Pharmacy Perspectives - Fall 2012 - (Page 5)

CentennIAL sCHOLARs Alumni Association Centennial Scholar Danielle Smidt Fourth-year pharmacy student Debra Springer Devereaux Centennial Scholar Michael G. Thompson Non-traditional doctorate student Land of Opportunity Continued from page 3 Future Plans: Infectious disease pharmacy specialist “As a pharmacy student leader, I’m prepared to rise to the challenge of moving the profession forward to become further integrated into the healthcare team. Openness to fresh ideas as well as my own professional dreams and goals will help me lead the way to new practices and services with the ultimate goal of improving patient care.” With over ten years’ experience in clinical microbiology and infection prevention and control, Danielle has witnessed the steady rise in multidrug resistant organisms and is on a mission to reduce the incidence of antibiotic residence and aspires to a prominent role in antimicrobial stewardship. According to her mentor, Dr. Hanan Shaban, “Danielle is a true professional. She does not view pharmacy school as a step to a goal, but rather as a journey. She seeks to grow in every way possible. In addition to visiting in other areas of pharmacy, Danielle took on many other tasks, including: newsletters, formulary reviews, discussions with ID, medication usage evaluation and drug information requests. Obviously this is much more than can be completed in the allotted 3-4 hours. She spent hours of her own time completing projects and frequently coming back with additional projects she thought might be beneficial.” Future Plans: Continue in pharmacy practice “In my future, I hope to use what I have learned in the NTPD program to continue to develop a robust and innovative pharmacy practice. I plan to expand my work in population health, using electronic medical records to not only identify patients with specific diseases, but also identify suboptimally treated chronic diseases. Ever since receiving his bachelor of science in pharmacy degree in 2007, Michael has been changing the face of pharmacy in Canada. During the five years he has been practicing, he has expanded the role of pharmacist through leadership, research and innovation. By forming collaborative relationships with physicians, and exceeding the highest standards of documentation, clinical judgment and follow-up, he has earned additional prescribing authority from the Alberta pharmacy board and developed two innovative programs to improve patient care. The first was a post-discharge medication reconciliation program and the second an INR management program, which he co-developed with Dr. Paul Woods. Dr. Woods credits Michael with “being an innovator and forward thinker of the highest order. He will undoubtedly leave a superb legacy as an alumnus of your school in both work he has done to date but even more so as he moves into a career that will undoubtedly further the impact of clinical pharmacists on health system transformation.” Sandrena remembers her father frequently talking about returning to Africa to open a pharmacy. In 1981, Brockman’s dreams were realized when he went to Liberia with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America to work as the head pharmacist at Phebe Hospital’s School of Nursing. Brockman lived in a remote county called Bonga, 160 miles north of Monrovia, the capitol of Liberia. While there, he traveled around the northern portion of the continent, distributing medicines and visiting such countries as Sierra Leone, Senegal, Gambia, Cameroon, Sudan and Mali. “Dad believed in being a pioneer and maintained that pioneering spirit throughout his life,” Sandrena said. “He set goals for himself to do something that was uncharacteristic of African Americans at that time. After years in the pharmaceutical field he wanted to branch out and dedicate himself to people who were less fortunate. “Dad believed in being a pioneer and maintained that pioneering spirit throughout his life,” Sandrena said. “He set goals for himself to do something that was uncharacteristic of African Americans at that time. After years in the pharmaceutical field he wanted to branch out and dedicate himself to people who were less fortunate.” “He couldn’t give back to his own community here because we didn’t grow up in a black community per se in Colorado. So he decided to go to Africa and use his educational training for people who were far less fortunate than he was.” Sandrena says much of her father’s life work was inspired by his time at CU, “I think that his experience of going to the University of Colorado and being embraced by that academic environment encouraged him to succeed. He was very proud of going to a school that is as prominent as CU and as well known for the level of pharmacy education it offers. And he felt compelled to share his good fortune. We benefited from it, but hundreds of other people, particularly in Africa, benefited from it as well. And they adored him, they really did.” Scholarship Requirements The scholarship requirements focused on academic performance, leadership initiative and community involvement. Submissions included a personal statement, letter of recommendation demonstrating why the applicant epitomizes a Centennial Scholar and how the applicant will leave a legacy that will enhance the school, and CV outlining leadership roles. The personal statement highlighted their commitment to innovation within the profession, future endeavors, as well as a description of how the applicant would enhance the reputation of the school and keep the profession moving forward. Fall 2012 5

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pharmacy Perspectives - Fall 2012

Pharmacy Perspectives - Fall 2012
Contents
Dean’s Message
Centennial Scholars
Commencement
Faculty
Tributes

Pharmacy Perspectives - Fall 2012