2012 Next-Generation Pharmacistâ„¢ Award Finalists Announced

Durham, N.C.—(Aug. 21, 2012)—Parata Systems and Pharmacy Times are pleased to announce the finalists for the 2012 Next-Generation Pharmacist™ awards, a national program honoring pharmacists who define the future of the industry. Now in its third year, the Next-Generation Pharmacist awards recognize pharmacy leaders across a wide range of practice settings; this year the program attracted more than 375 entries from 41 states.

Nominations are received across 10 award categories, and all entries are reviewed by an independent panel of esteemed judges, chaired by Pharmacy Times editor-in-chief Fred M. Eckel, RPh, MS.

Three finalists are selected in each category, and this year 30 pharmacists, technicians and student pharmacists will be recognized at the 2012 awards event. These honorees represent a true cross-section of the industry—from large chain retailers and independent pharmacies, to military bases in the U.S. and overseas, as well as health clinics and educational institutions. This year’s finalists come from 16 states in addition to the U.S. Navy base in Guam.

The winner for each category will be announced at the 2012 Next-Generation Pharmacist awards event, which will be held at the San Diego Zoo on Monday, Oct. 15, concurrent with the National Community Pharmacists Association annual convention.

One winner from the pharmacist categories will also receive the program’s highest honor, “2012 Next-Generation Pharmacist,” a prestigious award that recognizes a licensed pharmacist who embodies the highest standards of patient care, management, and operations, while demonstrating an uncompromising vision for the pharmacy industry.

The 2012 finalists are:

Civic Leader of the Year:

Peter Crouch, RPh, CCP, Eden Drug, Eden, NC

Kenneth Fletcher, PharmD, RPh, Safeway, Inc., Thatcher, AZ

Shauna Markes-Wilson, BSPharm, RPh, Walgreens Pharmacy, Buford, GA

Entrepreneur of the Year (sponsored by Upsher-Smith):

Mike Hoar, BSPharm, RPh, Foster’s Pharmacy, Mt. Vernon, OH

David Kohll, PharmD, Kohll’s Pharmacy and Homecare, Omaha, NE

Joseph Moose, PharmD, Moose Pharmacy, Concord, NC

Future Pharmacist of the Year:

Jonathan Magness, PharmD Candidate, University of Utah College of Pharmacy, Salt Lake City, UT

Huy Nguyen, PharmD Candidate, Drake University, Des Moines, IA

Sheri Winner, PharmD Candidate, University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy, Oklahoma City, OK

Lifetime Achievement:

Lonnie Hollingsworth, BSPharm, L&H Drugs, Lubbock, TX

Robert Nickell, RPh, FACA, FAPO, Nickell Physician and Pharmacy Services, Torrance, CA

COL William Pickard, BSPharm, MS, RPh, Campbell University College of Pharmacy and Health Services, Morrisville, NC

Long-Term Care Pharmacist of the Year:

Labinot Avdiu, PharmD, Medication Management Partners, LLC, Alsip, IL

Bent Gay, BSPharm, Gayco Healthcare, Dublin, GA

Russ Zakarian, PharmD, Model Drug, Kingsburg, CA

Military Pharmacist of the Year (sponsored by GSL Solutions, Inc.):

MAJ Debra Cosby, PharmD, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX

Jennifer Hirsh, PharmD, CAPT James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, North Chicago, IL

MAJ Michael Ronn, PharmD, Womack Army Medical Center, Ft. Bragg, NC

Patient Care Provider of the Year (sponsored by Novo Nordisk):

Tracey Cole, BSPharm, RPh, Holyoke Health Center, Holyoke, MA

Marty Feltner, PharmD, Kohll’s Pharmacy and Homecare, Omaha, NE

Robert Nickell, RPh, FACA, FAPO, Nickell Physician and Pharmacy Services, Torrance, CA

Rising Star of the Year:

Monica Arora, PharmD, Rutgers University/Daiichi Sankyo, Morris Plains, NJ

Zachary Marcum, PharmD, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

LT Ian Waugh, PharmD, RPh, Naval Branch Health Clinic Mayport Pharmacy Services, Mayport, FL

Technician of the Year:

Michelle Earich, CPhT, The Wellington Group, LLC, Medina, OH

Mike Johnston, CPhT, National Pharmacy Technician Association, Spring, TX

HM1 Aaron Ocampo, CPhT, U.S. Naval Hospital Guam, Dededo, Guam

Technology Innovator of the Year:

Mark Gagnon, PharmD, Via Christi Health, Wichita, KS

Chad Hardy, PharmD, RX Point/Jackson Pharmacy Professionals, The Woodlands, TX

Stephen Vogt, PharmD, BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy, Altamonte Springs, FL

“As this well-established program continues to grow each year, our judging panel is repeatedly impressed by the caliber of the nominations we receive,” Eckel said.

Each finalist will be profiled in the September issue of Pharmacy Times and on www.pharmacytimes.com.

“These 30 award finalists are truly all deserving of this national recognition,” Tom Rhoads, CEO of Parata Systems, said. “We’re proud to honor these exceptional professionals each year, and we also appreciate the program’s sponsors who help to spotlight our industry’s best and brightest.”

Category sponsors for this year’s Next-Generation Pharmacist program are GSL Solutions, Inc., Novo Nordisk and Upsher-Smith. Additional sponsors include Parata Financial, Pharmacy Development Services and Rexam.

For more information about the Next-Generation Pharmacist program, the October awards event in San Diego or sponsorship opportunities, visit www.nextgenerationpharmacist.com.

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About Parata Systems

Durham, N.C.-based Parata Systems, LLC, was founded in 2001 and provides powerful pharmacy automation technology to improve dispensing safety and productivity. Next-generation Parata Max^® and Parata Mini^® deliver the highest accuracy, speed and productivity for the lowest cost per prescription. Parata PASS generates customized unit- and multi-dose strip packaging that improves safety and adherence for retail and long-term care patients, and eases the demands of short-cycle dispensing. Pharmacy 2000™ workflow software ensures consistency and accuracy across the pharmacy’s entire prescription workflow. To learn more, call, click or visit Parata Systems, www.parata.com, info@parata.com, 1-888-PARATA1 (727-2821), Facebook (Parata Systems) and Twitter (paratasystems).

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 an independent continuing pharmacy education (CPE) provider, Pharmacy Times Office of CPE offers accredited live and home-study CPE activities—many, free of charge. Learn more at www.pharmacytimes.com, info@pharmacytimes.com or 609-716-7777 and on Facebook at Facebook.com/PharmacyTimes and on Twitter @Pharmacy_Times. Pharmacy Times is published by Intellisphere, LLC, a leading provider of health care publishing, research, information, and education.

Available for interviews:

Tom Rhoads, CEO

Parata Systems

Bea Riemschneider, Group Editorial Director

Pharmacy Times

Media contacts:

Allie Artur

For Next-Generation Pharmacist™

267-932-8760 x304

allie@hornercom.com