Dec08 Newsletter

Faculty Briefs

Lois Coulter has accepted the jointly funded faculty position at the Northwest AHEC in Springdale. She will join our faculty on January 5, 2009. Lois is a 1990 graduate of the University of Nebraska College of Pharmacy. She previously served as a clinical pharmacy specialist at Washington Regional Medical Center and also was on our faculty for nearly 14 years with the AHEC-Nortwest Family Practice Residency Program. She is an Associate Professor and board certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist.

Four faculty members received awards at the AAHP meeting in Tunica, Miss., October 8-9. Kat Neill and Jill Johnson won a Best Poster award for their poster titled "The Impact of Implementation of Prior Authorization Criteria for Omalizumab (Xolair®) in a State Employees Prescription Drug Plan." Marsha Crader was named 2008 New Practitioner of the Year recognizing her leadership, professionalism, and dedication to the future of health-system pharmacy, covering the last 12 to 18 months. Jason Derden was chosen as President Elect of AAHP. He will serve in this capacity until next fall when he assumes the role of AAHP President.

Students and faculty at the NCPA Alumni Reception in Tampa, Fla.

Anne Pace, P3 Bryant Sizemore , P3 Zach Holderfield , Dean Gardner and
P3 Clint Boone attend the UAMS Reception at the NCPA Convention in Tampa, Fla., in October.

Bill Gurley was a featured speaker at the 27th Annual Dinner Meeting of the History of Medicine Associates in October, where he delivered a presentation on "Civil War Treasures in the History of Medicine Collection." The presentation focused on several unique and rare holdings in the Collection related to medical care in the Civil War, with an emphasis on Arkansas.

Two faculty members recently competed in marathons.

John and Jill Johnson cross the finish line at the NYC Marathon in November

Jill Johnson competed in the New York Marathon in November, running with her husband John.They finished together at 4:42:08, 7 minutes faster than her last marathon.

Also in November, Keith McCain completed the San Antonio Marathon in 3:45:31, a new personal record.

Marsha Crader's poster, "Effect on Sepsis Mortality Rate at a Regional Acute Care Institution After Implementation of the Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Sepsis Bundles," has been selected to be featured on ASHP's Quality Improvement Initiative Resource Center. Ten posters scheduled to be presented at the ASHP Midyear, including Marsha's, will be featured in a new "virtual" poster session at the convention. A video interview with Marsha and the poster materials will be posted on the ASHP website for 12 months starting in February, 2009. The resource center is designed to provide quality improvement resources to support pharmacist's roles in health care quality initiatives that improve patient outcomes and reward performance excellence. Visit the ASHP website for details.