Four years ago, new College of Pharmacy students attended their White Coat Ceremony and heard comments from Scott Knoer, Pharm.D., then the chief pharmacy officer at Cleveland Clinic. On the eve of NEOMED’s 2021 Commencement, Dr. Knoer once again joined them, this time delivering remarks as the keynote speaker at the annual College of Pharmacy Dean’s Reception.
Held virtually Friday, April 30, the night before 69 College of Pharmacy students received their degrees, the Dean’s Reception celebrated student and faculty milestones and achievements.
Congratulating the students, Dr. Knoer urged them to view their careers not as a job but as a professional journey with amazing opportunities ahead. In his current role as the CEO of the American Pharmacists Association, said Dr. Knoer, he can facilitate changing laws and advocate for the pharmacy profession. But the students? You are the future of pharmacy, he told them.
In the future, current leaders such as Dr. Knoer will look to the pharmacists of the Class of 2021 to help solve the most important issue facing the profession, namely, payment reform, he said.
If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem, he told the students. And to be part of the solution, you’ll need to be lifelong learners and adapt to change.
Watch a recording of the 2021 College of Pharmacy Dean’s Reception
2021 College of Pharmacy Award Recipients
APhA-ASP Senior Recognition Award
Tim Huskey
Bowl of Hygeia Award
Ashley Brooks
Commencement Student Speaker
Ashley Brooks
Commitment to Service
Shadrack Osei Baah
Council of Ohio Colleges Pharmacy Leadership Award
Kevin King
Council of Ohio Colleges Pharmacy Leadership Scholarship
Leetsa Lambis
Evidence-Based Medicine Approach to Patient Care
Angie Morris
Excellence in Clinical Communication and Patient Care Award
Ashley Brooks
Health System Practice Award
Mackenzie Lloyd
Mylan Excellence in Pharmacy Award
Steven Fosnight
OPA Student Leadership Award
Korie Maryo
Outstanding Researcher Award
Steven Fosnight
Professional Achievement Award
David Whipkey
Rootstown Community Pharmacy Practice Award
Kaitlyn Latham
Student Marshall
Leetsa Lambis
U.S. Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Award
Kassandra Kersey
Walgreens Pharmacy Multilingual Award
Lucia Serna-Ramirez
Faculty Excellence in Role Modeling of Interprofessional Collaboration
Alex Hoffman, Pharm.D., BCPS, CDCES
Outstanding Alumni
Joshua Shumway, Pharm.D.
P4 Core Faculty Preceptor of the Year
Chris Shelby, Pharm.D., BCPS
P4 Voluntary Faculty Preceptor of the Year
Kim Novak, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCPPS, FPPAG
P4 Teacher of the Year
Bhavin Mistry, Pharm.D., BCIDP, BCPS