NCPA Foundation Honors Outstanding Student Chapters, Student Members and Faculty Liaison for 2016

PRESS RELEASE

NEW ORLEANS (Oct. 16, 2016) The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Foundation today announced the top NCPA Student Chapters, outstanding Student Chapter Members, and the Faculty Liaison of the Year during a ceremony at the NCPA 2016 Annual Convention.

The 2016 NCPA Student Chapter of the Year is the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy (faculty advisor is Dr. Stevie Veach); the first runner-up is Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy (faculty advisor is Dr. Deidre Myers); and the second runner-up is the University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy (faculty advisor is Dr Nathan Pope). In addition, Western University of Health Sciences (faculty advisor is Dr. Ligaya Sanchez Chan) received the Most Improved Award; Ohio Northern also won the Legislative Advocacy Challenge; the University of Texas also won the Community Health Challenge; and University of Houston College of Pharmacy (faculty advisor is Dr. Lynn Simpson) won the Simplify My Meds® Challenge.

"Many pharmacy school students, infused with the entrepreneurial spirit, are positioning themselves to be successful independent community pharmacy owners in the future through their participation with NCPA Student Chapters," said Charles West, PD, President of the NCPA Foundation. "The NCPA Foundation enjoys working with all 107 Student Chapters and to recognize and encourage their efforts we present seven awards to the year's best performances. Congratulations to our winners and runners-up!"

The NCPA Foundation underwrites NCPA student chapters to increase student awareness of pharmacy ownership and the entrepreneurial opportunities in pharmacy. Its programs include the Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition, the Legislative Advocacy Challenge, the Community Health Challenge, and NCPA Ownership Workshops. Chapters also help to set up mentorships and rotations for students with independent community pharmacies.

The Faculty Liaison Winner was Dr. Joseph William Ferullo, RPh, Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS). Ferullo has more than 25 years of experience in the field of pharmacy and is an accomplished author. He has practiced pharmacy since graduating from MCPHS and now serves the college in a full-time faculty position, where he is also faculty advisor for the campus NCPA Student Chapter at MCPHS.

"Joseph Ferullo's commitment to helping cultivate the next generation of independent community pharmacy owners through his work with the NCPA Student Chapter at MCPHS is second to none," said West. "He is equipping these future entrepreneurs with the tools they will need, which is critically important because the pharmacy marketplace can be very challenging without the proper guidance."

Also at the ceremony, 21 pharmacy students were honored as NCPA Outstanding Student Chapter Members of the Year after being nominated by their peers and faculty at each of their respective schools. The winners are listed alphabetically below:

Jenna Brandhorst

University of Iowa College of Pharmacy

Courtney Cain

University of Louisiana at Monroe School of Pharmacy

Kaylee Cerminara

Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Morgan Fordham

South University School of Pharmacy

Kelsie Harris

West Virginia University School of Pharmacy

Priyana Kumar

University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy

Katrina Kutter

Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy at the University of Hawaii at Hilo

Prashant Lukhi

Harding University College of Pharmacy

Derek Matlock

Washington State University College of Pharmacy

Veronica Mendez

Shenandoah University

Sara Mirzaei

Regis University School of Pharmacy

Hollie Resseguie

University of Kansas

Christopher Robinson

Harrison School of Pharmacy Auburn University

Jessica Robinson

East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy

Adam Schulte

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy

Kaitav Shah

Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy

Tyler Siefring

Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy

Vivian Tahmasbi

MCPHS

Ally Thrall

University of Houston

Lily Van

University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy

Ryan Wheeler

Campbell College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

"Within the ranks of NCPA Student Chapters is a group of special individuals who show commitment, aptitude and leadership skills that make them standout above the rest of their hard-working peers," said West. "That is why the NCPA Foundation is proud to honor 21 pharmacy students as the outstanding members of their respective student chapters. We are dedicated to ensuring the pool of independent community pharmacy owners is as deep as possible for years to come. Each of these winners shows the type of promise that both reassures and inspires me."