St. Louis Rams, Blues, and Cardinals.

Nonadherence was a recurring problem among the pharmacy’s 300 to 400 HIV patients. Contacting them to discuss medications proved difficult, as many were homeless or moved frequently. To tackle both challenges, Geronsin created a medical cell phone that can be used only to call the pharmacy, the hospital, or the patient’s caseworker. Patients receive text messages when it’s time to take their medications, and those who don’t adhere risk losing the phone.

Geronsin applies the same ingenuity to create custom services for his sportsteam clients. His current work-in-progress will enable trainers to transmit prescriptions electronically from the field, allowing pharmacies to FedEx the prescription or deliver it directly to the stadium. A master record for each player will document long-term medication use, with the aim of improving medication consistency and accountability in sports franchises.

Geronsin’s big ideas are a testament to his faith in technology to change the way pharmacies provide medications, making him a true pioneer and a leader in the field.

Vincent Venitelli, BSPharm

Informatics Pharmacist, UCONN Correctional Managed Health Care

Farmington, Connecticut

Vincent Venitelli is an expert on the complex technologies that make his pharmacy tick.

As informatics pharmacist at the University of Connecticut (UCONN) Correctional Managed Health Center (CMHC), Venitelli manages the more than 15 information systems that help bring medications and services to the center’s 20,000 incarcerated patients. He also plays the critical role of interpreter, educating colleagues to use each tool effectively to streamline workflow, decrease waste, and improve productivity.

With degrees in pharmacy and computer engineering, Venitelli brings a unique perspective to every task he performs for the CMHC. From working with the center’s IT help desk to designing custom, user-friendly reports to optimize patient scheduling and prescription renewals, Venitelli uses his technical background and pharmacist’s insight to create solutions that boost efficiency while improving inmate health.

Since stationing Venitelli at the helm of pharmacy informatics, the CMHC pharmacy has dramatically cut fill time, bringing needed medications to inmate patients faster. Using a barcode system Venitelli created, the CMHC pharmacy overhauled its medication recovery process, enabling the return of 20 million doses to stock for a 10% reduction in drug costs. He has also safely steered the CHMC’s systems through multiple upgrades.

A firm believer in education, Venitelli is currently developing a training program to help other pharmacists learn the specialized technical skills needed to troubleshoot information systems. He is also an inspiration to student pharmacists, and shares his enthusiasm for informatics as a preceptor for the UCONN School of Pharmacy.