The West Virginia Pharmacists Association (WVPA) held its 115th Annual Meeting November 4-6 at the University of Charleston School of Pharmacy in Charleston, WV. Closing the Loops on the Pharmacy Profession was the theme of this year's gathering, emphasizing topics such as provider status, test to treat, workplace stress/trauma and substance use disorder therapy.
Celebrating achievements and advancements within the profession was also on the agenda. A professor, a student and two alumnae representing the WVU School of Pharmacy were honored by the Association during the awards ceremony.
Dr. Virginia (Ginger) Scott received the 2022 Bowl of Hygeia Award, presented annually by participating pharmacy associations in fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The respective associations select recipients based on their outstanding community service records. Dr. Scott serves as the School's director of Continuing Education. In this role, she has expanded programming, reaching an unprecedented number of West Virginia pharmacists. Under Scott's guidance, the School offers traditional continuing education programming and hands-on training to enhance the pharmacist's ability to provide patient-centered diabetes services, medication therapy management services, immunizations and drug diversion education. Her work in these areas has optimized patient outcomes and improved the quality of life for West Virginia citizens. As a professor in the Pharmaceutical Systems and Policy Department, Scott teaches Outcomes and Quality Improvement courses, Patient Health Education, and Pharmacoeconomics. She is a mentor to the WVPA board and was the first female president of the Kentucky Pharmacists Association.
Dr. Amber Conrad (PharmD, '17) received the 2022 Excellence in Innovation Award, which recognizes innovative pharmacy practice resulting in improved patient care. This award is coordinated by the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations (NASPA) and sponsored by Upsher-Smith Laboratories Inc. Conrad is the performance manager for Moundsville Pharmacy in Moundsville, WV, and the performance coordinator for three other pharmacies owned by PharmaCole, Inc. She has made a significant impact on medication adherence in her patient population. In 2019, Conrad led her team in integrating the Parata PASS system into their pharmacy workflow to provide medication adherence strip packaging to patients. Parata Pass, combined with other successful adherence programs under her purview, has helped to elevate Pharmacole's Medicare adherence-related quality measure to the top 20% of all pharmacies in the country. In addition to her work with medication adherence, Conrad leads the organization's efforts to educate patients on Medicare Part D plan changes each year. She also re-developed and co-leads the therapeutic shoe program for diabetes patients and has implemented a naloxone program for her pharmacies. Additionally, Conrad is the president of the Ohio-Marshall County Pharmacists Association.
Dr. Katie Kacmarik (PharmD, '12) received the 2022 NCPA Leadership Award, traditionally given to the outgoing West Virginia Pharmacists Association President each year. Dr. Kacmarik manages the compounding and long-term care departments at Moundsville Pharmacy and serves as clinical services coordinator for all pharmacies under Moundsville's parent company Pharmcole Inc. Currently, Kacmarik is the immediate past president of the Ohio-Marshall County Pharmacists Association. Her past honors include the 2021 WVPA Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award, the 2015 Pharmacy Development Services Pharmacist of the Year award and her 2017 induction into the West Liberty University Alumni Wall of Honor, where she is the youngest individual ever to be inducted. Kacmarik will move into the immediate past president role for the next two years and will remain on the board to help support our entire board as it works to continue pushing WVPA and the pharmacy profession in West Virginia forward.
Yohana Berhanu, P3, received the 2022 WVPA Student Pharmacist of the Year Award. Berhanu serves as the WVU student representative on the West Virginia Pharmacists Association Board. She chairs the Student Engagement Committee, providing a student perspective on WVPA matters and advocating for a more robust membership and participation from students at the WVU School of Pharmacy. In addition to her community service and student organization involvement, Berhanu is a student researcher at the Erma Byrd Biomedical Research Center in the department of neuroscience and a School of Pharmacy Scholarship recipient. Her nominator shared, "There is no one more deserving of this award. Her spirit and personality just make everyone happier around her and make working with her a true gift."
