Contact: Ross Hemminger
202.429.7519; rhemminger@aphanet.org
The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) has selected 10 recipients of its 2023 Immunization Champion Awards, which recognize individuals and organizations who have made extraordinary contributions toward improved vaccination rates within their communities.
“The APhA Immunization Champion Awards program recognizes and celebrates pharmacists' and pharmacy teams’ contributions to and impact on the health of communities as valued members of the immunization neighborhood,” according to Brigid K. Groves, PharmD, MS, APhA vice president of pharmacy practice. “On this 15th anniversary of the award, APhA applauds the more than 500,000 pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians trained to administer vaccines who are making a difference in their communities.”
Nominees were evaluated based on the areas of impact, collaboration, originality, and overcoming challenges and creating opportunities for pharmacists.
APhA recognizes CDC, GSK, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Moderna, Pfizer, and Sanofi/VaxServe for their support of this program.
Listed below are APhA 2023 Immunization Champions by category.
Individual Practitioner
National Winner
Chichi Ilonzo Momah, PharmD (Springfield, PA)
Honorable Mention
Bridget Ogden, PharmD (Stillwater, MN)
Renee Robinson, PharmD, MPH, MSPharm, MBA (Anchorage, AK)
Corporation/Institution
National Winner
Cub Pharmacies' Clinical Programs Team (Stillwater, MN)
Honorable Mention
Stanford Health Care IBD Clinical Pharmacy Team (Redwood City, CA)
Community Outreach
National Winner
Kevin Cleveland, PharmD, ANP (Meridian, ID)
Honorable Mention
Uri Bassan, BSPharm (Albuquerque, NM)
Pharmacy Team Member
National Winner
Amber Coleman, CPhT (Gulfport, MS)
Honorable Mention
David (Nate) Ryder, CPhT (Franklin, TN)
Travel Health
National Winner
Beverly Schaefer, BSPharm (Seattle, WA)
APhA established these special awards in 2008 and made the first presentations in 2009 to recognize the value and extraordinary contributions pharmacists provide to improving the vaccination rates in their communities.
Pharmacists, in collaboration with physicians, public health officials, pharmacy technicians, and other immunization allies are recognized as important members of the immunization neighborhood, with millions of vaccinations administered by pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians each year.
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