Pharmacist of the Year Award

GSHP Pharmacist of the Year Award is the highest honor GSHP can bestow on any member and is presented to a Georgia health-system pharmacist to honor outstanding service and accomplishments in health-system pharmacy practice as well as participation in GSHP.

“This years recipient exemplifies the ideal pharmacist practitioner, role model and pharmacy leader and is a tireless advocate for patients and families as well as the profession of pharmacy. “

The impact that this individual has had on their health system is both vast & deep.  Serving as Pharmacy Manager of Ambulatory Services, this person has been leading a team of over 30 FTE in the following areas: ambulatory clinical pharmacy team, population health program, patient medication assistance team, prior authorization services, multiple infusion centers, and nursing home & ambulatory clinic operations.  This individual has been a champion for collaborative practice agreements in primary & specialty care at their  organization obtaining buy in from physician & nursing leadership.  This person has been the driving force behind creating two infusion centers in two states to meet the increasing demands of insurance companies while never compromising on the needs of patients & the health system.  This individual has built multiple programs that have transformed the fiscal health of the organization &while always putting the patient first.

To quote some coworkers: this person is

“The ideal team player, advocates for the team, holds us accountable, continuously demonstrates the importance of growth through professional development, & is a mentor to so many.”

Says another:  This individual  is ALWAYS available when anyone on her team needs her. When someone is out sick or there is an empty position, she fills in and gets the job done. “

In service to the profession of pharmacy this individual has been a leader in GSHP serving as a District Director, a member Education Affairs committee where she will serve as co-chair, & has presented at many GSHP meetings.  This individual has served on the ASHP Section of Ambulatory Care Practitioners Section Advisory Group since 2019, Vizient Pharmacy Council Home Infusions Committee since 2021, taught at the Dental College of Georgia since 2018, invited speaker at the Georgia Society of Clinical oncology Administration & Business of Oncology meeting, is the program coordinator for the Health System Pharmacy Administration & Leadership Residency, has co-authored/advised countless ASHP Midyear student posters, & is a highly engaged preceptor in APPE, PGY1 & PGY2 programs.

To quote other coworkers:  This individual has been a  tremendous impactful servant leader for patients, the health system, pharmacy enterprise, profession of pharmacy & community.  This person makes everyone around them better.  She is a truly amazing human.”

Please join me in congratulating the 2023 GSHP Pharmacist of the Year,   Meredith Lopez with Augusta University Health.  

Service to the Society

The Service to the Society Award honors individual practitioners and leaders who have made exceptionally important contributions not only to GSHP, but to pharmacy practice in our state and to the many technician, pharmacy student, and pharmacist lives they have touched throughout the years.

This year, GSHP is pleased to honor an individual who has spent their career advancing the practice of pharmacy and supporting the career development of numerous pharmacists and technicians, both through their work in their places of practice, but also through their leadership roles in GSHP.

This pharmacist has been practicing in the state of Georgia since 1999.  This individual has practiced in many different roles, moving through roles of pharmacy coordinator, assistant director, manager of various clinical services and medication systems, residency director, pharmacy director, and executive director of pharmacy and nutrition services.  I was struck by how many colleagues commented on this person’s leadership style.  Descriptions include “approachable”, “actively engaging with all departments in pharmacy” and “would roll up their sleeves and do whatever was needed to assist”.  When talking to this individual, their depth of experience shines through in their thoughtful and considerate answers.  Commented one former colleague “this leader’s calm, reassuring, empathetic and goal-oriented demeanor allowed for expansion of pharmacy services well beyond what I thought would be possible”. 

I wanted to share a few additional statements from some of this individual’s colleagues:

“This individual is great at seeing the potential in individual’s capabilities and putting them in the right place to succeed.”

“They taught me to always do what I felt was right.  I always felt supported when I acted independently or needed to go beyond the expectations of a pharmacist. “

“Steady.  Persistence.  There are two words I would use to describe this leader.  Their steady leadership instills calm into chaos.  Their persistence to achieve all goals despite any headwinds is inspiring. “

“It is safe to say I wouldn’t be where I am today, nor the pharmacist, nor the leader I am today without this individual.  They believed in me when I didn’t see it in myself.  They  supported me when I didn’t see how it was possible, and pushed me to become better.”

Their service to GSHP has remained steady throughout the years, beginning shortly after their arrival in Georgia.    To highlight a few areas of involvement:  Education and Programs Committee, Resident and Student Affairs, Legislative Affairs, and President of GSHP.  This individual has brought many folks to membership and involvement in GSHP.  I am pretty sure that due to their work, we now have a lobbyist at the capital, representing the interests of GSHP with the state legislature.

This individual has recently retired after a long and successful career.  I think this comment is a great way to sum it all up.  “You are leaving behind an unparalleled foot-print that can never be erased”.

Please join me in congratulating Rondell Jaggers, recipient of the GSHP Service to the Society Award.

25-Year Practitioner Award

25-year Practitioner awards  are presented to GSHP members who have actively practiced in hospital or health-system pharmacy for 25 years or more.   This year, we are pleased to recognize two individuals. 

This pharmacist has been practicing Pharmacy since 1997. She has worked in many areas in the hospital across 3 different facilities over the years.  She has been staff/dispensing as well as clinical. She always seeks to improve her knowledge base and stay abreast of the latest guidelines and treatment modalities. She participates in the education and training of Pharmacy Residents and Students in her current role and always receives high scores from trainees. Patient care is in the fore-front of her practice and she has dedicated herself to pharmacy practice. This pharmacist takes great pride in serving those who have born the battle.GSHP would like to recognize Angelia Walton the from Department of Veterans Affairs. 

“It is difficult for me to adequately capture this individual’s contributions to the pharmacy profession, our department, every single teammate she's lifted up, student or resident she has inspired, and patient life she's positively impacted in a single statement.  I asked pharmacists, physicians, and nurses that have had the pleasure of working alongside this individual over the last 25+ years to provide one word they would use to best describe this pharmacist. Based on the speediness of responses, people jumped at the chance to recognize this gem of a pharmacist, woman, mom, wife, and friend. The three words that were shared over and over again, out of ALL the available words in the English dictionary were KIND, BRILLIANT, and HUMBLE. Therefore, my coworkers and I nominate this KIND, BRILLIANT, HUMBLE pharmacist for the GSHP 25-year practitioner award.  She will be the first to say she's not overly kind or brilliant, but we all know that's just the humble talking.”

GSHP would like to recognize Kathleen (Kate) Jerguson from Wellstar Kennestone Hospital.

Outstanding Practitioner Award

The Outstanding Practitioner Award is presented to a pharmacist functioning in a patient care, non-administrative position.  The award recognizes outstanding service to the profession, patients and their individual health system.  Nominees should be greater than 5 years into their pharmacy career. This individual has been a practicing pharmacist for a little over 10 years and her contributions to the profession are remarkable given this relatively short period of time. To highlight a few, this individual has a sustained commitment to patient care practicing as a critical care pharmacist. This person believes that developing high-quality safety, training, and professional standards provides the foundation upon which to build the future of pharmacy. This concept is best demonstrated through their passion for (1) service to the profession through national leadership, (2) quality improvement and scholarship to improve patient care, and (3) teaching and mentoring the next generation of clinicians. Their professional service at the state and national level spans several domains of pharmacy practice, including patient care, residency training, and national standard setting panels. From their nomination: “While her accomplishments are many and various, it is her genuine commitment to the discipline of critical care, the profession of pharmacy, the care of patients, and the education of the next generation that make her such an outstanding candidate for the practitioner award. She is passionate about fostering learner growth into competent, caring agents of change.” Please join me in recognizing Christy Forehand, Critical Care Clinical Pharmacist at Augusta University, as this year’s recipient of the GSHP Outstanding Practitioner award. Nominated by Kelli Keats.

Outstanding Preceptor Award

From the nominator:  I am a 4th-year student at the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy in Athens, Georgia. I have had the privilege of being mentored by one of the most exceptional preceptors I have ever had the pleasure of working with. This person is not only incredibly knowledgeable and experienced but also has a gift for teaching and inspiring others.  As my APPE preceptor for Ambulatory Care, he showed me what it means to practice pharmacy with passion and enthusiasm. From the moment I began my clinical rotation with him, I knew I was in good hands. On the first day of the rotation, he asked me what I wanted out of the experience and tailored his teaching style according to my interests. He took the time to listen and made it his mission to ensure that I received the best possible education and training. He provided clear and concise guidance on patient care and always took the time to explain the reasoning behind his decisions. What I appreciate most about him is his ability to challenge me to think critically and develop my own problem-solving skills. He always encouraged me to ask questions and to never stop learning. He created a safe and supportive environment where I felt comfortable making mistakes and learning from them. He allowed me to talk to the medical residents and counsel patients which gave me confidence. I am very grateful for his support and encouragement as public speaking is one of my weaknesses. He is a true advocate for his patients and goes above and beyond to ensure that they receive the best possible care. He also received the award "Pharmacist of the Year" from physicians at Sheffield last year. Overall, I believe that he embodies all of the qualities that make a great mentor and teacher. GSHP would like to recognize Salman Hasham from Wellstar’s Center for Cardiovascular Care as the 2023 Preceptor of the Year. 
 
Outstanding Pharmacy Professional Representative Award
From the nominator:  I have known this representative for 3-4 years since he was a hospital sales rep and then promoted to territory manager about a year ago. He has been a big supporter of the Piedmont transplant program, assisting with patient insurance/access to medication issues, providing samples for outpatients and helping with new staff education on hepatic encephalopathy (HE). He also has been a big pharmacy advocate, sponsoring programs both at the local level with AAIP and also at GSHP state meetings. He is easy to talk to and available when we need him. He's great about letting us know when there are new programs or support available and doesn't overwhelm us when there isn't any new data for his products. He is professional, personable and good at his job which makes him and ideal candidate for Outstanding Pharmacy Professional Representative.  GSHP would like to recognize Matthew Carter from Salix Pharmaceuticals as the 2023 Pharmaceutical Representative of the Year.  
 
Outstanding Pharmacy Technician Award

The Outstanding Pharmacy Technician Award recognizes a health-system pharmacy technician who has demonstrated practice excellence and leadership in the support of implementing pharmaceutical care. This individual worked to understand our operations by shadowing different technicians and pharmacists, usually by picking up extra shifts. They showed incredible leadership skills, working closely with pharmacy leadership to develop a structure for a new program and delegate roles best suited to each of our qualifications. During this time, this individual’s dedication was unwavering. There were several obstacles and roadblocks, and it took time to develop relationships with our Nurse Managers, Anesthesiology group, and other nursing and pharmacy employees, but they patiently and persistently kept pressing forward. From their nomination letter: “She has advanced the role of pharmacy technicians by working with different disciplines at various ranks while demonstrating respect, diligence, and competence. Her work as a pharmacy technician extends far beyond typical duties. Our program would not have grown into what it is today and what we hope it to be in the future without her. She is an integral part of our team in so many aspects.” Please join me in recognizing, Dawn Chappell, pharmacy technician at Wellstar Kennestone, as this year’s recipient of the GSHP Outstanding Pharmacy Technician Award.
 
Outstanding Community Volunteer Service Award

The Outstanding Community Volunteer Service Award is presented to a GSHP member who has demonstrated significant contributions to their local community.  Volunteer service is not limited to medical services but is inclusive of any volunteer activities (outside normal job duties) that enhance or improve the quality of life of the local community.

This individual grew up in New Jersey with a large population of Asian Indians and after residency moved to Augusta.  This individual craved to connect with people she could converse with in her native language, share ethnic food, share the festivals celebrated throughout the year, etc. There are close to 500 Asian Indian families in town, yet it was difficult to connect with new families.

After her first daughter was born, this individual  made it a mission to unite the community.  She wanted to provide opportunities for new families to mingle with those families in the community and take advantage of the cultural programs, which were not advertised.  “It seem as those who always attended these events seemed to know about it, but no one made an attempt to disseminate this information”.  In response, this individual created a Facebook group called, "Desi Parents of Augusta" with a simple, yet powerful vision, "to provide a platform for DESI parents (i.e. Asian Indians) to connect with each other, to form a sense of community, to promote our culture, to share our cultural values and so much more".

In over 3 short years the group has grown to 281 members.   Members have utilized this platform to advertise about their local businesses, connect with other Desi parents to set up playdates, exchange information about festivals/cultural events, and so much more.  The vision for the future is to recruit parent volunteers to work together to develop cultural programs and present at the local libraries and schools to promote our enriched culture.

Please join me in congratulating the GSHP 2023 Outstanding Community Volunteer Service Award recipient Arpita Gandhi with Emory Healthcare. 

Outstanding Pharmacy Student Award

The outstanding pharmacy student award recognizes excellence in our future pharmacists.  Today we will honor two student nominees with this award. 

Our first award winner was nominated by a fellow student.  Throughout this individual’s time in pharmacy school, they have been all in, 100% passionate in their commitment to pharmacy.  They are a dual degree student working towards a Masters in Health Informatics and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. 

This individual is heavily involved in campus activities and organizations, including Phi Lambda Sigma where they serve as Vice President, the Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, and the American Pharmacist Association where they hold the position of patient care Vice President.  This individual supports and mentors other students through their role as a peer tutor in the academic success program.

This nominee has held various roles in the student chapter of GSHP, including the fundraising chair, and is currently leading the chapter as President.  Throughout her presidency, she has increased membership rates through various initiatives.

It is my pleasure to award Shelly Vyas from Mercer University with the first of our Outstanding Pharmacy Student Awards. 

Our second nominee for Outstanding Pharmacy Student was nominated by her Director of Pharmacy.  This individual is noted as excelling in her role as a pharmacy intern/technician and used the experience to become very proficient and knowledgeable in acute care pharmacy operations and systems.  They worked with the Neurology Clinical Specialists to conduct two research projects, one on the Safety and Efficacy of Unfractionated Heparin vs Enoxaparin for VTE prophylaxis in patients with spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage and the second evaluating procalcitonin levels in Critically Ill Hemorrhagic Stroke Patients. 

This individual has been very involved in associations, serving GSHP’s student chapter as the Committee Leader for Membership and Marketing.  They have also worked to promote member engagement in ASHP.  Notably, this individual served as the Founding Member/Event Coordinator for the National Hispanic Pharmacists Association and established UGA’s chapter of this organization.

Please join me in congratulating Saira Mirza, our second recipient of the Outstanding Pharmacy Student Award.

Outstanding New Practitioner Award

Nominees for the Outstanding New Practitioner Award are not limited by age, but by the length of time in the profession. Nominees should have graduated from a pharmacy school within the past five years. The recipient is chosen based on exemplary service and dedication to the field of health-system pharmacy in this time period.

This individual graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Kentucky, completed a PGY1 and a PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency  while serving as Chief Resident during the PGY2.  Since completion of training, this person has served for the past two years as a critical care clinical pharmacist in the medical intensive care unit at a GA health System and took over responsibilities as Program Coordinator of the PGY2 Critical Care Residency this past year.     

“This individual has exhibited a track record of commitment, efficiency, and passion for the profession.”

Examples of impactful programs implemented within the past two years include:

Protocols for use of ketamine for sedation, ketamine for status asthmaticus, updating guidelines and order sets for neuromuscular blocking agents, an alcohol withdrawal guideline, diabetic ketoacidosis protocol, upper gastrointestinal bleed order set, insulin for hypertriglyceridemia,  spontaneous awakening and breathing trial protocol, and implementation of  a novel nurse-driven bowel regimen protocol.

To date this individual has published 6 full-length papers (with 3 as first author), 3 published abstracts, 17 national poster presentations, 8 state poster presentations, and 6 national podium presentations.  This individual has presented at GSHP & South Carolina Society of Health System Pharmacists meetings and nationally at Society of Critical Care Medicine, American College of Clinical Pharmacy & ASHP. 

Another nominator states: “this individual desires to constantly improve skills, provide excellent patient care, and serve as a mentor to both students and residents.  This person consistently achieves excellence and cares deeply about the success of others.”

Within the past two years as a critical care specialist, this  individual has already precepted numerous residents. Additionally, she has served on research teams that have been awarded grant funding, including a grant from the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties to study evening pharmacy services.

Please join me in recognizing the GSHP 2023 Outstanding New Practitioner Kelli Keats from Augusta University Health. 

Outstanding Pharmaceutical Publication Award

The award for Outstanding Pharmaceutical Publication seeks to recognize GSHP members who have made significant contributions to the pharmaceutical literature within the past year.  Publications are not limited by topic and can include identification of new pharmacy services, enhancements to pharmaceutical care, or economic analyses.

We had a very impressive number of nominations this year, all with distinct and important contributions to the body of pharmaceutical literature in such areas as critical care medicine, lipid management, cancer treatment and reducing hazardous drug surface contamination. 

For patients with hyperlipidemia, statins are first line therapy for both primary and secondary prevention of adverse CV events and its associated mortality.   Unfortunately,  statin intolerance or the patient’s perception of statin intolerance leads to suboptimal use of this important class of medications in up to 30% of patients.  

This years recognized publication is a guidance paper from the National Lipid Association that provides an updated definition of statin intolerance and informs clinicians about appropriate identification, assessment and management of modifiable risk factors and evidence-based alternatives for  the truly intolerant patient. This paper has been cited by the ACC and the definition for statin intolerance is now internationally recognized.  

This years award recipient not only co-chaired the multidisciplinary development committee for this publication, she is its first author.   Please

join me in congratulating Mary Katherine Cheeley, a lipid specialist who is Executive Director for Ambulatory Pharmacy Services at Grady Health System, for her publication entitled: 

National Lipid Association scientific statement on statin intolerance: a new definition and key considerations for ASCVD risk reduction in the statin intolerant patient published this past year in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology.

Outstanding Pharmacy Mentor Award

The Outstanding Pharmacy Mentor Award is designed to recognize a GSHP member who has served as a mentor in the GSHP mentorship program. The award recognizes outstanding service to a mentee and the future of our profession.

One of the attributes of a great mentor is their ability to not only share wisdom with their mentees, but inspire and motivate them.  This individual epitomizes this with their ability to connect with students both in the classroom by bringing in clinical relevance and real-world experience and also on a deeper, personal level as they help guide them through their pharmacy journey. This individual was nominated by their current mentee who stated that this person “is a dedicated, professional, and passionate mentor who has helped me to build confidence, excel, and leverage personal traits/attributes, professional development, and networking opportunities through his great tips, guidance, and leadership skills. This is the first time I applied for a mentorship program, which I did not regret! I will apply again next year!”

This person is deeply dedicated to paying it forward to the next generation. Please join me in recognizing Anthony Hawkins, clinical associate professor from the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, as this year’s recipient of the GSHP Outstanding Pharmacy Mentor Award.