Good Government Pharmacist-Of-The-Year Award
2026 Award Recipient
Richard H. Dang, PharmD
Richard Dang, PharmD, is an Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Southern California (USC). He is currently the Vice Chair of the Immunization Coalition of Los Angeles County (ICLAC) and a member of the Board of Directors of the California Immunization Coalition (CIC), as well as a Past President of the California Pharmacists Association (CPhA). As the Chair of the CPhA Legislative Committee, he has advocated for pharmacist patient care services, standard of care, protections for workplace conditions, and PBM reform. He has also been influential in policy decisions on immunizations at the state and national level.
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
2025 Dr. Kenneth Kunke, PharmD
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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