California Pharmacists Honored As Key Contributors To Patient Care And The Advancement Of The Pharmacy Practice

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 08 Mar 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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The art and practice of pharmacy has never been more relevant and valuable than today. Lives are saved, diseases are closely monitored, and the pharmacist-patient relationship is more vital than ever in keeping patients safe and producing the best healthcare outcomes. Several pharmacists were honored for the meaningful and important contributions they make to the profession of pharmacy at Outlook 2009, the Annual Meeting and Education Faire for the California Pharmacists Association (CPhA) and the Pharmacy Foundation of California, which was recently held in Anaheim, February 19-22. This year's honorees exemplify the best pharmacists in the State of California. They join an elite group of past winners who have gone above and beyond to serve their patients and profession with excellence.

George Yasutake, PharmD, Pharmacist of the Year

Taking top honors for Pharmacist of the Year, was George Yasutake, PharmD. In order to be nominated for this award, a pharmacist must be a leader at all levels and stimulate others to actively participate in all aspects of the profession. George Yasutake has gone above and beyond these criteria. He has been involved at every level of pharmacy leadership including local, state and national organizations. He serves as an inspiration and a sound voice of reason and responsibility.

George is an energetic leader who has encouraged many others to get involved in pharmacy and speaks to pharmacy students, residents, and fellow pharmacist-colleagues about the importance of involvement, membership, and community activities in professional pharmacy organizations. His continued activities for the betterment of pharmacy are appreciated universally. He has worked tirelessly with fellow health care providers and patients to provide state-of- the-art clinical services as a Pediatric Clinical Pharmacist and a Drug Information/Drug Usage Evaluation/Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) Pharmacist also.

Additionally, George has served as CPhA President, CPhA Speaker of the House, American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Chairman of the Academy of Pharmacy Practice & Management (APPM), President of Hollywood-Wilshire Pharmacists Association, on the APhA Nominations Committee, and many more leadership roles. George is well recognized by pharmacists and others in California and nationally.

Chester Yee, PharmD, Bowl of Hygeia Award

The Bowl of Hygeia award recognizes a pharmacist for outstanding involvement both in and outside the profession of pharmacy by demonstrating how pharmacists can elevate themselves and the profession in the eyes of the public. Chet Yee has been active since his graduation from pharmacy school, where he served as Editor for the School Newsletter and APhA Student Chapter President. Chet, along with other pharmacists, banded together to form the San Mateo County Pharmacists Association and affiliated with CPhA as a local association. He has served in numerous capacities on the San Mateo County Pharmacists Association Board but most notably, as Chair of the "Talk with a Pharmacist Day." Chet has also served as President of CPhA in 1978 and received the CPhA Pharmacist of the Year Award in 1985. During Chet's CPhA Presidency, he started the Task Force for Pharmacy. In addition to the multiple leadership roles with CPhA, Chet was nominated and elected to the APhA Board of Trustees. Chet not only spends many hours promoting the profession but is actively involved in his community, including the local Lions Club and in his church.

Eric Gupta, PharmD, Distinguished New Practitioner of the Year

This award recognizes a new practitioner who has demonstrated energetic leadership at multiple levels, someone who is an energetic leader, who stimulates others to actively participate in the profession, and finally, someone who is well recognized by their peers. In his letter of support, Mike Pastrick stated, "I am hard pressed to think of someone more deserving than Eric Gupta." Eric has demonstrated a high level of professional involvement since the day he entered pharmacy school, contributing to the good and welfare of the profession. He continues his involvement today as an educator at Western University of Health Sciences and as a leader on CPhA's Board of Trustees as the Speaker of the House. Eric actively participates in a number of professional organizations such as CPhA, APhA, American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP), American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), and American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP). In addition to state and national organizations, Eric is President of the Southeast Los Angeles Pharmacists Association, CE Coordinator for Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity, served as the 2008 Chair for the Pharmacy Foundation's Educational Advisory Committee, and more. Most recently, the members of CPhA elected Eric to serve as President-Elect.

Dana Nelson, RPh, 2009 Innovative Pharmacist

Creative, ingenious, novel, fresh, original, unprecedented: these are just a few words that define innovative. The 2009 Innovative Pharmacist, Dana Nelson, describes an innovator as a trend-setter in the profession of pharmacy. In order to quality for this award, a pharmacy must demonstrate the ability to significantly improve patient care. Dana has a highly imaginative and innovative clinical pharmacy practice where he is typically the first to set the stage for improved patient care and outcomes. Along with his wife, Dana purchased a pharmacy in San Luis Obispo and instantly became one of the top compounding pharmacies in the nation. Dana's scope of services includes long-term care, durable medical equipment supplies, compounding, and assisting patients in managing chronic disease states. He is a national leader in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy using a cutting-edge rhythmic hormone replacement system, which ensures standardized product production and accurate and consistent patient dosing. Dana also serves as the Chief Pharmacist, Pharmacist Clinical Trainer and Standardized Transdermal Hormone Cream Production Trainer for the Wiley Protocol. Dana is a true stalwart for the practice of pharmacy, a patient advocate, and a tireless provider for his patients, practice, staff, and family.

Heather Duffer, Pharmacy Technician of the Year

Heather Duffer was given the CPhA 2009 Technician of the Year Award in recognition of her exemplary work with Inland Compounding Pharmacy in Loma Linda, California. Heather understands and clearly exemplifies the role and importance of being a pharmacy technician. In the words of her employers, Gordon & Raylene Mote, "She is a great asset to our practice - compassionate, caring and always wanting to learn." Heather began working in the pharmacy profession in 1994 and is now pursuing a pharmacy degree. In addition to her work in the pharmacy, Heather also serves on the CPhA Academy of Pharmacy Technicians Board and has participated on the Technician Task Force for the State of California.

Vi Li, CPhA Pharmacy Student of the Year

Western University of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy

Vi Le has shown dedication to the profession of pharmacy through her continuous involvement with local, state, national and student organizations. Vi became involved during her first year at Western University and immediately started making an impact. She increased the number of and participation in health fairs, and implemented new programs that increased the visibility and stature of the Academy of Student Pharmacists Chapter on campus. All of Vi's activities and ideas saw a dramatic increase in student members, earning the WesternU Chapter a national award at the APhA national meeting. In addition to programs on campus, Vi reached out to the CPhA local associations in the area and created a strong relationship between them and the school. Her desire to create a foundation for greatness, dedication to the profession of pharmacy and genuine personality are testimony to the title Student Pharmacist of the Year.

Chapter of Excellence Awards

In addition to the individual honors listed above, CPhA recognized many of its local pharmacist associations who have achieved a high level of excellence through their activities and contributions to their local communities over the previous year. The Chapter of Excellence Awards were given to the Alameda County Pharmacists Association, the Orange County Pharmacists Association, the Pharmacists' Professional Society of the San Fernando Valley, the San Diego County Pharmacists Association, the San Joaquin Pharmacists Association, the San Mateo County Pharmacists Association, and the South Bay Pharmacists Association.

About CPhA

The California Pharmacists Association is the largest state pharmacy association in the nation and the professional society representing all pharmacists in California. The mission of the Association is to act as the leader in advocating the role of the pharmacist as an essential provider of health care and to support pharmacists in providing optimal patient care.

For more information on the CPhA Awards Criteria please visit the Membership page of the CPhA website at http://www.cpha.com.

California Pharmacists Association

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