Good Government Pharmacist-Of-The-Year Award
2025 Award Recipient
Dr. Kenneth Kunke, PharmD
Dr. Ken Kunke graduated from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy in 2003 and soon relocated to Nevada. He worked in community pharmacy until early 2019, excelling in building high-performing teams, serving as a market trainer, delivering exceptional patient care, and improving operational efficiency across his organization’s pharmacies. During this time, he was passionate about precepting up to ten students annually, giving back to the profession he holds dear.
In early 2019, Dr. Kunke transitioned to academia as the Director of Experiential Education (IPPE) at Roseman University, where he also serves as an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice. In 2020, recognizing a critical need, he founded the Nevada Pharmacy Alliance (NPA). At the time, Nevada was the only state without a pharmacy association affiliated with APhA and NASPA. NPA’s mission is to connect, educate, and advocate for the pharmacy profession to optimize patient care and advance public health.
As NPA’s Executive Director, Dr. Kunke manages daily operations and spearheads impactful advocacy efforts. Under his leadership, Nevada pharmacists have secured recognition as providers under Nevada Medicaid, expanded their ability to bill for clinical services, and benefited from streamlined pathways for entering into collaborative practice agreements. Landmark legislation supported by NPA has enabled pharmacists to dispense hormonal contraceptives without a prescription and to prescribe medications for HIV prevention and opioid use disorder.
Looking ahead to the future legislative sessions, Dr. Kunke is enthusiastic about NPA’s plans to advocate for bills that will further expand pharmacists’ clinical service capabilities and ensure fair reimbursement for both dispensing medications and delivering clinical care.
About
The award, established in 1990, recognizes an individual pharmacist who actively contributes to the community through involvement in the political process.
Nomination criteria
The nominee must be a pharmacist who is an APhA member and a state pharmacy association member. APhA and state association staff members, lobbyists, and state or federal officials are not eligible. The government affairs activity in which the nominee participated must have raised pharmacists’ awareness of the political process and improved the pharmacy profession and the political process, as well as improved service and education to the patient.
Nomination process
The nominator is responsible for submitting a complete award nomination.
The nomination is to include the following items:
A letter from the nominator describing the most important achievements of the nominee and explaining why the nominee meets the criteria for the award
Letters of recommendation are optional; two letters are preferred with a maximum of six accepted letters
A current curriculum vitae or detailed résumé
Selection process
The selection is made by the APhA-PAC Board of Governors based upon careful review of complete nominations.
Nature of award
The recipient will receive a crystal eagle sculpture and a U.S. flag previously flown over the U.S. Capitol building. The recipient will also receive the following: a complimentary APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition registration and reimbursement for meeting-related travel expenses, according to current travel policies and up to the maximum amount budgeted by APhA, and five APhA-PAC Reception tickets. The award is presented during the APhA Political Leadership Reception held during the APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition.
Past Recipients
2024 Christopher Federico
2012 Trish Rippetoe Freeman
2011 Betsy Meredith Elswick
2006 Matthew C. Osterhaus
2004 Theresa L. Wells-Tolle
1995 Cynthia L.W. Warriner
1993 Michael D. Pflughoeft
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