School of Pharmacy Pharmacy School News

WASHINGTON, DC – Harold N. Godwin, Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Associate Dean at the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy for Clinical and Medical Center Affairs, has been chosen as President-elect of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). He will be installed at APhA’s 157th Annual Meeting & Exposition in San Antonio, Texas, April 3-6, 2009.

President-elect Godwin will succeed Ed L. Hamilton to the office of President on March 15, 2010 at the conclusion of the 2010 APhA Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Godwin, a graduate of the University of Kansas (KU), spent more than 30 years as KU Hospital’s Director of Pharmacy prior to becoming a full time pharmacy educator at his alma mater. He is also has a graduate degree and Residency certificate from The Ohio State University. Currently, Godwin serves on APhA’s Board of Trustees and has worked on the Finance and Performance Improvement Committees. He is also currently serving as Vice President of the Kansas Pharmacy Foundation. Additionally, he served two 6-year terms on the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), including President from 1992 to 1996. Previously, Godwin served as President of the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Kansas Pharmacists Association. His honors include the H.A.K. Whitney Award, the John W. Webb Award, Kansas Pharmacist-of-the-Year and the APhA-APPM Distinguished Achievement Award in Hospital and Institutional Practice.

About the American Pharmacists Association (APhA)

The American Pharmacists Association, founded in 1852 as the American Pharmaceutical Association, represents more than 63,000 practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and others interested in advancing the profession. APhA, dedicated to helping all pharmacists improve medication use and advance patient care, is the first-established and largest association of pharmacists in the United States. APhA members provide care in all practice settings, including community pharmacies, hospitals, long-term care facilities, managed care organizations, hospice settings, and the military.

KU pharmacy graduates score highly on licensing exams

LAWRENCE — National rankings by pharmacy licensing boards show that University of Kansas School of Pharmacy graduates are among the best in the nation.

KU pharmacy graduates rank fifth in the nation in passing the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination, the portion of the national pharmacy board exam that tests knowledge of federal and state laws. KU students had a first-time pass rate of 96.25 percent between 2002 and 2006, compared to the national average of 87.8 percent.

For the same five-year period, KU graduates rank 21st among 89 pharmacy schools across the nation in passing the North American Pharmacy Licensure Examination. Administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, NAPLEX assesses competence to practice pharmacy. KU students’ pass rate between 2002 and 2006 for NAPLEX was 97.8 percent, compared to a national average of 94 percent.

From 2002 to 2006, 436 of 446 KU pharmacy graduates passed NAPLEX on their first try. In 2001 and 2002, all KU pharmacy graduates passed NAPLEX on their first try.

“We receive a great deal of attention for our preeminent research faculty and research programs in the School of Pharmacy,” said Kenneth L. Audus, dean of the school. “However, these performance rankings help emphasize that our school also is exceptional on the academic side. In fact, we have great teachers in the school and the rigorous curriculum they have developed fully prepares the pharmacy students for the licensing requirements of the profession.”

Ronald Ragan, associate dean of pharmacy, added that test scores reflect the high quality of KU pharmacy students. KU students enter the pharmacy school after completing core curriculum requirements and, on average, have a grade-point average of 3.6 on a 4.0 scale.

KU’s doctor of pharmacy degree, or PharmD, is a six-year professional-level degree similar to a law or medical degree. U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Graduate Schools 2007” ranked KU’s PharmD program 16th in the nation.

KU enrolls about 420 students in the traditional PharmD program. About 150 practicing pharmacists with bachelor’s degrees in pharmacy are enrolled in KU’s nontraditional Web-based PharmD program.

In addition, the school conducts a vigorous research and a graduate-training program with about 125 doctoral students in medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacology and toxicology, and pharmacy practice. KU’s School of Pharmacy ranks third among all pharmacy schools in the nation for securing funding from the prestigious National Institutes of Health.

Distinguished Professor Les Mitscher from Medicinal Chemistry received the 2007 Norman Farnsworth Research Achievement Award from the American Society of Pharmacognosy in July, 2007.

The Kappa Epsilon Fraternity received Honorable Mention for Outstanding Collegiate Chapter for the 2005-2006 academic year and received the national award for Excellence in Alumni Outreach for 2005-2007.

Lamya Wardak, a member of the 6P class, was chosen to receive the Pharmacy Times/Wal-Mart RESPy Award for 2007.

Higuchi Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Chemistry George Wilson was awarded the Charles N. Reilly Award for Research for his contributions to the theory, instrument development, and applications of electroanalysis.

Dr. Susan Lunte was named the new Ralph N. Adams Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Chemistry.

Ms. Amanda Hurley, a member of the 6P class, was named a recipient of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Presidential Scholarship for 2007.

The NCPA Student Chapter which has been National Chapter of the Year for four of the last several years is among the three national finalists for national Chapter of the Year for 2007.

Mr. Jeff Little, a member of the 6P class, was appointed as the student member of the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists national council on pharmacy management.

Distinguished Professor Ron Borchardt will received the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology's Biomolecular Science Award in early 2008 for the discovery and development of a cell system widely used in industry to predict absorption properties of drugs.

Distinguished Professor Val Stella was chosen to present the Swintosky Distinguished Lecture for the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy in April, 2007.

Dr. Nancy Muma from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago was named the new Chair of Pharmacology & Toxicology in January, 2007.

Paola Ponce and Jill Sower, members of the 6P class, were Top 10 finalists among 87 participants from 90 Schools of Pharmacy at the Patient Counseling competition at the national meeting of the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists, December, 2006.

Professor Joyce Generali will receive an Annual Cheers Award from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices in December, 2006, for her creation of the Black Box Warnings on medications.

Distinguished Professor Barbara Timmermann was honored in Santiago, Chile in November, 2006 by the Department of Botany of Facultad de Agronomia and Ingeneria Forestal for Outstanding Achievement in the field of natural products and medicinal chemistry and for her contribution to the development of the botanical and chemical sciences in Chile.

Distinguished Professor Les Mitscher will receive the 2007 Research Achievement Award from the American Society of Pharmacognosy. This is the highest honor given by the society.

Professor Gary Grunewald was selected as one of the three inaugural inductees into the newly established American Chemical Society Division of Medicinal Chemistry Hall of Fame.

The Pharmacy Students were recognized with a Medicare Student Outreach Competition Award for 2005-2006. The students received a Certificate of Recognition and check for $500 for increasing awareness and utilization of the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit Program.

Associate Dean Gene Hotchkiss received the 2006 Harley Sutton Award from the Wichita Academy of Pharmacy.

Mr. Corey McLain was elected Vice Chair of the 2006-2007 Communications Committee for the American Pharmacists Association.

Ms. Kaylene Mick was elected to the 2006-2007 Awards Committee for the American Pharmacists Association.

The 6th Annual Howard & Ginger Mossberg Rx Scholarship Golf Classic was held on July 18th at the Deer Creek Golf Club in Overland Park, KS.

Ms. Jariat Oyetunji received the 2005-2006 American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Student Leadership Award.

The Kappa Psi fraternity received the Most Improved Chapter Award for 2005 from the national organization.

The KU School of Pharmacy is ranked number 3 in National Institutes of Health funding among all Schools of Pharmacy in the United States for 2005.

Professor Robert Hanzlik was elected to Member-at-Large in the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2005.

Distinguished Professor Barbara Timmermann was appointed to membership on the NIH National Advisory Council in 2005.

Professor Jane Aldrich was elected President of the American Protein Society in 2005.

Professor Jeff Aube was elected President of the International Society for Heterocyclic Chemistry in 2005.

Professor Christian Schoneich was elected Fellow of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists in 2005.

Distinguished Professor Val Stella received the 1st KU Technology Transfer Leadership Award for 2005.

Distinguished Professor Ronald T. Borchardt received the Chancellors Club Career Teaching Award for 2005.

Professor Karen Moeller was elected Chair of the Communication Committee of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists in 2005.

Professor David Henry was elected to Member on the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialists Oncology Specialty Exam Board in 2005.

Professor Pat Howard was a Leadership Fellow in the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy in 2005.

Professor Marty Eng was elected Chair of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy Geriatric Practice and Research Group in 2005.

Professor Harold Godwin elected to the American Pharmacists Association Board of Trustees.

The Kappa Epsilon fraternity received the National Project Excellence Award for Breast Cancer Awareness for the 2003-2005 biennium.

The Kappa Epsilon fraternity chapter advisor and KU alum, Jeanie Brown, was awarded the 2003-2004 Outstanding Advisor Award at the national level.

The Kappa Epsilon fraternity received the Certificate of Excellence for their New Member Recruitment Program for 2003-2004.

The 6th Annual Howard & Ginger Mossberg Rx Scholarship Golf Classic was held July 18 at the Deer Creek Golf Course in Overland Park, KS.

Nathan Wiehl (4P) has been selected to be one of eight students nationally to serve on the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) National Student Regional Council for the 2005-2006 school year.

The KU School of Pharmacy held its second White Coat Ceremony for 5P students on April 25. Kaylene Mick was awarded the Dr. Jeremy A. Matchett Excellence in Pharmacy Award during the ceremony.

The KU School of Pharmacy's Doctor of Pharmacy Program is ranked number 17 overall among all Schools of Pharmacy in the United States by US News & World Report.

Cheryl Holcomb was appointed as Business Manager for the School of Pharmacy in July.

Mr. Gene Hotchkiss was appointed Associate Dean for Administration for the School of Pharmacy in July.

Professor Ron Ragan was appointed Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for the School of Pharmacy in August.

Professor John Stobaugh was appointed Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Affairs for the School of Pharmacy in September.

Professor Jeff Aube was elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2004.

The KU School of Pharmacy is ranked number 3 in National Institutes of Health funding among all Schools of Pharmacy in the United States for 2004.

Professor Christian Schoneich was elected and appointed as Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry in January.

Madison "Al" and Lila Self of Hinsdale, Illinois, have established the Howard E. Mossberg Distinguished Professorship in Pharmacy. The Professorship will help KU and the School to attract an outstanding researcher and teacher in the area of pharmacogenomics.

Mr. Corey McLain (4P) was elected as the Region 6 Member-at-Large for APhA-ASP.

Dr. Barbara Timmermann from the University of Arizona School of Pharmacy was chosen to be the new Chair of Medicinal Chemistry at KU. Barbara joined us in August, 2005.

Mr. Robert Wenzl (6P) was named 2nd Runnerup in the national competition for the 2004 National Community Pharmacists Association Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Award.

The KU National Community Pharmacists Association Student Chapter was named Chapter of the Year for 2004. The Chapter has received this award four of the last five years!

Announcing the 2008-09 ASHP Recognized Student Societies!

These Student Societies of Health-System Pharmacy (SSHP) have met the criteria for official ASHP recognition including:

Promotion of membership in local, state, and national health-system organizations
Development of activities to stimulate interest in health-system pharmacy careers
Completion of one or more professional development project(s) to encourage career and professional development

This official recognition serves as the completion of the "triad" relationship between ASHP, the ASHP state affiliate organization, and the SSHP, as well as provides a direct relationship between ASHP and the individual SSHP.

See the full article.