Pharmacy Stars Honoured at CPhA Awards Ceremony
Whistler, June 4, 2012 – The best and brightest pharmacists across Canada were honoured Saturday night at the Canadian Pharmacists Association’s Awards Ceremony at the 2012 CPhA National Conference. The CPhA Awards celebrate pharmacists who are making a difference in the health and well-being of Canadians and the dedication those pharmacists have to their patients.
“CPhA is immensely proud of these exemplary pharmacists and the difference they are making to their patients, their communities and to the profession,” said CPhA president Jody Shkrobot. “I’d like to offer my personal thanks and congratulations to our winners for the leadership, compassion and dedication that they show every day.”
Dr. David Gardner of Halifax, NS, is this year’s Canadian Pharmacist of the Year. A true champion for the pharmacist’s contributions to mental health issues, Dr. Gardner has earned a reputation as a pharmacist devoted to helping people with mental illness be fully informed about their illness and pharmacotherapy. With six Excellence in Teaching awards from Dalhousie University, it is easy to see that he is an inspiration to the next generation of pharmacists. “I have been a pharmacist for over 20 years and have spent my time working in the area of mental health in several concurrent capacities,” says Dr. Gardner. “This award is, to my mind, recognition by CPhA of the important roles and contributions of pharmacists in the well-being of people with mental health problems.”
This prestigious award is conferred annually on a pharmacist who demonstrates leadership and exemplifies the evolution of the pharmacy profession toward an expanded role in health care.
CPhA extends its sincere congratulations to Dr. Gardner and all our other 2012 award winners:
David Windross — Toronto, ON — CPhA Honorary Life Membership Award for outstanding service to pharmacy.
Ray Murphy — Charlottetown, PEI — CPhA Meritorious Service Award for service to the pharmacy profession such that it brings credit and prestige to the profession.
Warren Meek — Stillwater Lake, NS — CPhA International Leadership Award for significant contribution to the advancement of the profession of pharmacy within an international context.
Tracie Der & Darcy O’Toole — Nanoose Bay, BC — CPhA Patient Care Achievement Award for Health Promotion, sponsored by TEVA Canada Limited, for excellence in the ongoing education of patients on wellness, the encouragement of a healthier lifestyle and disease prevention and management.
Grand Medicine Health Services Pharmacist Team — Winnipeg, MB — CPhA Patient Care Achievement Award for Innovation, sponsored by Green Shield Canada Foundation in honour of Vernon Chiles, for outstanding innovation and leadership in pharmacy practice aimed at improving patient outcomes, access to health services, or expanding pharmacists’ contributions within the Canadian health system.
Catherine Schill — Waterloo, ON — CPhA Patient Care Achievement Award for Specialty Practice for excellence in a pharmacy specialty practice.
Julia Bareham — Saskatoon, SK — CPhA New Practitioner Award for a demonstrated a commitment to pharmacy at the undergraduate level and after graduation.
University of Waterloo, School of Pharmacy — Waterloo, ON — CPhA Certificate of Recognition for outstanding service or contribution to the profession and the community, anniversaries or special occasions.
Ji-On Yoo — Toronto, ON — Dean George A. Burbidge Award for achieving the highest mark on the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada’s spring qualifying exam.
Rick Abbott — St. John’s, NL — Canadian Pharmacists Journal (CPJ) Best Paper of the Year Award for the manuscript that is most likely to impact pharmacy practice.
For full award winner biographies, please visit www.pharmacists.ca/awards.
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For more information, please contact:
Jeff Morrison, Director of Government Relations and Public Affairs
613-523-7877, x386 (phone); 613-523-0445 (fax)
jmorrison@pharmacists.ca (email)