2022 TPA Award Recipients

Celebrating Excellence in Patient Care and the Profession of Pharmacy

Seated: Rachel Kile, Sheila Mitchell, Nina Smothers, Katie Vandenberg, Nancy Hart, Kim Jones
Standing: Chris Finch, Calita Richards, Laird Leavoy, Amy Quinn, Tyler Dougherty, Maya Patel, Ken Dyer, Esther Gonzalez, Daniel Marsh, Sean-Paul Bergeron, Katy Wright, Nichole Foster, Megan Whittier, Stephan Foster, Matthew Underwood, Karen Babb
Not Pictured: Athena Hobbs, Jacqueline Lange

On June 17, during TPA’s 2022 Summer Meeting in Chattanooga, TPA honored the following individuals and entities for excellence and dedication to pharmacy practice and patient care.

Please click on the names below to learn more about the 2022 award winners:

TYLER DOUGHERTY, PharmD, BCACP

Distinguished Young Pharmacist

Tyler Dougherty, PharmD, BCACP, of Knoxville, Tennessee, was recently recognized by the Tennessee Pharmacists Association (TPA) as the 2022 Distinguished Young Pharmacist.

Dr. Dougherty has worked to advance patient care through his contributions in practice and devotion to his patients as a pharmacist at Clinton Drug Store and as an Assistant Professor at South College School of Pharmacy. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy in 2015. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Dougherty has diligently provided care to patients. He developed one of the first programs in Tennessee that provided testing for COVID-19 in a community pharmacy setting, and he implemented a service for administering monoclonal antibody therapy within a community pharmacy. In addition, he organized and conducted multiple vaccination programs. Through these efforts, Dr. Dougherty was instrumental in the well-being and recovery of hundreds of patients during the pandemic.

His attention to detail, passion for the profession and eagerness to share his knowledge with others makes Dr. Dougherty a true leader in innovation. His dedication and care for the patient populations he serves are praised by his colleagues. He and his services are trusted by many medical clinics, emergency departments (ED), community pharmacies, and employers in the Knoxville community. Dr. Dougherty epitomizes the future of the practice of pharmacy.

TPA congratulates Dr. Tyler Dougherty for his outstanding work and contributions to patient care and pharmacy practice.

The Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award was created in 1987 by Pharmacists Mutual Companies to encourage newer pharmacists to become involved in association activities and civic projects, and to recognize one such pharmacist in each state for individual excellence and outstanding contributions.

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NICHOLE FOSTER, MBA, MEd, CPhT-Adv

Health-System Pharmacy Technician of the Year

The Tennessee Pharmacists Association (TPA) and the Tennessee Society of Health-System Pharmacists (TSHP) are pleased to announce that Nichole Foster, MBA, MEd, CPhT-Adv, has been recognized as the 2022 Pharmacy Technician of the Year.

Foster became a Certified Pharmacy Technician in 2003 and has obtained extensive community and hospital pharmacy practice experience. After serving at Walgreens for over 11 years, she transitioned to hospital practice at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC). During her time at VUMC, Foster has held several roles, including Certified Pharmacy Technician, Senior Program Manager, Program Director of the Pharmacy Technician Training Program, and Co-Chair of the Pharmacy Technician Advancement Review Board.

Foster is passionate about advocating for pharmacy technicians and working diligently to advance their role and scope of practice. She has spoken nationally and internationally on the importance of technician practice advancement and is active within the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), and the TPA’s society of pharmacy technicians (TSPT). She has held several past and current leadership roles within these organizations, including Chair of TSPT, Chair of ASHP’s Membership Outreach and eCommunication, Chair of ASHP’s Educational Steering Committee, member of the PTCB certifications council, and member of ASHP’s Pharmacy Technician Accreditation Commission.

Foster has served as the subject matter expert for ASHP and PTCB in creation and production of exam review and study materials for pharmacy technicians. She was recently honored as the first technician to receive ASHP’s Pharmacy Technician Forum Distinguished Service Award. Foster is clearly driven to educate and train highly skilled technicians, while continually pushing for technician advancement.

Pharmacy technicians provide essential support to pharmacists and enhance the delivery of patient care and services. This award is presented to an individual who exercises exemplary pharmacy technician practice. TPA congratulates Nichole Foster for her outstanding work and contributions to patient care and pharmacy practice.

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STEPHAN L. FOSTER, PharmD

Barbara McAndrew Herald Award

Stephan Foster, PharmD, of Atoka, TN, was recently honored with the 2022 Barbara McAndrew Herald Award by the Tennessee Pharmacists Association (TPA) in recognition of his work and support of the pharmacy profession.

Dr. Foster earned his B.S. Pharm from the University of New Mexico in 1976 and his PharmD from the University of Tennessee (UT) College of Pharmacy in 1977. In 1978, he began working for the U.S. Public Health Service – Indian Health Service, where he served for twenty years, retiring as a Captain. He returned to his UT alma mater and spent eighteen years in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy, where he served as Vice Chair of Institutional Programs and Director of IPPE. Dr. Foster was a Professor of Pharmacy and an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and retired in 2016. He served on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) as the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) liaison representative from 2001-2021. He also served on the State of Tennessee’s Influenza Preparedness Coordinating Committee, the Department of Health Cervical Cancer Elimination Subcommittee and the Tennessee COVID-19 Stakeholder Committee in 2020.

Nationally, Dr. Foster has been honored with the Hugo H. Schaefer Award (2022), APhA Invisible Superhero Immunization Recognition (2018) and the APhA Outstanding Career Achievement Award (2010). From the University of Tennessee (UT) College of Pharmacy, Dr. Foster earned the Student Government Association Executive Council Excellence in Teaching Award three times, the UT Outstanding Alumnus Award, and was named Teacher of the Year and Most Influential Professor. He was the TPA Tom C. Sharp Pharmacist of the Year honoree in 2010.

Dr. Foster has trained thousands of pharmacists as immunizers and has advocated tirelessly for the role of pharmacists in public health. TPA congratulates Dr. Stephan Foster for his outstanding work and contributions to patient care and pharmacy practice. He has generously shared his wealth of knowledge and played a valuable role in equipping pharmacists to be key members of the health care team, both in their communities and nationally.

The Barbara McAndrew Herald Award is supported by Germantown pharmacist Paula Bailey Hinson.

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NANCY HART, PharmD

Student Advocacy Award

Nancy Hart, PharmD, of Franklin, Tennessee, was recently recognized by the Tennessee Pharmacists Association (TPA) with the 2022 Student Advocacy Award. The award was given during the annual TPA Summer Meeting on June 17 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated devotion to the success of student pharmacists through a commitment of life-long leadership and student support.

Dr. Hart graduated with her PharmD from the University of Florida in 2005. She recently became the Obesity Medical Liaison at Novo Nordisk, Inc. Before that, she spent seven years as an Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy. Dr. Hart offered encouragement, support, and guidance for the participants of the university’s representative and representative team for the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) national patient counseling competition and the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) national clinical research challenge, respectively. Dr. Hart did not simply give answers, but encouraged and fostered critical thinking in students, prompting greater development of student pharmacists in their growth towards practicing pharmacists.

She instilled in student pharmacists the need to advocate for their profession by scheduling appointments with legislators during TPA’s Pharmacy Day on the Hill and mentoring student pharmacists in the advocacy process. Dr. Hart taught students the importance of communicating with lawmakers and how to make their voice heard.

TPA congratulates Dr. Nancy Hart for her ability to lead by example and push students out of their comfort zones to become better professionals. Her influence has impacted many and will be felt for years to come.

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ATHENA L. V. HOBBS, PharmD, BCIDP

Health-System Pharmacist of the Year

Athena L. V. Hobbs, PharmD, BCIDP, of Memphis, TN was recently recognized by the Tennessee Pharmacists Association (TPA) as the 2022 Health-System Pharmacist of the Year. The award is presented annually by TPA’s society of health-system pharmacists (TSHP) to a pharmacist who has made significant contributions to the profession of pharmacy and health-system practice and has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities.

Dr. Hobbs is the Infectious Diseases Coordinator for the Methodist Le Bonheur (MLH) system in Memphis, TN, where she co-chairs the MLH Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee. During her first year at MLH, Dr. Hobbs implemented several initiatives that impacted clinical outcomes and had a positive impact on financial stewardship. Some examples of initiatives implemented include extended infusion beta-lactams, carbapenem restriction criteria, and updating the intravenous (IV) to oral (PO) conversion checklist to help increase oral conversions of linezolid.

Dr. Hobbs is passionate about sharing her infectious disease knowledge, both within MLH and with all healthcare providers. She created an antimicrobial dosing guide for MLH, and prior to implementation of any initiative, she provided live education for staff. Within the last two years, Dr. Hobbs has been a part of three research grants, published 15 articles in peer-reviewed journals, and presented seven abstracts and four presentations on a local or regional level. Additionally, one of her articles was selected for the 2021 American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy (AJHP) Top Twenty-Five articles of the year.

The Health-System Pharmacist of the Year award is presented to a pharmacist who has made significant contributions to the profession of pharmacy and health-system practice. This award recognizes the development and implementation of advanced health-system pharmacy practice programs, research, and/or publications; personal enrichment endeavors through specialized training and advanced degrees; and demonstrated leadership qualities. TPA congratulates Dr. Athena Hobbs for her outstanding work and contributions to patient care and pharmacy practice.

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JACQUELINE LANGE, PharmD

Student Allegiance Award

Jacqueline Lange, PharmD of Nashville, Tennessee, was recently recognized by the Tennessee Pharmacists Association (TPA) with the 2022 Student Allegiance Award. The award was given during the annual TPA Summer Meeting on June 17 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Student Allegiance Award is presented annually to a fourth-year pharmacy student who has demonstrated extraordinary dedication, and through their outstanding contributions, has directly benefited student pharmacists and the profession of pharmacy.

While a student pharmacist at Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy, she demonstrated her commitment to the profession and was seen as a natural leader in doing so. One of the many examples is when, with less than an hour’s notice during TPA’s 2021 Pharmacy Day on the Hill, she expertly shared with three representatives how patient steering is negatively affecting her patients. All three representatives ended up voting in favor of HB1398/SB 1617 on PBM reform, a critical piece of legislation for pharmacy. Dr. Lange created a public service announcement video about direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees with fellow student pharmacists, which was featured on Lipscomb’s American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) Facebook page in 2020 and received over 3,000 views.

Dr. Lange has been an active member in TPA and other pharmacy organizations. She was Chapter President of the Rho Chi pharmacy honor society (2021), an American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) clinical skills competition top 10 finalist (2021) and winner of the local APhA-ASP patient counseling competition (2021). She has held leadership positions as a student pharmacist in numerous professional pharmacy organizations. TPA congratulates Dr. Lange on her leadership and dedication to pharmacy.

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LAIRD E. LEAVOY

Herman Lubin Sales Representative of the Year

Laird E. Leavoy of Euless, Texas, was recently recognized by the Tennessee Pharmacists Association (TPA) as the 2022 Herman Lubin Sales Representative of the Year, for his outstanding service to pharmacists and the profession of pharmacy.

A graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio in Business, Organizational Behavior, Leavoy has been the President of American Pharmacies (AP) since 2020. He has served as Director of Retail Sales and Segment Vice President for AmerisourceBergen South Region and as Director of Sales for FoxMeyer in Texas. Leavoy was chairman of the Texas Pharmacy Association’s Academy of Distribution and Arts. His commitment to customer care, honesty, integrity, and knowledge of the industry makes him an asset to the pharmacy community. He is passionate about his customers, patient care, and pharmacy operations. Leavoy has spearheaded efforts to engage AP members in legislative initiatives across the state of Tennessee and to encourage involvement in TPA for all its members. American Pharmacies has continued to support and amplify pharmacy’s issues at the local, state, and national levels, and has provided support relative to pharmacy practice issues.

Leavoy is a benefactor of the Les Leavoy Cadet Flight Training Program honoring his dad’s service as a war veteran fighter pilot and funds flight training for eight cadets annually. His warmth and sincerity in his interactions with people are genuine and have enabled him to serve his customers, the profession of pharmacy and his community in ways that will leave lasting positive impacts.

Presented for the first time in 1975, this award is given annually in memory of the late Herman Lubin, Memphis pharmacist and 1973 TPA President. It recognizes outstanding service to pharmacists and the profession of pharmacy. TPA congratulates Laird E. Leavoy for his outstanding work and contributions to customer care and pharmacy practice.

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SHEILA LANKFORD MITCHELL, PharmD

Bowl of Hygeia Award

Sheila Lankford Mitchell, PharmD, of Lakeland, Tennessee, was recently recognized by the Tennessee Pharmacists Association (TPA) as the 2022 Bowl of Hygeia recipient for her outstanding record of civic leadership in her community and the profession of pharmacy.

Dr. Mitchell is a 1977 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy. She previously worked as the Founding Director of Pharmacy Services for Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare Germantown Hospital and currently serves as the Founding Dean of Union University College of Pharmacy. Dr. Mitchell’s commitment to community involvement, passion for pharmacy on a local, state, and national level, and ability to represent and serve with integrity and passion make her an asset to the profession of pharmacy.

Dr. Mitchell has served with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Tennessee Board of Pharmacy, National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, TPA, and many others, representing not only her long-standing advocacy for the pharmacy profession, but also her devotion to giving back to the community. As a Shelby county resident, Dr. Mitchell has served many civic foundations, including the Board of Directors of the Poplar Pike Playhouse Arts Guild, the Methodist Healthcare Foundation, Leadership Germantown, and Lakeland East Shores Home Owners Association Board. She was also a member of Leadership Jackson in Madison County. She has been an engaged and active member of Bellevue Baptist Church for over three decades, having been a member of the choir, assistant in a variety of youth events, and a volunteer for various church initiatives. She was recently honored (2019) by the Lauderdale County School System and Lauderdale County Retired Teachers Association with the first ever awarded Outstanding Achievement Award. Her service at Union University extends well beyond the College of Pharmacy. She has selflessly assisted with various leadership needs throughout the Methodist Healthcare System and Union University over the past years and serves as a Dean mentor to other leaders on campus and throughout the pharmacy academy.

Established in 1958, the Bowl of Hygeia Award recognizes pharmacists who have outstanding records of civic leadership in their communities and encourages pharmacists to take active roles in the affairs of their respective communities. The award is presented annually by participating state pharmacist associations, including those in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In addition to service through their local, state, and national pharmacy associations, award recipients have devoted their time, talent, and resources to a wide variety of causes and community service. The Bowl of Hygeia is sponsored by the American Pharmacists Association Foundation, the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations, and the American Pharmacists Association. TPA congratulates Dr. Sheila Mitchell for her outstanding work and contribution to pharmacy practice.

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CALITA S. RICHARDS, PharmD, MPH

Tom C. Sharp Pharmacist of the Year

Calita S. Richards, PharmD, MPH, of Hendersonville, Tennessee, was recently recognized by the Tennessee Pharmacists Association (TPA) as the 2022 Tom C. Sharp Pharmacist of the Year for her distinguished work in the profession of pharmacy and excellence as a public health champion, clinician, colleague, and collaborator during her years of service with the Tennessee Department of Health.

Dr. Richards graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science in pharmacy and received a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Georgia in 1990. She then completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship of Infectious Disease and Surgery Research at the University of Georgia/Medical College of Georgia in 1992. Dr. Richards also received a Master of Public Health with an International Health Concentration related to infectious disease from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in 2003. She began her pharmacy career in the VA Healthcare system as a staff pharmacist and clinical pharmacy specialist, then transitioned to a consultant role with the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization. Following this, she assumed pharmacy leadership roles within the state of Georgia Division of Public Health. Since 2007, Dr. Richards has served as the Director of Pharmacy for the Tennessee Department of Health.

Her service to the state of Tennessee includes core responsibilities in primary care, immunization, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, tuberculosis, renal, family planning and emergency preparedness programs. She also chairs the Tennessee Department of Health Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and serves as a liaison to the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy, Tennessee Department of Mental Health, and TennCare. Most notably, she has been the state COVID-19 Therapeutics Manager since April of 2020. In this role, Dr. Richards uses her tremendous work ethic, training, and experience to incorporate health equity and population health considerations in all allocation decisions regarding COVID-19 therapies and clinical guidance. Her tireless efforts supported the pharmacy community through the COVID-19 pandemic, all the while providing advocacy and leadership, ensuring timely access to pandemic countermeasures across the state, and supporting measurable lives saved through her organizational and communication skills.

She is a member of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacy. Dr. Richards has published many research articles, presented on numerous pharmacy-related topics across the Southeast, and has won several honors and awards. She is also a volunteer and avid supporter of Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.

Sponsored by TPA, the Tom C. Sharp Pharmacist of the Year Award is named in honor of Tom C. Sharp, Sr., who served as TPA’s chief executive officer for 30 years, and his son, Tom C. Sharp, Jr., who served as TPA’s chief executive officer for 30 years following his father’s tenure. TPA congratulates Dr. Richards for her outstanding work and contributions to patient care, leadership, and pharmacy education and practice.

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NINA SMOTHERS, DPh

Shelby Rhinehart Public Service Lifetime Achievement Award

Nina Smothers, DPh, of Huntingdon, TN, was recently honored with the 2022 Shelby Rhinehart Public Service Lifetime Achievement Award by the Tennessee Pharmacists Association (TPA) in recognition of her work and support of the pharmacy profession.

Dr. Smothers’ decorated career spans nearly fifty years, mostly in the hospital setting. She held many leadership roles within TPA’s society of health-system pharmacists (TSHP) and served as President of the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy, where she oversaw a comprehensive revision of pharmacy practice rules. She was also chair of the task force on sterile compounding for the state of Tennessee.

Dr. Smothers established the pharmacy department at Carroll County General Hospital in Huntingdon, which later became Baptist Memorial Hospital-Huntingdon (BMH). She chaired and served on many committees at BMH, such as Infection Control, Case Management, Public Relations, Pharmacy and Therapeutics and Revenue Management. Dr. Smothers served as a pharmacy consultant for the Baptist system in revenue and expense planning, operations, productivity management and performance improvement. Dr. Smothers retired as the Director of Pharmacy in 2021, a position she had held since 1982.

She was elected to Huntingdon City Council in 2008 and is the coordinator of the Partners-In-Education Program with Huntingdon Junior High. Her many honors include the TPA Tom C. Sharp Pharmacist of the Year Award (2016), and she was the first recipient of the BMH Distinguished Service Award (2002). In 1996, her BMH pharmacy staff earned the Innovative Health-System Pharmacy Practice of the Year award presented by TPA’s society of health-system pharmacists.

TPA congratulates Dr. Nina Smothers on her distinguished career and for the impact she has made on pharmacy.

The Shelby Rhinehart Public Service Lifetime Achievement Award was created in 2002 to recognize individual support of the pharmacy profession through legislative and service efforts, in honor of the late pharmacist and Representative Shelby A. Rhinehart, who served 36 years in the Tennessee General Assembly. TPA congratulates Dr. Smothers on receiving the 2022 Shelby Rhinehart Public Service Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her career of public service to the profession of pharmacy and many contributions to patient care through high-quality education.

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KATIE VANDENBERG, PharmD

Excellence in Innovation Award

Katie Vandenberg, PharmD, of Franklin, Tennessee, was recently recognized by the Tennessee Pharmacists Association (TPA) with the 2022 Excellence in Innovation Award. This national award, supported by the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations and sponsored by Upsher-Smith Laboratories, is given annually to a pharmacist who has demonstrated significant innovation in practice, resulting in improved patient care and advancement of the profession of pharmacy.

Dr. Vandenberg earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Belmont University College of Pharmacy in 2016. After working for Publix Pharmacy, she founded Tennessee Vaccination Services (TNVS), a unique service offering vaccinations at patients’ homes. Realizing how difficult it can be to bring a child into a pharmacy for a vaccination, Dr. Vandenberg formed TNVS to better meet the vaccination needs of patients, businesses, and corporations. Whether it is children with special needs, disabled patients, communities with limited vaccination resources or mission trip vaccines, TNVS’s patient-centered approach removes barriers to vaccine uptake in her community. Her skill with vaccine administration and desire to spend more time with patients and gain a deeper understanding of the community make her an asset to healthcare and the profession of pharmacy. Dr. Vandenberg’s focus on meeting the immunization needs of her community through a convenient and non-traditional approach is an exceptional example of pharmacy innovation.

Dr. Vandenberg is a member of TPA and the American Pharmacists Association. She serves as a preceptor for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy and Belmont University College of Pharmacy.

TPA congratulates Dr. Katie Vandenberg for her outstanding work and contributions to patient care and pharmacy practice.

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KATY WRIGHT, PharmD, MBA, BCPS

Health-System Distinguished Service Award

Katy Wright, PharmD, MBA, BCPS, of Knoxville, TN, was recently recognized by the Tennessee Pharmacists Association (TPA) with the 2022 Health-System Distinguished Service Award. This award is presented annually by TPA’s society of health-system pharmacists (TSHP) in recognition of an individual’s sustained service and significant accomplishments over a span of 20 years or more.

Dr. Wright serves as System Director of Pharmacy for Cardinal Health Innovative Delivery Solutions. Prior to this role, she served as Director of Pharmacy for Cardinal Health Innovative Delivery Solutions at Morristown Hamblen Healthcare System. From 2009 to 2018, she served as Assistant Director of Pharmacy for Cardinal Health Innovative Delivery Solutions at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge. Dr. Wright has served as Regional Clinical Pharmacy Manager, Clinical Operations Director, and Anticoagulation Clinic Manager/Clinical Pharmacy Specialist throughout her career.

Dr. Wright remains committed to advancing the practice of pharmacy by serving as a Clinical Assistant Professor with South College School of Pharmacy, as well as by remaining active in both state and local organizations. She has served as a Tennessee Board of Pharmacy Member since 2016. Dr. Wright’s innovation with the Tennessee Directors of Pharmacy committee within TPA has enhanced collaboration across the state within health-systems pharmacies. Her influence on the numerous students, residents and practitioners she has impacted during her career is far-reaching.

The Health-System Distinguished Service Award recognizes sustained service and accomplishment for a career of 20 or more years in the pharmacy profession. It is presented to a pharmacist who has made significant contributions in health-system pharmacy practice, research and/or publications; implemented innovative approaches to practice; and achieved professional standing in the community and health-system practice. TPA congratulates Dr. Wright for her distinguished service and significant contributions to her profession.

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CHI MEMORIAL HOSPITAL PHARMACY RESIDENCY PROGRAM
RPD: Karen Babb, PharmD

Health-System Pharmacy Residency Program of the Year

Chris Finch (presenter), Sean-Paul Bergeron, Ken Dyer, Matthew Underwood, Daniel Marsh, Karen Babb (Residency Program Director), Amy Quinn, Rachel Kile, and Megan Whittier

The CHI Memorial Hospital Pharmacy Residency Program in Chattanooga, Tennessee, under the leadership of Residency Program Director, Karen Babb, PharmD, was recently recognized by the Tennessee Pharmacists Association (TPA) as the 2022 Tennessee Health-System Pharmacy Residency Program of the Year. This award is presented annually by TPA’s Society of Health-System Pharmacists (TSHP) to a Tennessee pharmacy residency program in recognition of sustained service and contributions to health-system pharmacy practice through innovative services, changes in practice at the institution, innovative research, and/or residency project publications.

The postgraduate year one (PGY-1) pharmacy residency program at CHI Memorial has a reputation for excellence in postgraduate training and consistent provision of an exceptionally positive and rewarding training experience. The pharmacy team at CHI Memorial has played an instrumental role in developing and implementing practices to better serve patients, and the pharmacy residents have been actively integrated into these practices. Through the residency program, the pharmacy team has led multiple projects around appropriate antimicrobial therapy, has implemented pharmacy-led interprofessional programs to reduce 30-day readmission rates, enforced an MRSA nasal PCR protocol, and created a 4T score calculation for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. They have also developed a unique heparin infusion calculator that reduced infusion errors by more than 50 percent. The department’s most recent achievements include resident participation in the expansion of clinical pharmacy services in pain management. Residents have been a part of the pharmacy team that helped decrease opioid usage by 30 percent in the emergency department and resulted in the development of the pharmacy-led opioid stewardship program at CHI Memorial. In addition to pharmacy services, residents gain experience in precepting pharmacy students completing introductory and advanced pharmacy practice experiences, and participating in state and national level didactic presentations, posters, and journal clubs. All pharmacy residents also serve on interprofessional hospital committees.

TPA congratulates the CHI Memorial Hospital Pharmacy Residency Program and Dr. Karen Babb for their outstanding work and contributions to patient care and pharmacy practice.

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