College of Pharmacy Dean Stephanie Gardner, PHarm.D., Ed.D., and APhA-Academy of Student Pharmacists President-Elect, second-year student Brandi Hamilton.

March 20, 2012 | March 20, 2012 | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy faculty and students brought home several high honors from the recent American Pharmacists Association (APhA) annual meeting and exposition in New Orleans.

Members of the college’s APhA-Academy of Student Pharmacists chapter won numerous awards, while one faculty member was named president-elect of the APhA Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management and a student named president-elect of the Academy of Student Pharmacists.

“We are extremely proud of our students’ success in competing with pharmacy colleges throughout the nation,” said Stephanie Gardner, Pharm.D., Ed.D, dean of the UAMS College of Pharmacy. “They represent our students’ high level of achievement and their patient-care efforts, which characterize the goals of APhA-ASP – taking care of people and fostering leadership among future pharmacists.”

With almost 100 students and 10 faculty members at the convention, UAMS had one of the largest contingents at the meeting.

UAMS chapter members won:

• Chapter Achievement Award – Division AA (Division AA-Enrollment from 351 to 500. A winner and a first runner-up are named in each of the three divisions. These are the best in the nation and are in contention for Chapter of the Year.)

• National Award – Heartburn Awareness Challenge

• Regional Award – Operation Heart and Operation Diabetes

• APhA One-to-One Patient Counseling Recognition Award, Seth Heldenbrand Pharm.D., assistant professor of Pharmacy Practice

• First Runner-Up National Patient Counseling Competition, third-year student Rachel Howells

• The Nellie Wakeman Fellowship for outstanding Kappa Epsilon members pursuing advanced degrees in the pharmaceutical sciences, fourth-year student Sarah Norman

UAMS faculty and students named to APhA positions: 

• ASP National Communications Standing Committee Member, third-year student Kevin Barton

• ASP National President-Elect, second-year student Brandi Hamilton

• APhA National Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management President-Elect, Nicki Hilliard, Pharm.D., professor of Pharmacy Practice

• ASP International Pharmaceutical Society Foundation National Project Coordinator, third-year student Bri Morris

In addition, student research posters were accepted for presentation by third-year student Sarah Butler, fourth-year student Brittany Goings, and second-year student Marlene Battles.