Awardees Honored for Excellence in Patient Care and the Profession of Pharmacy
Nashville — The Tennessee Pharmacists Association (TPA), the only professional association representing pharmacists in all practice areas across the state, today announced its Middle Tennessee-area award recipients. Each honoree was recognized during the annual TPA Summer Meeting on June 17 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
“These professionals are at the forefront of the profession and through their work are advancing pharmacy innovation, enhancing patient care and adding value to the healthcare system,” said Anthony Pudlo, TPA’s Executive Director. “We are proud of this distinguished group for their well-deserved achievements and look forward to seeing how their leadership continues to inspire and set the bar for others.”
Of this year's thirteen statewide honorees, five are from Middle Tennessee. Recipients include:
Katie Vandenberg, PharmD | TPA Excellence in Innovation Award Recipient (Franklin, Tenn.)
Dr. Vandenberg earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Belmont University College of Pharmacy in 2016. After working for Publix Pharmacy, she founded Tennessee Vaccination Services, a unique service offering vaccinations at patients’ homes. Realizing how difficult it can be to bring a child into a pharmacy for a vaccination, Dr. Vandenberg formed Tennessee Vaccination Services to better meet the vaccination needs of patients, businesses, and corporations. Dr. Vandenberg is a member of the Tennessee Pharmacists Association and American Pharmacists Association. She serves as a preceptor for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy and Belmont University College of Pharmacy.
This national award, coordinated by the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations and sponsored by Upsher-Smith Laboratories, is given annually to a pharmacist who has demonstrated significant innovation in practice, resulting in improved patient care and advancement of the profession of pharmacy.
Nichole Foster, MBA, MEd, CPhT-Adv | Health-System Pharmacy Technician of the Year Award Recipient (Nashville, Tenn.)
Foster is passionate about advocating for pharmacy technicians and works diligently to advance their role and scope of practice. She has spoken on the importance of technician practice advancement and has held leadership roles within the industry's most prestigious organizations. She was recently honored as the first technician to receive ASHP’s Pharmacy Technician Forum Distinguished Service Award. Foster is clearly driven to educate and train highly skilled technicians, while continually pushing for technician advancement.
Pharmacy technicians provide essential support to pharmacists and enhance the delivery of patient care and services. This award is presented to an individual who exercises exemplary pharmacy technician practice.
Nancy Hart, PharmD | Student Advocacy Award Recipient (Franklin, Tenn.)
Dr. Hart spent seven years as an Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy. Dr. Hart encouraged and fostered critical thinking in students, prompting greater development of student pharmacists in their growth towards practicing pharmacists. She instilled in student pharmacists the need to advocate for their profession by scheduling appointments with legislators during Pharmacy Day on the Hill and mentoring student pharmacists in the advocacy process. Dr. Hart taught the importance of communicating with lawmakers and how to make their voice heard.
This award is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated devotion to the success of student pharmacists through a commitment of life-long leadership and student support.
Jacqueline Lange, PharmD | Student Allegiance Award Recipient (Nashville, Tenn.)
While a student pharmacist at Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy, Dr. Lange demonstrated her commitment to the profession and was seen as a natural leader in doing so. One of the many examples is when, with less than an hour’s notice during TPA’s 2021 Pharmacy Day on the Hill, she expertly shared with three representatives how patient steering is negatively affecting her patients. All three representatives ended up voting in favor of HB1398/SB 1617 on PBM reform, a critical piece of legislation for pharmacy. Dr. Lange created a public service announcement video about direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees with fellow student pharmacists which was featured on Lipscomb’s American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) Facebook page in 2020 and received over 3,000 views.
The award is presented annually to a fourth-year pharmacy student who has demonstrated extraordinary dedication, and, through their outstanding contributions, has directly benefited student pharmacists and the profession of pharmacy.
Calita S. Richards, PharmD, MPH | Tom C. Sharp Pharmacist of the Year (Hendersonville, Tenn.)
Dr. Richards’ service includes core responsibilities in primary care, immunization, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, tuberculosis, renal, family planning and emergency preparedness programs. As the state’s COVID-19 Therapeutics Manager, Dr. Richards incorporates health equity and population health considerations in all allocation decisions regarding COVID-19 therapies and clinical guidance. Her tireless efforts supported the pharmacy community through the COVID-19 pandemic, all the while providing advocacy and leadership, ensuring timely access to pandemic countermeasures across the state, and supporting measurable lives saved through her organizational and communication skills.
Sponsored by TPA, the Tom C. Sharp Pharmacist of the Year Award is named in honor of Tom C. Sharp, Sr., who served as TPA’s chief executive officer for 30 years, and his son, Tom C. Sharp, Jr., who served as TPA’s chief executive officer for 30 years following his father’s tenure.
For more information, please visit www.tnpharm.org/2022awards.