Michael Ernst, Jimmi Hatton Kolpek, Amy Seybert, Sarah Spinler, Vincent Tam, and Emily Zadvorny have been selected by the College’s Awards Committee to receive ACCP’s prestigious 2024 Russell R. Miller Award, Robert M. Elenbaas Service Award, Education Award, Clinical Practice Award, Therapeutic Frontiers Lecture Award, and C. Edwin Webb Professional Advocacy Award, respectively. They will be recognized Sunday morning, October 13, during the Awards and Recognition Ceremony at the 2024 ACCP Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. Please note that the Therapeutic Frontiers Lecture Award will be presented at the ACCP Annual Meeting’s Opening Session on Saturday morning, October 12.

Russell R. Miller was the founding editor of the College’s journal Pharmacotherapy. The Russell R. Miller Award is presented in recognition of substantial contributions to the literature of clinical pharmacy, thereby advancing both clinical pharmacy practice and rational pharmacotherapy. Michael E. Ernst, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCGP, AHSCP-CHC, is a clinical professor of pharmacy practice and science, as well as family medicine, at The University of Iowa. At the time of his nomination, Ernst had written over 80 original publications, 40 review articles, and 20 book chapters. A Scopus author-impact analysis (accessed September 4, 2024) indicates that his work has resulted in 8796 citations, with an H-index of 38.

In his letter of nomination, Dr. Eric MacLaughlin, professor and chair of pharmacy practice at Texas Tech University, reflected on the relevance and impact of Ernst’s publications:

Dr. Ernst authored several critically important review articles and meta-analyses examining differences in pharmacology, efficacy, side effects, and clinical outcomes between various thiazide diuretics. His research and scholarship have been highly relevant in the field of clinical pharmacy and hypertension, considering the decades-long debate regarding the “optimal” thiazide diuretic clinicians should use to treat high blood pressure. His scholarship has been foundational in the recommendations provided in national guidelines for high blood pressure and as part of the study rationale for the recently completed and published “Diuretic Comparison Project” trial (see December 29, 2022, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine).

Dr. Michelle Fravel, clinical associate professor and clinical pharmacy specialist at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, elaborated on Ernst’s impact on the field through his roles as principal site investigator on various trials:

Dr. Ernst is currently a member of the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) Investigator group. ASPREE is a long-term, multi-center, bi-national study of aspirin and health in older adults. Notably, Dr. Ernst is the only pharmacist serving as a principal site investigator for ASPREE, among 10 other physician-investigators. In 2018, the ASPREE investigators group published three landmark trials in New England Journal of Medicine, one of which was listed among the journal’s Notable articles of 2018. This list included 12 original research articles, of which nine were focused on drug therapy. Among over 100 investigators included as authors on this list, Dr. Ernst was one of only two pharmacists. In addition to ASPREE, Dr. Ernst also serves as principal site investigator for the PREVENTABLE trial (PRagmatic EValuation of evENTs And Benefits of Lipid lowering therapy in oldER adults), one of the largest trials conducted in older adults. Through his role in prominent studies like ASPREE and PREVENTABLE, Dr. Ernst is contributing to the highest level of research and is helping to define how we optimize the use of medications in these populations.

Ernst is a frequent scientific reviewer for numerous journals, including the Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, American Journal of Hypertension, and New England Journal of Medicine. He also serves as director of ACCP’s Research and Scholarship Academy and is a member of the Ambulatory Care and Geriatrics Practice and Research Networks (PRNs). Ernst has received many honors and awards, including Outstanding Reviewer from Pharmacotherapy, University of Iowa College of Pharmacy Faculty Preceptor of the Year, and 2015 Hypertension top paper in clinical science. Ernst received ACCP Fellow recognition in 2008.

Robert M. Elenbaas served as ACCP’s founding executive director from 1986 through 2003. During his 17-year tenure, he exemplified the characteristics of a servant-leader committed to the advancement of clinical pharmacy and ACCP. The Elenbaas Service Award is given only when a particularly noteworthy candidate is identified in recognition of outstanding contributions to the vitality of ACCP or to the advancement of its goals that are well above the usual devotion of time, energy, or material goods. Jimmi Hatton Kolpek, Pharm.D., FCCP, is a professor emeritus at the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, where she previously dedicated 33 years of teaching, research, and mentorship to the university.

In his nomination letter, Dr. Adrian Wong, clinical pharmacy specialist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, described Hatton Kolpek as an “exemplary individual in our field, serving as an advocate for clinical pharmacy, research, and professional advocacy,” stating: “There is no better candidate for this award due to her sustained contributions to ACCP, clinical pharmacy, and medicine.”

Dr. Denise Rhoney, Ronald and Nancy McFarlane Distinguished Professor in the division of practice advancement and clinical education at the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, shared in her letter of support:

Dr. Hatton Kolpek has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing clinical pharmacist roles and responsibilities, aligning seamlessly with the vision of ACCP to drive positive changes in healthcare through optimized pharmacotherapy in the prevention and treatment of disease. One of her most commendable achievements is her active involvement in the evolution of clinical pharmacist roles in neurocritical care. At a time when there was a scarcity of clinical pharmacists practicing in this challenging space, she fearlessly embraced the opportunity to make a difference. Her pioneering efforts have been pivotal in setting the groundwork for further expansion of clinical pharmacist roles within neurocritical care, which has subsequently flourished into a dynamic and active pharmacist section within the Neurocritical Care Society.

What sets Dr. Hatton Kolpek apart is not only her trailblazing work but also her commitment to training and nurturing future practitioners. Recognizing the need for specialized training in neurocritical care pharmacy, she has dedicated herself to imparting her knowledge and expertise to aspiring clinical pharmacists. Through her mentorship and educational initiatives, she has played a crucial role in shaping the current landscape of neurocritical care pharmacy and ensuring that future practitioners were well-prepared to navigate the unique challenges of this practice environment.

In his letter of support, Dr. Alexander Flannery, scientific director, cardiovascular renal at Novo Nordisk, noted:

ACCP has been her professional home and an organization [to which] she has strived to offer much of her talents and energy. Dr. Hatton’s leadership contributions to ACCP are significant. There are few leadership positions that I think she has not held … and her record includes the following: ACCP President, Director of ACCP Research and Scholarship Academy, Chair of ACCP Board of Trustees Research Institute, Chair of the Spring Forum Programming Committee, and Critical Care PRN Chair.

Dr. Hatton is an unapologetic advocate of DEI, including recently chairing the ACCP DEIA Task Force. Dr. Hatton never shies away from difficult conversations and puts in the work to make things right. When I attempt to think of individuals that come to mind when I think about the vitality of clinical pharmacy and the vitality of ACCP as a professional organization, I am admittedly hard-pressed to think of others more deserving than Dr. Hatton.

At the time of her nomination, Hatton Kolpek’s combined scholarly work had recorded almost 2000 citations, with an H-index of 23 and i10-index of 37. She has published over 50 peer-reviewed publications in well-respected journals, including Pharmacotherapy, Journal of Medical Case Reports, and Critical Care Explorations. In addition to serving as ACCP president from 2020 to 2021, Hatton Kolpek served on the ACCP Board of Regents from 2019 to 2022. She has received numerous awards, including the University of Kentucky Paul F. Parker Award, Marquis Who’s Who in America, Mead Johnson CNS Research Award, and ACCP fellowship recognition in 1997.

The ACCP Education Award recognizes an ACCP member who has made substantial and outstanding contributions to clinical pharmacy education at either the professional or postgraduate level. Amy Lynn Seybert, Pharm.D., FCCP, FASHP, CHSE, is currently dean and professor of pharmacy and therapeutics at the University of Pittsburg School of Pharmacy. She also serves as associate director of pharmacy programs and professor of clinical and translational science at the university.

Dr. Sandra Kane-Gill, professor of pharmacy and therapeutics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, wrote in her letter of nomination:

Dr. Seybert has demonstrated significant service contributions, pioneering teaching strategies, meaningful scholarship achievement, and progressive leadership. Her career has been guided by her desire to advance the quality and scope of innovative, successful educational programs. Amy has a sustained record of direct patient care combined with research and education in her interprofessional practice at UPMC for 15 years. Her commitment to service has not ceased at the bedside, as she continues to promote the pharmacy profession and pursuit of knowledge for learners and pharmacists.

Dr. Sandeep Devabhakthuni, associate dean of student affairs at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, wrote in his letter of recommendation:

Dr. Seybert has consistently published her work, particularly involving innovative educational research using simulation. One of her main areas of research focuses on patient safety and simulation-based learning as a teaching method for pharmacy students. She was the first pharmacist to publish on the innovative use of simulation as an active learning tool. She then documented the impact of her simulation learning design on learner satisfaction, basic physical assessment skills, foundational knowledge, problem-solving skills, and confidence. Moreover, she demonstrated the direct patient care impact of pharmacy-based simulation education. She has 35 publications addressing innovative research in education and 51 publications on cardiovascular/critical care pharmacy practice and medication safety. She has received 12 grants to support her scholarship of education using simulation, including an award for $450,000.

Since the beginning of Seybert’s pharmacy career, she has precepted many pharmacy residents as well as developed one of the first American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)-accredited PGY2 cardiology pharmacy residency programs. At the time of nomination, she had completed more than 100 presentations at local, national, and international meetings. Seybert has received multiple teaching awards, including the University of Pittsburgh Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award, the ASHP Research and Education Foundation Pharmacy Residency Excellence Preceptor Award, the AACP Rufus A. Lyman Award, and the AACP Distinguished Teaching Scholar Award. She was recognized as an ACCP Fellow in 2011.

The ACCP Clinical Practice Award is given to a College member who has made substantial and outstanding contributions to clinical pharmacy practice. Criteria for this award include exceptional leadership in developing innovative clinical pharmacy services and sustained excellence in practice. Sarah A. Spinler, Pharm.D., FCCP, FAHA, FASHP, AACC, is a professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

A pioneer in cardiology clinical pharmacy, Spinler worked to develop advanced cardiovascular (CV) clinical pharmacy services in 1988. Throughout her career, she has advocated for clinical CV pharmacy practice, including anticoagulation, hyperlipidemia, and heart failure. Spinler has shared her wealth of knowledge with other health care professionals through almost 400 continuing education programs related to advancing CV clinical pharmacy practice and more than 250 published abstracts, reviews, and original research papers. At the time of nomination, her work had led to 5686 citations, with an H-index of 39 and i10-index of 82.

Dr. Wesley Kufel, clinical associate professor of pharmacy practice at Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, commented on Spinler’s impact on the practice of clinical pharmacy in his letter of nomination:

Her mentorship, national recognition in the field, and sustained contributions to clinical pharmacy are unparalleled. Dr. Spinler has significantly advanced CV clinical pharmacy services throughout her career. Much of her ability to promote CV pharmacist impact on clinical practice at this national level stemmed from her work with cardiologist physician leaders in the field, including those with whom she practiced at Penn and institutions such as Duke University Medical Center with whom she conducted research as part of national registries. This occurred at a time where pharmacists were not recognized as even a membership category within physician-based organizations. Her work paved the way for other pharmacists to do the same, and at this time, virtually all guidelines and clinical decision pathways have one pharmacist author.

In her letter of support, Dr. Jean Nappi, professor emeritus at Medical University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, commented on how Spinler’s research has affected health care outside pharmacy practice:

Dr. Spinler is nationally recognized outside of pharmacy for her expertise, having served on numerous committees, writing groups and panels that addressed important practice issues in the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the United States Pharmacopeia. For example, she contributed to the “Patients at Risk for Developing Left Ventricular Thrombus” Guideline Writing Panel of the American Heart Association and the “Expert Consensus Decision Pathway Writing Group for Bridging Anticoagulants” of the American College of Cardiology. Her dedication to the profession of pharmacy, and as a representative of the profession of pharmacy to medical groups, has helped raise the level of clinical pharmacy practice.

Spinler is engaged in professional service to both pharmacy and cardiology organizations and was an inaugural member of the ACCP Cardiology PRN. She also served on the first Cardiology Specialty Council of the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS), which created the first board-certified cardiology pharmacist (BCCP) examination. She has received numerous awards, including the ACCP Cardiology PRN Lifetime Achievement Award, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Award for Sustained Contributions to the Literature of Pharmacy Practice, and the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy Excellence in Research and Scholarship Award. Spinler received ACCP Fellow recognition in 1997.

The ACCP Therapeutic Frontiers Lecture Award recognizes an individual, including ACCP member and nonmember nominees, who has made outstanding contributions to pharmacotherapeutics in their field. Among the criteria for this award is the broad acknowledgment that the recipient is currently considered at the leading edge of therapeutic research. Vincent H. Tam, Pharm.D., is an infectious diseases clinical pharmacy specialist at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center and a tenured professor of pharmacy practice and translational research at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy. He also holds faculty appointments in the Department of Pharmaceutics and the Cullen College of Engineering.

In his letter of nomination, Dr. Kevin Garey, professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Translational Research at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy, wrote: “With more than 195 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Tam is arguably one of the ten best researchers in the world in the area of PK/PD and therapeutics against multidrug resistant gram-negative bacterial infections.”

Dr. Susan Davis, interim associate dean for pharmacy at Wayne State University Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, wrote in her letter of support:

The intangible sense of excellence that Vincent brings to every problem he tackles, and the practical creativity that he employs in developing solutions to challenges in antimicrobial resistance is truly unique. He has worked with clinicians and scientists from diverse perspectives to address issues of antimicrobial drug development, dosing, and optimization. While he sees the intense detail of pharmacokinetics and dynamics, he can also relate to the efficient implementation necessary in pharmacy practice to turn discovery into reality. This type of innovative, adaptable, and hopeful thinking will be essential in addressing the ongoing global threat of antimicrobial resistant pathogens. The impact of his work is broad and continues to grow.

At the time of his nomination, Tam’s research work was supported by more than $9 million in cumulative extramural funding from industry, foundations, the Department of Defense, and the National Institutes of Health. He had published 188 peer-reviewed papers, of which 77% were original works. He has also published seven book chapters and regularly presented his research at national and international clinical and scientific conferences. His work has generated over 9029 citations, with an H-index of 51. Tam has received numerous awards including the ASHP Foundation Literature Award for Sustained Contributions, the SIDP Infectious Diseases Pharmacotherapy Impact Paper of the Year, and the ASHP Best Practices Award. He will deliver his Therapeutic Frontiers Lecture, “Personalized Combination Antimicrobial Therapy,” during the ACCP Annual Meeting Opening Session.

Members of the 2023 ACCP Awards Committee that selected the 2024 Therapeutic Frontiers Lecture Award were Kristi Kelley (chair), Nancy Shapiro (vice chair), Brian Hemstreet (secretary), Scott Bolesta, Alexandre Chan, Melanie Claborn, Patrick Dougherty, Amy Fabian, Christine Groth, Paul Gubbins, Young Lee, Cynthia Nguyen, Tanvi Patil, Golden Peters, Ann Philbrick, Jennifer Phillips, Chasity Shelton, Paul Stranges, Stephanie Tchen, and Kathleen Vest.

The C. Edwin Webb Professional Advocacy Award is given only when a particularly noteworthy candidate is identified who has made outstanding contributions to the visibility and value of clinical pharmacy in national policy and intra- and interprofessional arenas. This award recognizes an ACCP member who has assembled a record of mentoring others who have gone on to assume a health professions and/or health policy leadership role and is recognized as an ambassador for clinical pharmacy both within and outside the profession. Emily Zadvorny, Pharm.D., BCPS, is a clinical pharmacy specialist at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences/UC Health and executive director of the Colorado Pharmacists Society (CPS).

Jill Hunsaker Ryan, executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, shared in her letter of support that “Dr. Zadvorny has worked tirelessly across Colorado to thoughtfully expand the scope and delivery of pharmacist care services, and she has achieved remarkable success in both the legislative and regulatory arenas while building a tremendous reputation as a dedicated and collaborative partner in public health.”

Dr. Gina Moore, associate dean for operations and regulatory affairs at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, expanded on Zadvorny’s legislative work:

Her passion for advocacy and success for advancing our profession has flourished since being hired as CPS’s executive director. Legislation that Dr. Zadvorny has been instrumental in passing in Colorado includes:

• HB18-1112 Mandatory Payment of Pharmacists for Healthcare Services

• HB19-1242 Regulation of Pharmacy Technicians

• SB21-094 Sunset Pharmacy Practice Act (which resulted in Colorado having one of the most advanced scopes of practice for pharmacists in the country)

• HB21-1275 Medicaid Provider Status for Pharmacists (which mandates payment for pharmacist-provided services)

Senator Perry Will (District 5, State of Colorado) shared in his letter of support:

This bill [HB21-1275] was Emily’s passion project for the profession. The bill ensures that pharmacists providing important patient care services are recognized and compensated in parity with other health professionals for providing healthcare clinical services like chronic disease management and comprehensive medication management.

Dr. Dennis Helling, executive director emeritus of pharmacy operations and therapeutics at Kaiser Permanente Colorado and clinical professor at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, wrote in his letter of nomination:

Dr. Zadvorny is her own secret weapon! Her delightful interpersonal skills, sense of humor, command of the issues, and knowledge of her legislators have yielded such impressive practice changes for pharmacists in Colorado. She has rallied her pharmacist constituents to become involved in all aspects of CPS, with a 60% growth of pharmacists and a 100% growth in technicians. She has established a Diversity, Equality and Inclusion advisory group. In addition, she established three new Academies: Clinical Specialists (with Specialty Councils), Technicians, and Community-Based Pharmacists. CPS is now vibrant, growing, and having a real impact in the advancement of pharmacist roles with legislative action, often leading all other state associations. These accomplishments are the work of many, but would not have been possible without the leadership of Dr. Zadvorny.

He concludes, “Dr. Zadvorny reminds me of the Founding Members of ACCP[:] She has grit, zealous passion, confidence in making a difference through her own example and advocacy, and finds a way to achieve a ‘yes’ with the legislature, her staff, mentees, and pharmacist constituents.”

Zadvorny has received numerous awards, including the ASHP Board of Directors’ Pharmacy Champion Award, the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy Excellence in Pharmacy Award, the Colorado Pharmacists Society Pharmacist of the Year Award, and the Kaiser Permanente Clinical Pharmacy Cardiac Risk Service Population Health Improvement Leadership Award. She is a member of five professional societies, including ACCP, the American Pharmacists Association, and the Colorado Pharmacists Society.

Members of the 2024 ACCP Awards Committee were Nancy Shapiro (chair), Melanie Claborn (vice chair), Kayla Stover (secretary), Scott Bolesta, Allison Chung, Amy Fabian, Bethany Ford, Carrie Griffiths, ChristineGroth, Paul Gubbins, Zhe Han, Adonice Khoury, Keri Mills, Kimberly Mills, Cynthia Nguyen, Tanvi Patil, Jennifer Phillips, Kevin Rynn, Angela Shogbon Nwaesei, and Kathleen Vest.