Student Awards
USPHS Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Award
This prestigious award recognizes pharmacy students who have made significant contributions to public health by promoting wellness and healthy communities. Specifically, students are evaluated on their contributions towards voluntary health related services, an emerging public health issue, or contributions that advance the goals of Healthy People 2030 or the National Prevention Strategy.
Today, we face increasing public health crises in America as evidenced by the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic, opioid epidemic, rise of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. With the advent of these public health issues, pharmacy students can play an important role in finding innovative ways to address these challenges. Therefore, the USPHS would like to recognize and encourage students to learn about public health and engage in public health efforts in their communities.
The Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy award is issued by the Pharmacist Professional Advisory Committee (PharmPAC) of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS). The USPHS is led by the Surgeon General and is made up of more than 6,000 Commissioned Corps officers that work on the front lines of public health – fighting disease, conducting research, and caring for patients in underserved communities. This diverse team of highly qualified healthcare professionals is driven by a passion to serve the underserved, and these men and women fill essential public health leadership and clinical service roles within the Nation’s Federal Government.
Now accepting award nominations for the 2023 Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Award - Due date for nominations is extended to January 23, 2023!
USPHS PharmPAC Chair Letter
USPHS PharmPAC Student Award Information Sheet
USPHS PharmPAC Student Award Application
2022 Award Recipients
Congratulations to 90 pharmacy students from across the country that have been recognized as the USPHS Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Award recipients in 2022. Of those, the PharmPAC Student Awards Program selected ten top award recipients for their public health work that positively impacted their local communities and beyond.
Osama ElSherbini
University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy
University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy
For going above and beyond in assisting vulnerable populations achieve health and well-being, serving Connecticut and global communities
Kobi Griffith
University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy
University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy
For developing and establishing a student-led health insurance navigation program at the Birmingham Free Clinic for immigrants and those of low socioeconomic status.
Ashley Lam
University of Charleston School of Pharmacy
University of Charleston School of Pharmacy
For co-founding RxforClimate, a web-based community initiative, to promote environmentally sustainable pharmacy practice while spearheading the 2021 Script Your Future Team and winning National Award participation.
Carissa Leung
University of the Pacific, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy
University of the Pacific, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy
For leadership of 51 COVID-19 and influenza vaccination clinics and administering 10,501 vaccinations to the community. For raising over $500 for the United Way and local food pantry. For assisting nearly 30 patients and saving >$10,000 in out-of-pocket costs and mitigating over 50 medication-related problems during medication therapy management sessions.
Julia Nahle
University of Michigan College of Pharmacy
University of Michigan College of Pharmacy
For co-authoring an executive order regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, publishing a paper expanding pharmacists' role in public health, and organizing COVID-19 vaccination clinics.
Jacob Noble
University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy
University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy
For reducing health disparities for homeless and refugee populations, improving community health by leading pharmacy and medical student-run health clinics, and mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reilly T. Oki
California Northstate University College of Pharmacy
California Northstate University College of Pharmacy
For leadership advocating, promoting, and passing legislation which advances the pharmacy profession, and increases patients’ access to care.
Joseph Sidoti
Raabe College of Pharmacy, Ohio Northern University
Raabe College of Pharmacy, Ohio Northern University
For designing, developing, and implementing an active mental health program for adolescents, which is being expanded further within his community.
Monica Sliwa
Skaggs School of Pharmacy, University of California, San Diego
Skaggs School of Pharmacy, University of California, San Diego
For co-founding the "COVID-19 Community Outreach" in 2020, which has since delivered groceries, medications, and donations to nearly 25,000 vulnerable San Diego County residents.
May Thandar
University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
For organizing and leading greater than 100 community-based COVID-19 vaccination clinics at senior and community centers where University of Buffalo students vaccinated over 4,000 patients.
Page Last Modified on 1/10/2023
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