The Washington State Pharmacy Association recently announced its 2012 award winners.聽Several School of Pharmacy alumni were honored for their contributions to the pharmacy profession, patients and the community. In addition, the late School of Pharmacy Dean Emeritus and Professor of Medicinal Chemistry Sid Nelson posthumously received the Washington State Pharmacy Association Distinguished Leadership Award. Nelson, an alumnus and beloved member of the 91探花School of Pharmacy community, died in December 2011.
The Distinguished Leadership Award goes to individuals who have been instrumental in developing and growing the pharmacy profession and who demonstrate significant influence and direction in the community.
鈥淲hile Sid was known internationally during his life as an award-winning scientist and mentor to young scientists, he also helped shape pharmacy practice and pharmacy education in our state in his work as a professor and administrator,鈥� said Nanci Murphy, associate dean of academic and student programs at the School of Pharmacy and a long-time colleague and friend of Nelson.
As dean from 1994 to 2008, Nelson helped the School convert from a Bachelor of Science to a Doctor of Pharmacy degree program. He expanded the School’s faculty by recruiting a group of educators who strengthened an already stellar program and who are building on the School鈥檚 efforts to improve the practice of pharmacy and to advocate for patients. He supported the development of new innovations in the Doctor of Pharmacy degree curriculum, and he helped expand the School鈥檚 many community partnerships and outreach efforts.
But his impact on pharmacy students is arguably his greatest legacy on the pharmacy profession in Washington state.
Nelson, who joined the School of Pharmacy faculty in 1977, taught throughout his tenure as dean and continued to teach after he stepped down. In his popular medicinal chemistry course for second-year students, he made a challenging, complex subject interesting and fun. His students consistently reported that he inspired them to work harder. When students did poorly on an exam, he would seek them out individually to ask how they were doing and offer encouragement.
He held course finals at conferences that he and pharmacy students attended so the students could participate in the conferences without sacrificing their studies. As a teacher, he twice won a 91探花School of Pharmacy Gibaldi Excellence in Teaching Award.
As a dean, he was devoted to helping students excel academically and grow professionally. He provided Dean鈥檚 Fund monies to help students conduct research, create outreach projects and go on international rotations. His open-door policy made him highly accessible. Nelson and his wife, Joan, also made a special point of attending and supporting student events. In 2007, he won the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists Dean of the Year Award.
“Sid聽was one of those unique individuals聽who transcended聽the traditional profile of a professor,鈥澛爏aid 91探花School of Pharmacy alumnus Collin Conway, 鈥�05, a pharmacist and co-chair of the 91探花School of Pharmacy鈥檚 Pharmacy Practice Board.聽鈥淗e was always one of my favorites聽in the聽classroom, but聽what really聽struck me聽was聽a聽rare, unquestionable and sincere聽interest in my future and well-being.聽This inspired me not only to get involved in聽the profession, but also to be聽a better person. For this, I am forever grateful.”
Today, in hospitals, clinics, community pharmacies, nonprofit organizations, government organizations and elsewhere in this state, 91探花alumni like Conway are making a positive impact, in part, because Sid encouraged them and believed in them.
Nelson鈥檚 wife, Joan, accepted his award during an emotional presentation Nov. 2 at the Washington State Pharmacy Association Annual Meeting awards ceremony in Grand Mound, Wash. (Read more about Sid Nelson鈥檚 life and legacy at .)
Also at the awards ceremony, School of Pharmacy alumna Beverly Schaefer, 鈥�70, was named Pharmacist of the Year. Schaefer is co-owner of Katterman鈥檚 Sand Point Pharmacy and is currently working on a project to increase prescriptive authority for pharmacists.
Ryan Oftebro, 鈥�03, received the Pharmacist Mutual Distinguished Young Pharmacist of the Year Award. Oftebro, a co-owner at Kelley-Ross Pharmacy, oversees community and clinical services at Kelley-Ross and is noted for his work mentoring student pharmacists.
Jennifer Kreidler-Moss, 鈥�01, received the Innovative Pharmacy Practice Award. She is director of pharmacy services at聽 Peninsula Community Health Services, which is a Bremerton clinic providing primary care services to a predominantly underserved population.
During the annual meeting, Brian Beach, 鈥�00, was installed as president of the Washington State Pharmacy Association Board of Directors. Beach is a co-owner of Kelley-Ross Pharmacy and has long been an active member of the Association and an advisory board member of multiple pharmacy and health care organizations.