Wiederholt Prize For Best Published Paper Award For Economic, Social And Administrative Sciences (ESAS)
2025 APhA-APRS Weiderholt Prize Recipient
J. Douglas Thornton, PharmD, PhD, BCPS
Dr. Doug Thornton is an associate professor of pharmaceutical health outcomes and policy and the director of the Prescription Drug Misuse Education and Research (PREMIER) Center at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy. Before joining UH, Dr. Thornton practiced as a board-certified clinical pharmacist while earning his Ph.D. in Health Services and Outcomes Research at West Virginia University, where he also completed his Pharm.D. He received his PGY1 pharmacy residency training at Saint Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington, WV.
Dr. Thornton’s research focuses on optimizing the management of pain and opioid use disorder through effective use of medications and healthcare services. In 2024, he received the Generation Rx Award of Excellence from the American Pharmacists Association for his dedication to substance abuse education. He currently represents the greater Houston region on the Texas Opioid Abatement Fund Council.
An experienced mentor, Dr. Thornton has guided students at all levels within a college of pharmacy. He has directly mentored and supervised 8 post-doctoral fellows and 7 Ph.D. students, 4 of whom have graduated. His commitment to training future healthcare leaders aligns with his mission to improve patient outcomes and address critical challenges in healthcare.
About
The APhA Best Published Paper Award for Economic, Social, and Administrative Sciences was established in 1996. In 2002, it was renamed the Wiederholt Prize in honor of Joseph B. Wiederholt, PhD (1949-2001). Dr. Wiederholt was the first recipient of the award and a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The purpose of the award is to recognize the best published paper in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association (JAPhA) that describes original investigation in economic, social, or administrative sciences related to pharmacy.
Criteria
The primary author must be an APhA Member. The paper need not have been presented before the Association. The paper must represent original research, and must have been published in JAPhA within 2 calendar years prior to the screening deadline (September 1 of the year before the presentation of the award). Papers will be evaluated based upon the quality of the science and translation of the research to the practice of pharmacy.
Nomination/screening process
The ESAS Section Officers of APhA-APRS will screen all ESAS-related articles published in JAPhA, and select and submit finalists to the APhA-APRS Awards Committee by the screening deadline.
Selection process
The selection is made by the APhA-APRS Awards Committee.
Nature of award
The award, presented at the APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition, consists an engraved plaque for the primary author of the selected paper, plus an engraved plaque for each of the associated authors, if any. The primary author also receives 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.
Past Recipients
2022 Kyle Melin, Claudia R. Hilera-Botet, Dializza Vega-Vélez, Valeria M. Salgado-Crespo, Darlene Santiago, Jonathan Hernández-Agosto, Aryam Muñoz-Burgos, Zaritza Cajigas, José Javier Martínez-Vélez, Carlos E. Rodríguez-Díaz
2021 Kenneth C. Hohmeier, Shane P. Desselle
2020 Yiran Zhang, William R. Doucette
2019 Karen Suchanek Hudmon, Robin L. Corelli, Carl de Moor, Alan J. Zillich, Christine Fenlon, Lyndsay Miles, Alexander V. Prokhorov, Susan M. Zbikowski
2018 Olufunmilola Abraham, Amanda Brothers, Dayna S. Alexander, and Delesha M. Carpenter
2017 Brandon J. Patterson, Peter J. Kaboli, Traviss Tubbs, Bruce Alexander, and Brian C. Lund
2016 Pamela Heaton, Heidi Luder, and Namita Tundia
2015 David A. Holdford and Timothy J. Inocencio
2014 Bonnie L. Svarstad, Jane Morley Kotchen, Theresa I. Shireman, Roger L. Brown, Stephanie Y. Crawford, Jeanine K. Mount, Pamela A. Palmer, Eva M. Vivian, and Dale A. Wilson
2013 Carole Kimberlin, Allison Newland Jamison, Stephan Linden, and Almut G. Winterstein
2012 Melinda E. Kozminski, Rachelle Busby, Melissa Somma McGivney, Patricia M. Klatt, Stephanie R. Hackett, and Joel H. Merenstein
2011 Beth A. Martin, Ruth H. Bruskiewitz, and Betty A. Chewning
2010 Elizabeth A. Flynn, Kenneth N. Barker, Bruce A. Berger, Kimberly B. Lloyd, and Patrick D. Brackett
2009 Barry A. Bunting, Benjamin H. Smith, and Susan E. Sutherland
2005 Elizabeth A. Chrischilles
2004 Carole W. Cranor and Dale D. Christensen
2003 Dale Christensen, Nancy Neil, William E. Fassett, David H. Smith, Garth Holmes, and Andy Stergachis
2002 Julie M. Ganther and David H. Kreling
2000 Scott R. Smith and Duane M. Kirking
1999 Folakemi T. Odedina, Charles D. Hepler, Richard Segal, and M. David Miller
1997 Jon C. Schommer and Joseph B. Wiederholt
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