Who Are the Next-Generation Pharmacists?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Bill Schu, Group Editorial Director, (609) 716-7777 x125, bschu@mdng.com

Who Are the Next-Generation Pharmacists?

Nominations are now open for an awards program honoring innovative pharmacy professionals.

PLAINSBORO, NJ (January 25, 2011)—Pharmacy Times and Parata Systems are proud to announce the start of the second annual Next-Generation Pharmacist program. The 2011 Next-Generation Pharmacist Awards will be presented at a special event in Boston on August 29, 2011, to honor pharmacists, technicians, and student pharmacists who embrace and embody the future vision of pharmacy in the following categories:

• Rising Star

• Entrepreneur

• Civic Leader

• Technology Innovator

• Patient Care Provider

• Industry Advocate

• Technician

• Long-Term Care Pharmacist

• Military Pharmacist

• Future Pharmacist (student pharmacist)

• Lifetime Achievement Award

New award categories this year include “Military Pharmacist,” awarded to an active duty or reserve military pharmacist who operates within a branch of the United States armed forces, and “Long-Term Care Pharmacist,” awarded to a pharmacist who excels in providing pharmacy services to skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, continuing care retirement centers and other long-term care organizations.

One pharmacist category winner will be selected as the 2011 Next-Generation Pharmacist, an honor that was bestowed last year on Mark Aurit, RPh, owner of Gateway Health Mart Pharmacy in Bismarck, ND.

Nominations opened January 15, 2011, at www.nextgenerationpharmacist.com, and the deadline for entries is March 15, 2011. Entries can be submitted online or via mail. Visit the Web site for an electronic entry form.

“As the leader in pharmacy publishing, Pharmacy Times is shining a light on the critical role of the pharmacist in today’s health care world and providing invaluable insight into the profession,” Mike Hennessy, chairman and chief executive officer, said. “We are proud to recognize individual pharmacists in this second annual awards program.”

“The Next-Generation Pharmacist program was a great success last year, and we are thrilled to partner with Pharmacy Times again to honor pharmacy’s top professionals,” Tom Rhoads, CEO of Parata Systems, said. “These leaders are dedicated to helping people with their medication needs, and we are happy to be able to honor the difference they make in people’s lives daily.”

The program is open to licensed pharmacists practicing in all environments, including chain, community, hospital outpatient and government settings, as well as technicians and student pharmacists in two special categories. An independent judging panel chaired by Fred Eckel, RPh, editor-in-chief at Pharmacy Times, will be announced.

All finalists will be profiled in Pharmacy Times, and honored at the Next-Generation Pharmacist Awards event, held during the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Pharmacy and Technology Conference (August 27-30, 2011) in Boston.

“Not only was it a pleasure to see the industry’s best and brightest honored by their peers last year, but we enjoyed hearing the personal stories,” Tighe Blazier, president of Pharmacy Times said. “It is encouraging to get a glimpse of the future of pharmacy, as captured by the Next-Generation Pharmacist profile, the market research behind this program, as well as through the stories of these stellar professionals. We look forward to seeing what results this year’s research uncovers.”

Keep up with the latest news from Next-Generation Pharmacist by registering at www.nextgenerationpharmacist.com, and by following the program at www.PharmacyTimes.com, or on Facebook and Twitter (@nextgenpharm).

About Parata Systems

Durham, N.C.-based Parata Systems, LLC, was founded in 2001, and offers industry-leading technology solutions that improve consumer safety and convenience at key touch points in the circle of pharmacy care: fill, serve and adhere. Parata Max® and Mini® automate prescription dispensing with high-speed and high-accuracy; and Parata® PACMED improves patient safety with unit- and multi-dose packaging that ensures patients get the right medication at the right time, every time. To learn more, call, click or visit Parata Systems, www.parata.com, info@parata.com, 1-888-PARATA1 (727-2821), and on Facebook and Twitter at “Parata Systems.”

About Pharmacy Times

Pharmacy Times is a clinically based, monthly journal providing practical information pharmacists can use in their everyday practice. 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. Pharmacy Times is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of free continuing pharmacy education.

Pharmacy Times is published by Intellisphere, LLC, a leading provider of health care publishing, research, information, and education. Operating within both traditional and digital media channels, Intellisphere serves the needs of health care professionals through an extensive suite of magazines, journals, e-mail databases, Web sites, events and personal meetings.

Intellisphere reaches more than half a million health care professionals through Pharmacy Times, The American Journal of Managed Care, The American Journal of Pharmacy Benefits, MDNG, HCPlive.com, Oncology & Biotech News, Oncology Net Guide, Contemporary Oncology, and Oncology Net Guide: Nurses’ Edition. Learn more at www.PharmacyTimes.com, info@PharmacyTimes.com, on Facebook at “Pharmacy Times,” or 609-716-7777.