The UTHSC chapter of the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) was named Chapter of the Year at the Virtual APhA2021 Awards Program this month.
In addition to this top award, the chapter was also recognized as first runner-up for the OTC Medicine Safety National Award, second runner-up for the Operation Immunization National Award, and as a Women’s Health Campaign Outstanding Chapter.
This is the fifth time the UTHSC chapter has received the distinction of Chapter of the Year, with the most recent recognition being in the 2018-2019 reporting cycle. Also, during the 2019-2020 reporting cycle, the chapter received regional awards for two patient care initiatives: Operation Heart and Generation Rx. The chapter was led by Robert Komis, a fourth-year student pharmacist and chapter president in 2019-2020.
“The chapter’s momentous year would not have been possible without the hard work of all 573 student pharmacist members, the chapter leaders, and chapter advisors,” said Elizabeth Hall, PharmD, BCPS, BCPPS, director of assessment and assistant professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, who serves as the state-wide advisor for the APhA-ASP chapter.
In addition to the chapter awards, two third-year student pharmacists were recognized with individual awards. Kristina Leav was one of four students nationwide selected to receive the APhA 2021 Student Leadership Award, and Alex Wallace was selected by the APhA Foundation as the year’s Charles C. Thomas Scholarship recipient.
Other chapter members were selected to serve on national committees. Maggie Davis, a third-year student pharmacist, was appointed as chair of the APhA-ASP National Standing Committee on Awards, and Kate Noonan, a third-year student pharmacist, was selected to serve as a member of the National Standing Committee on Communications.
