Yasmin Siwy is a final-year PharmD candidate at the Purdue University College of Pharmacy.
The 2022–2023 APhA–ASP National Executive Committee (NEC) and APhA–ASP Awards Standing Committee (ASC) performed exceptionally in their roles this year, and they excelled in recognizing the outstanding accomplishments and talents of members and chapters as hosts of the APhA–ASP Awards Ceremony at the 2023 APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition in Phoenix, AZ.
On an exciting Saturday night with an Oscar-themed event, the convention center was packed with attendees, NEC, and ASC members, all dressed elegantly in their finest dresses or suits as they entered. Student Pharmacists Got Talent performer Lauren Gravert, from The University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, kicked things off by singing “Sky Full of Stars” and “We Found Love,” which energized everyone and set a lively tone for the rest of the evening.
National patient care awards recipients
Here are the chapters that were honored with national recognition for their outstanding efforts.
OTC Medicine Safety
- National Winner: University of Missouri–Kansas City
This chapter trained more than 120 student pharmacists in how to effectively communicate with people of various ages. They targeted their outreach across the state, and their efforts drew the attention of 2 million community members via a student-designed highway billboard about poison control.
- First Runner-up: Samford University
- Second Runner-up: St. John’s University
OTC Medicine Safety is supported by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health.
Operation Substance Use Disorders
- National Winner: East Tennessee State University
This chapter collaborated with law enforcement, presented monthly on medication misuse and naloxone in juvenile detention centers, educated state legislators on how to support patients with substance use disorder, and organized a fentanyl awareness day for high school students to teach them about naloxone use.
- First Runner-up: The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
- Second Runner-up: University of Wisconsin–Madison
Operation Substance Use Disorders is supported by Walmart.
Operation Diabetes
- National Winner: University of Missouri–Kansas City
This chapter collaborated with dental and medical students to provide vaccinations, blood glucose and A1C testing, and risk assessments for diabetes. In addition, they distributed a cookbook with healthy recipes throughout the community.
- First Runner-up: University of Southern California
- Second Runner-up: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Lights, camera, action!
With anticipation in the air, the PharmFlix winners were announced in three categories: Most Humorous, Most Inspiring, and Best Overall.
Lipscomb University received the Most Humorous Award for “Hocus Phocus,” in which a student pharmacist taught the Synthroid Sisters about the advancement of the pharmacy profession in a parody of Hocus Pocus.
The Most Inspiring Award went to the University of Florida, which presented baby pictures of student pharmacists in “When I Grow Up ...” and then transitioned to a testimony about how they have had the courage to inspire and impact the people in their community.
The Best Overall Winner went to the University of Cincinnati for “Courage to Change: How my Pharmacist Helps Me Manage My Diabetes,” their parody of Ed Sheeran’s “Bad Habits,” which demonstrated how pharmacists can help patients manage their diabetes.
Individual and chapter awards
Outstanding Dean Award: William Petros, PharmD, West Virginia University
Linwood F. Tice Award: Cameron Lindsey, PharmD, University of Missouri–Kansas City
National Patient Counseling Competition Winner: Shelby Matthews, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
- First Runner-up: Aliese Dashiell, University of Florida
- Second Runner-up: Serena Roberts, University at Buffalo
Division AAA Winner: Lipscomb University
- First Runner-up: Union University
- Second Runner-up: University of Nebraska Medical Center
Division AA Winner: Samford University
- First Runner-up: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
- Runner-up: University of California, San Diego
Division A Winner: The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
- First Runner-up: University of Florida
- Runner-up: University of Pittsburgh
Chapter of the Year: University of Maryland
Congratulations to all the award winners for your outstanding achievements that have significantly impacted the academy and our profession. I would also like to thank the members of the ASC, including Courtney Woo, Katie DeBary, Jennifer Garson, and Samuel Greer, for their hard work in reviewing every chapter and individual report, as well as organizing the Awards Celebration!