On the eve of graduation, members of the NEOMED College of Pharmacy Class of 2023, faculty and staff gathered for the Dean’s Reception. The annual celebration was held on May 5 and recognized outstanding pharmacy students in 16 award categories, along with three faculty and preceptor award winners.
The event featured special remarks from Dean Richard Kasmer, Pharm.D., J.D., along with a speech from the Class of 2023 Class Speaker, Lauryn Jenkins.
“Many of you have heard me say this, but the faculty here at NEOMED is what attracted me from Day One when I stepped on this campus for an interview,” she said. “Thank you to all our professors, PDAT advisors, mentors, preceptors, course directors and course coordinators. For all of the priceless lessons, the late-night emails before exams, for believing in all of us and most importantly, for caring about our success just as much, if not more, than we do.”
The awards were presented by many faculty and staff members throughout the College and University.
CLASS of 2023 STUDENT AWARDS
- Akron Area Society of Health-System Pharmacists Pharmacy Practice Award, presented to the student demonstrating academic excellence and a strong commitment to health-system pharmacy practice: Miranda Galleher, Pharm.D. (’23)
- APhA-ASP Senior Recognition Award, presented to the student who made great contributions to the College of Pharmacy’s American Pharmacists Association Academy of Students Pharmacists: Paige Tulcewicz, Pharm.D. (’23)
- Bowl of Hygeia Award, presented to the colleague that students would most want as their own personal pharmacist as exemplified through excellent intellectual and clinical skills, empathy and patient rapport, as well as diligence and support of fellow colleagues: Lauryn Jenkins, Pharm.D. (’23)
- Commitment to Service Award, presented to the student who made outstanding contributions to the College of Pharmacy, his or her class and community through leadership, donation of time to class and service and advocacy in community service programs: Hala Daghlas-Yusuf, Pharm.D. (’23)
- Council of Ohio Colleges of Pharmacy Leadership Award, presented to the student who demonstrates leadership roles within a student organization or other roles on campus and demonstrates the core values of NEOMED: Faith Belcher, Pharm.D. (’23)
- Council of Ohio Colleges of Pharmacy Leadership Scholarship, presented to the student who demonstrates leadership roles within a student organization or other roles on campus and demonstrates the core values of NEOMED: Vindya Perera, Pharm.D. (’23)
- Evidence-Based Medicine Approach to Patient Care Award, presented to the student who demonstrates promise in improving care, with an appreciation for scientific inquiry, an evidence-based approach to evaluating natural medicines and a strong interest in an evidence-based approach to patient care: Kamryn Del Vecchio, Pharm.D. (’23)
- Excellence in Clinical Communication Award, presented to the student who demonstrates superior achievement in patient care and as a health care provider by means of superior verbal and written communication skills and effectiveness of relaying pharmacy knowledge: Destiny Patrick, Pharm.D. (’23)
- Ohio Pharmacists Association Student Leadership Award, presented to the student who is a current member of APhA-ASP, demonstrates leadership and outstanding achievement in ASP chapter activities, and recognizes the value of associations in improving the profession: Elizabeth Clapper, Pharm.D. (’23)
- Outstanding Researcher Award, presented to the student who demonstrates pursuit of research projects, presentations and publication of research results: Melvin Vazquez, Pharm.D. (’23)
- Professional Achievement Award, presented to the student who exemplifies scholastic and professional achievement, leadership ability and ethical conduct: Paul Lungu, Pharm.D. (’23)
- Student Excellence in Role Modeling of Interprofessional Collaboration Award, presented to the student who exemplifies interprofessional collaboration through one of more of the following: enthusiasm, commitment and knowledge of interprofessional collaboration; effective communication skills with peer learners, colleagues and/or patients; active and consistent collaborations with other health care professionals to model interprofessional collaborations; and advancement of practice/research in interprofessional collaborations: Bushra Altabbaa, Pharm.D. (’23)
- Student Marshal (Gonfalonian), awarded to the student who is top of the class and carries the College of Pharmacy gonfalon at commencement: Emily Graves, Pharm.D. (’23)
- Summa Health Rootstown Pharmacy Community Practice Award, awarded to the student who demonstrates academic excellence and a strong commitment to community pharmacy practice: Austin Clapper, Pharm.D. (’23)
- United States Public Health Services Excellence in Public Health Award, a prestigious award which recognizes pharmacy students who have made significant contributions to public health by promoting wellness and healthy communities. Specifically, students are evaluated on their contributions towards voluntary health-related services, an emerging public health issue, or contributions that advance the goals of Health People 2030 or the National Prevention Strategy: Paige Tulcewicz, Pharm.D. (’23)
- Viatris Excellence in Pharmacy Award, presented to a student in the top 25 percent of his or her class, who demonstrates high personal motivation, a unique ability to communicate drug information and intends to enter practice upon graduation: George Koupiaris, Pharm.D. (’23)
- Walgreens Pharmacy Diversity and Inclusion Excellence Award, presented to the student who promotes and supports the needs, values and respect of underrepresented communities, who is sensitive to the issues of diversity and takes action to promote the ideals of inclusion, equity and community: Hala Daghlas-Yusuf, Pharm.D. (’23)
- Walgreens Pharmacy Multilingual Award, presented to the student who embraces and promotes diversity and inclusion initiatives on campus. The student is fluent in one or more languages, in addition to English, with an interest in community pharmacy, and takes action to promote the ideals of inclusion, equity and community: Kimvan Bui, Pharm.D. (’23)
FACULTY AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
- Most Influential Professor/Faculty, awarded to the faculty member who served as a role model and is dedicated to student education and professional development: Magdi Awad, Pharm.D., R.Ph., associate professor of pharmacy practice
- P4 Core Faculty Preceptor of the Year, awarded to the faculty member who served as an excellent teacher and role model during the P4 year, received positive experiential evaluations from students and demonstrated professionalism: Patrick Gallegos, Pharm.D., BCPS, associate professor of pharmacy practice, internal medicine and graduate studies
- P4 Volunteer Preceptor of the Year, awarded to the preceptor who served as an excellent teacher and role model during the P4 year, received positive experiential evaluations from students and demonstrated professionalism: Jennifer Hockings, Pharm.D., Ph.D., BCPS
- Commencement Hooders are faculty members chosen by the Class of 2023 to bestow the doctoral hood during the commencement ceremony.
- Fady Abdlrasul, Pharm.D., former assistant professor of pharmacy practice
- Magdi Awad, Pharm.D., R.Ph., associate professor of pharmacy practic
- DawnDee Bostwick, Pharm.D., clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practic
- Altaf Darvesh, Ph.D., M.Pharm., associate professor or pharmaceutical sciences and psychiatr
- Stefanie Lehmier, Pharm.D., BCPS, assistant professor of pharmacy practic
- Kelsey Rife, Pharm.D., BCACP, clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice
