2014 Next-Generation Pharmacistâ„¢ Finalists Announced

Fifth Annual Event Recognizes Leaders, Encourages Excellence in Pharmacy

DURHAM, N.C., Jul 08, 2014 -- Parata Systems and Pharmacy Times are pleased to announce the finalists for the 2014 Next-Generation Pharmacist™ awards. In its fifth year, the Next-Generation Pharmacist awards recognize pharmacy leaders across a wide range of practice settings, and this year the program attracted more than 500 entries.

Finalists and winners in each category will be recognized at the Aug. 24 Innovation and Inspiration gala event in Boston where healthy aging pioneer, Dr. James F. Fries of Stanford University School of Medicine, will celebrate and encourage the gathering with his keynote address, Pharmacists Helping Patients Live Well.

The celebration of pharmacy innovators continues Aug. 25 when Next-Generation Pharmacist convenes health care thought leaders for an industry insights roundtable, Helping Patients Live Better: Pharmacists in a Value-Driven Health Care System. The invitation-only conversation will focus on how pharmacists are helping to improve patient outcomes and lower health care costs in the age of accountable care and the evolving health care landscape.

“Over five years, the Next-Generation Pharmacist program has grown a community of 150 finalists and hundreds of nominees recognized by their peers as the top pharmacists who are touching the lives of patients and caregivers daily,” said Tom Rhoads, CEO, Parata. “A conversation among these innovators in patient care promises to inspire all of us.”

Established through a partnership of Parata Systems and Pharmacy Times , Next-Generation Pharmacist is pharmacy’s premier recognition program that honors and inspires pharmacists, technicians, student pharmacists and industry advocates who are defining the future of the industry. Next-Generation Pharmacist 2014 nominations were received across 10 award categories, and an independent panel of esteemed judges, chaired by Pharmacy Times Editor-in-Chief, Fred M. Eckel, RPh, MS, ScD (Hon), reviewed all entries.

Three finalists are selected in each category, and these pharmacists, technicians and student pharmacists will be recognized at the 2014 awards gala. These finalists represent a true cross section of the industry, from large chain retailers, independent pharmacies, specialty pharmacies, military bases, health clinics and educational institutions.

The 2014 finalists are:

Civic Leader:

Chris Geronsin, RPh, Beverly Hills Pharmacy and Gateway Apothecary, St. Louis, Mo.

Amy Gutierrez, PharmD, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Los Angeles, Calif.

Danny R. Johnson, RPh, Marble City Pharmacy, Sylacauga, Ala.

Entrepreneur:

Barry S. Bryant, RPh, CDM, CFTs, Barney’s Pharmacy, Augusta, Ga.

Chris Geronsin, RPh, Beverly Hills Pharmacy and Gateway Apothecary, St. Louis, Mo.

Bretton C. Walberg, RPh, Walberg Family Pharmacies, Jamestown, Pa.

Future Pharmacist:

Saswat Kabisatpathy, PharmD, South Carolina College of Pharmacy, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, S.C.

Megan E. Saunders, PharmD, University of Wyoming School of Pharmacy, Laramie, Wyo.

Laura Vollmer, PharmD Candidate 2015, Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Des Moines, Iowa

Lifetime Leadership:

Michel Disco, BSPharm, RPh, MBA, University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy, Albuquerque, N.M.

Albert Garcia, BSPharm, RPh, MHL, Navarro Discount Pharmacy and Navarro Health Services, Medley, FL.

Col. Keith A. Wagner, PharmD, RPh, U.S. Army, Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon, Ga.

Military Pharmacist:

Lt. Cmdr. Vince Deguzman, PharmD, MBA, MSC, FACHE, U.S. Navy, Naval Hospital Lemoore Pharmacy, Lemoore, Calif.

Capt. Rohin N. Kasudia, PharmD, BCACP, BSC, U.S. Air Force, 6th Medical Group, MacDill AFB, Fla.

Col. Keith Wagner, PharmD, RPh, U.S. Army, Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon, Ga.

Patient Care Provider:

Andrew Dum, RPh, FAPhA, Ahold USA, Inc., Carlisle, Pa.

Jennifer Feig, PharmD, Duane Reade, New York

Julienne Tran, PharmD, Ahold USA, Inc., Quincy, Mass.

Rising Star:

Michael W. Crowe, PharmD, MBA, CSP, FMPA, Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy, Flint, Mich.

Capt. Rohin N. Kasudia, PharmD, BCACP, BSC, U.S. Air Force, 6th Medical Group, MacDill AFB, Fla.

Samuel Stolpe, PharmD, Pharmacy Quality Alliance, Inc., Springfield, Va.

Specialty Pharmacist:

Michael W. Crowe, PharmD, MBA, CSP, FMPA, Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy, Flint, Mich.

Greg Fox, RPh, Altius Heathcare/Fox Infusion, Tucson, Ariz.

Jennifer Powers, PharmD, Walgreens, Lawrenceville, Ga.

Technician:

Colleen Jenkins, CPhT, St. Luke’s Health System, Boise, Idaho

Mary Jane Magno, CPhT, Naval Hospital Lemoore Pharmacy, Lemoore, Calif.

Brenton Michales, CPhT, CVS Pharmacy, Cortland, N.Y.

Technology Innovator:

Stephen F. Eckel, PharmD, MHA, BCPS, FASHP, FAPhA, FCCP, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and UNC Hospitals Department of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, N.C.

Chris Geronsin, RPh, Beverly Hills Pharmacy and Gateway Apothecary, St. Louis, Mo.

Jannette Soto, PharmD, Farmacia Del Pozo, Manati, Puerto Rico

“The judges had a strong, diverse group of pharmacists to choose from,” said Ashley Hennessy Talamo, publisher, Pharmacy Times. “Each year the bar rises, and each year we are continually impressed with the candidates who are nominated. Every finalist represents the best and brightest of each category, and they are all making a difference in their fields.”

“The tenacity and passion that each of these pharmacists brings to their roles within the larger health care system is inspiring,” said Rhoads. “They represent the epitome of excellence and leadership in the pharmaceutical industry. We are proud to have them represent the Next-Generation Pharmacist program and look forward to honoring each finalist as we recognize the category winners.”

Each finalist will be profiled in the July 2014 issue of Pharmacy Times and on http://www.pharmacytimes.com/ . The winner for each category will be announced at the 2014 Next-Generation Pharmacist awards event Aug. 24 at The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston.

Fries, this year’s keynote speaker, is a professor of medicine, immunology and rheumatology at Stanford University School of Medicine and author of more than 300 articles, numerous book chapters and 11 books, including “Take Care of Yourself” and “Living Well.”

The Next-Generation Pharmacist industry insights roundtable will be held Monday, Aug. 25, and is entitled Helping Patients Live Better: Pharmacists in a Value-Driven Health Care System. Rhoads and Eckel will host and moderate the discussion. Panelists include Troy Trygstadt, PharmD, PhD, vice president, Pharmacy Programs, Community Care of North Carolina and guest editor, Directions in Pharmacy, a Pharmacy Times publication; Laura Cranston, RPh, executive director, Pharmacy Quality Alliance, Inc.; James F. Fries, MD, Stanford University School of Medicine; and Thomas E. Hubbard, vice president for policy research, Network for Excellence in Health Innovation.

More information can be found at http://www.nextgenerationpharmacist.com and http://www.pharmacytimes.com. Sponsorship opportunities are also available and can be found at http://www.nextgenerationpharmacist.com/sponsors. For regular updates, follow Next-Generation Pharmacist on Twitter and Facebook .

About Parata Systems, LLC

Parata provides technology solutions to support coordinated care, better health outcomes and lower medical costs, empowering pharmacists to grow their businesses. Founded in 2001, the Durham-based company is a brand trusted by more than 12,000 pharmacies and a growing number of global health care professionals serving diverse patient populations. Through Parata, pharmacists can leverage a combination of high-tech tools and workflow to free time to counsel patients, identify and avoid medication interactions, encourage adherence and more. We have filled more than 2.5 billion prescriptions, helping pharmacists avoid an estimated 15 million medication errors. For more information, visit http://www.parata.com or contact info@parata.com or 888-PARATA1 (727-2821).

About Pharmacy Times

Pharmacy Times is the industry’s leading publication, providing practical clinical information pharmacists can use in their everyday practices when counseling patients and interacting with physicians. Each issue contains articles and features covering medication errors, drug interactions, patient education, pharmacy technology, disease state management, patient counseling, product news, pharmacy law and specialty pharmacy. The Pharmacy Times Office of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. Learn more at http:// www.PharmacyTimes.com , write to editorial@pharmacytimes.com , call 609-716-7777 or visit us on Facebook and on Twitter . Pharmacy Times is published by Michael J. Hennessy Associates, Inc., a leading provider of health care publishing, research, information and education.

Next-Generation PharmacistTM is a trademark of Parata Systems, LLC.

SOURCE: Parata Systems

Media contacts :

Bea Riemschneider

Vice President/Group Editorial Director, Pharmacy Times

609-716-7777, ext. 214

briemschneider@pharmacytimes.com

or

Parata contact: Shawn Ramsey

Crossroads PR and Marketing

919-821-2822

parata@crossroadsprm.com