September 28, 2020
AUBURN, Alabama - The Harrison School of Pharmacy was well-represented with nine major award winners at the 2020 Alabama Pharmacy Association 139th Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon held at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa at the Convention Center in Montgomery, Alabama.
Stacy Giles (Class of 1992) won the National Community Pharmacists Association Leadership Award while Gay Massey (’84) and Starr Miller (’79) were two of the three recipients of the APA Advocate Award. Kelli Newman (’97) won the J. Wayne Staggs Distinguished Service Award with Jeremy Smith (’13) receiving the Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award. Morgan Williams (’20) took the R. Lee Evans Student Professionalism Award while Ross Woods (’15) earning the Excellence in Innovation Award.
Additionally, Marilyn Bulloch, associate clinical professor in HSOP’s Department of Pharmacy Practice, was selected as the Faculty Member of the Year and Paige Patterson, assistant director of business operations in HSOP’s Division of Clinical Affairs and Outreach, received the Mitchel C. Rothholz President’s Award.
Stacy Giles
Stacy Giles, a 1992 graduate of the Harrison School of Pharmacy, received the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Leadership Award. Each year, NCPA joins with APA to recognize the incoming APA President and his or her dedication of time and energy to the profession of pharmacy.
“APA is lucky to have the leadership of Stacy Giles as we navigate these unprecedented times,” said APA Chief Executive Officer Louise Jones. “Pharmacy services are critical to the citizens of Alabama and it’s more important than ever that APA do what we can to support the pharmacy profession.”
Giles owns Rainsville Drug along with her husband Bobby. She has been active in APA since 1994, having served on APA’s Executive Committees and Boards, Research and Education Foundation Board, PAC Board, and Awards committee. She has served as Speaker of the APA House of Delegates and chair of Organizational Affairs. She is very active in the Auburn Community school system and PTO, and serves on committees and boards for ACS, Auburn Parks and Rec, and chair for East Alabama Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
Gay Massey
Gay Massey, a 1984 graduate of the Harrison School of Pharmacy, received the APA Advocate Award. The award recognizes members who are strong advocates for APA and consistently participate in its programs, events and activities. The recipient leads by example and encourages others to become involved through engagement in the association.
“Gay’s willingness to serve is exhibited in her volunteer work at APA events,” said Louise Jones, APA chief executive officer. “She’s not only like having the sun indoors, she’s also the one who sticks around until the lights get switched off. From setting up chairs to putting ice in cups, she always jumps right in and gets her hands dirty. I can’t imagine APA events without Gay’s smile – she truly makes every gathering more fun.”
Gay and her husband Derrell own Section Pharmacy in Section, Alabama.
Starr Miller
Starr Miller, a 1979 graduate of the Harrison School of Pharmacy, received the APA Advocate Award. The award recognizes members who are strong advocates for APA and consistently participate in its programs, events and activities. The recipient leads by example and encourages others to become involved through engagement in the association.
“Starr strongly believes that every pharmacist and pharmacy technician has a duty to support their association and to be actively engaged in their profession,” said Louise Jones, APA chief executive officer. “She has been a driving force in encouraging colleagues to be active in APA. We are proud to recognize her contributions to making pharmacy stronger in Alabama.”
Miller recently retired from the Auburn University Veterinary Clinic pharmacy.
Kelli Newman
Kelli Newman, a 1997 graduate of the Harrison School of Pharmacy, received the J. Wayne Staggs Distinguished Service Award. The Distinguished Service Award was established in 1993 and renamed in 2003 in memory of Wayne Staggs. This award recognizes an APA member who has provided exceptional leadership and devoted service to APA.
“Kelli consistently seeks ways to have pharmacists recognized for their skills and abilities as integral members of the healthcare team,” said Louise Jones, APA chief executive officer. “Few will ever know all the ways her efforts have made a difference in how pharmacists are characterized. The pharmacy profession and APA are better because of her contributions.”
Newman serves as the director of clinical services/pharmacy for the State of Alabama Medicaid Agency. An APA member for more than 20 years, she has served the association in numerous ways. She has led the association as Academy Chair, Trustee at Large and District Representative. A frequent speaker at APA’s CE programs, Newman has also served on the Auburn HSOP Dean’s Advisory Council and the Executive Board of the American Drug Utilization Review Society.
Jeremy Smith
Jeremy Smith, a 2013 graduate of the Harrison School of Pharmacy, received the Distinguished Young Pharmacist. The award is presented each year to a young pharmacist who has been practicing for 10 years or less, has been actively involved in APA and participates in pharmacy and/or community service on both a state and national level.
“It’s great to recognize leadership and service to the profession in young pharmacists like Jeremy. His contributions are notable, and APA is proud to acknowledge his accomplishments with this award,” said Louise Jones, APA chief executive officer.
Following three years of retail pharmacy practice, Smith joined Guardian Pharmacy of Birmingham. Guardian provides extensive pharmacy services to long-term care, residential and outpatient settings. In 2015, he led the design and opening of Guardian Pharmacy’s satellite pharmacy at the Northwest Alabama mental Health Center in Jasper, where he continues to serve as the director of pharmacy. In addition to his full-time employment with Guardian, Smith opened MedTherapy Solutions, LLC in 2017 as owner and lead consulting pharmacist, providing medication therapy management services and consultation on improving pharmacy quality metrics.
Morgan Williams
Morgan Williams, a member of the Harrison School of Pharmacy Class of 2020, received the R. Lee Evans Student Professionalism Award. The award is presented annually to a student of HSOP who is an APA member. It recognizes a student-leader who demonstrates a high level of professionalism in school and other pharmacy-related endeavors.
“As a student, Morgan set an example of involvement in the profession that is worthy of recognition,” said APA Chief Executive Officer Louise Jones. “APA is lucky to have young leaders like her who will help move pharmacy forward.”
Williams joined APA as a first-year pharmacy student and has remained an active member since. During her time in pharmacy school, she took part in every APA legislative event and annual convention and has been active on campus as well, serving as Auburn’s chapter president of the National Community Pharmacist Association. Under her leadership, the chapter was selected as the National Chapter of the Year by NCPA. Williams is currently completing a pharmacy residency at Samford’s McWhorter School of Pharmacy.
Ross Woods
Ross Woods, a 2015 graduate of the Harrison School of Pharmacy, received the Excellence in Innovation Award. The national award is coordinated by the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations, and is sponsored by Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. to honor a pharmacist who has demonstrated significant innovation in their practice, method or service directly or indirectly resulting in improved patient care and/or advancement of the profession of pharmacy.
“APA is proud to recognize innovations in the profession of pharmacy. Ross’ work has elevated the practice of pharmacy and the pharmacist's recognition as a critical member of the health care team,” said Louise Jones, APA chief executive officer.
In 2017, Woods opened a pharmacy in Florence and later expanded to a second location in Huntsville, which includes home infusion services and an ambulatory infusion clinic. In the development of his practice, Woods has been on the forefront of expanding and innovating the role of the pharmacist in patient care.
The pharmacists in his infusion pharmacy practice are recognized as infectious disease and transitions of care pharmacotherapy experts within their community and collaborate daily with physicians to optimize outcomes such as decreasing re-hospitalization rates, secondary infections, adverse drug events, and more. Pharmacists conduct home visits with patients to educate on and optimize medication therapy, which improves patient engagement and achieves optimal outcomes. Through innovative pharmacy practices, Woods is improving medication monitoring and expanding the types of infusion therapies available, while increasing access to care for patients in Alabama.
Marilyn Bulloch
Marilyn Bulloch, associate clinical professor and director of strategic operations with the Harrison School of Pharmacy, received the Faculty Member of the Year Award. The award is given in recognition of academic achievement and exceptional leadership of student pharmacists at the local, state and national level. The recipient has provided long-term service and contributions that have benefited APA, has promoted the advancement of student pharmacists within their profession and has mentored students on the importance of professional development.
“Marilyn takes her role as a mentor to student pharmacists very seriously and does everything within her power to support them in and out of the classroom,” said APA Chief Executive Officer Louise Jones. “Her desire to see them succeed in the profession is admirable and APA is proud to recognize her efforts with this award.”
Bulloch graduated with her Pharm.D. from the Earnest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey in 2007, and completed a pharmacy practice residency at the University of Alabama and a second-year residency in critical care at Charleston Area Medical Center in Charleston, West Virginia in 2009. In 2011, she completed the Faculty Scholars Program through the University of Alabama – Birmingham Geriatric Education Center. In addition to her faculty role, she practices in acute care pharmacy at DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa.
Paige Patterson
Paige Patterson, assistant director of business operations in HSOP’s Division of Clinical Affairs and Outreach, received the Mitchel C. Rothholz President’s Award. The award is presented to recognize outstanding voluntary contributions to both the Alabama Pharmacy Association and the profession of pharmacy.
“Paige’s record of service to APA is exemplary. She has been a driving force in having pharmacy technicians recognized for the critical role they play on the health care team,” said Louise Jones, APA chief executive officer.
Patterson received a B.S. degree in health service administration from Auburn in 2002 and an MBA with a focus in health care management from the University of Phoenix. Additionally, she is a Certified Pharmacy Technician. She has been on staff with the Harrison School of Pharmacy since 2005, serving in a variety of roles within the Division of Clinical Affairs and Outreach.
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Auburn University’s Harrison School of Pharmacy is ranked among the top 25 percent of all pharmacy schools in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report. Fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the School offers doctoral degrees in pharmacy (Pharm.D.) and pharmaceutical sciences (Ph.D.) while also offering a master’s in pharmaceutical sciences. The School's commitment to world-class scholarship and interdisciplinary research speaks to Auburn's overarching Carnegie R1 designation that places Auburn among the top 100 doctoral research universities in the nation. For more information about the School, please call 334.844.8348 or visit http://pharmacy.auburn.edu.