University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy students
were recently recognized with awards during the annual convention of the
American Pharmaceutical Association in Washington, D.C. The UNMC students
are members of the Academy of Students of Pharmacy, a division of the association.
The academy represents more than 18,000 pharmacy students at schools
in the United States and Puerto Rico. The mission of ASP is to prepare
pharmacy students to be professionals who provide and promote pharmaceutical
care.
“Our members have put a lot of hard work into developing and carrying
out the chapter projects. We have a lot to be proud of,” said Lisa McDevitt,
of West Point, Neb. She is a UNMC College of Pharmacy student and
president of the Academy of Students of Pharmacy, Nebraska chapter.
The UNMC chapter received the following awards and honors:
Membership the UNMC chapter was recognized for high membership
of students in the academy (80-89 percent).
Best Project in the Region recognized for an annual project — Operation
Immunization project — UNMC competed against pharmacy schools in North
Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Drake University, the University
of Iowa, and Creighton University.
Silver Star award — Pharmaceutical Care project a community
project to promote awareness of medications.
APhA/Merck Project Grant An award valued at $2,000 students
will expand pharmaceutical services at the free UNMC student SHARING Clinic
in south Omaha.
National Patient Counseling Competition — Pharmacy student,
Steve Boyd of Omaha, received first runner-up (second place overall). Eighty
(out of 81) pharmacy school students competed.
Chapter Award — for completing academy requirements for the
1998-99 school year and as first runner-up for AAA schools. Schools are
divided into A, AA or AAA according to size of enrollment.
The UNMC College of Pharmacy, founded in 1915, was the third school
of pharmacy in the country to offer the doctor of pharmacy degree. More
than 50 percent of the practicing pharmacists in Nebraska graduated from
the college. Graduates have performed above the national average on the
pharmacy licensing examination annually since records first were kept.
The college was recently ranked 25 of the 81 accredited pharmacy programs
in a 2000 U.S. News and World Report poll.
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the state.
Through its commitment to research, education, outreach and patient care,
UNMC has established itself as one of the country’s leading centers for
cancer research and treatment, solid organ transplantation and arthritis.
During the past year, nearly $31 million in research grants and contracts
were awarded to UNMC scientists, and UNMCs funding from the National Institutes
of Health increased by 28 percent, going from $16.2 million to $20.7 million.
UNMCs educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals
practicing in Nebraska than any other institution.