Board of Pharmacy Specialties recognizes ANMC Pharmacy with the Warren Weaver/Richard Penna Award
February 24, 2020
The Warren Weaver/Richard Penna Award is granted annually by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) in two categories, individual and organization. Recipients are recognized for outstanding voluntary contributions to the advancement of BPS board certification of pharmacists.
The award was recently presented to ANMC by Brian Lawson, Senior Director, Professional Affairs and International Engagement with the Board of Pharmacy Specialties. Lawson stated that ANMC was unanimously selected as the 2020 winner for their work to advance health care by promoting the recognition and value of specialized training, knowledge and skills in pharmacy.
Past winners include Kaiser Permanente Colorado Pharmacy Department in 2019 and the Johns Hopkins Hospital Department of Pharmacy in 2018.
“Board certified pharmacists have played a key role in our organization’s expansion and increasing access to care throughout Alaska,” wrote Roald Helgesen, CEO and Administrator for Alaska Native Medical Center.
“Specialty certification not only results in improved outcomes in patient care, but is a way for our pharmacists to do independent education and training to keep current with the most up-to-date literature and pharmacy practices. Our organization highly values our Pharmacy department and recognizes the importance of board certification to provide the highest level of health care for our people covering the vast state of Alaska.”
Highlights noted by the BPS Board of Directors, include the ANMC’s dedication to the professional development of pharmacists, demonstrated by creating a tiered pharmacist growth ladder, which includes board certification as a benchmark, and annual financial support for pharmacists’ certifications. The Board also noted that 42 percent of ANMC pharmacists hold at least one BPS board certification, with a number of full-time pharmacists holding more than one BPS board certification.
Capt. Kara King, Pharmacy Director and Indian Health Service Alaska Area Pharmacy Consultant, was one of the nominators. Capt. King also represented ANMC’s Pharmacy Department at the award presentation.
“This award is validation of the strong work and dedication our pharmacists commit to on a daily basis,” she said during the ceremony.
King shared that she and Callista Carlton, Clinical Pharmacy Director for Southcentral Foundation, work together to help shape the direction of their department.
“But it’s up to all of these excellent individual pharmacists to excel in their profession and specialty. Much like the orchestra’s success depends on every single musician’s performance, so does our Pharmacy department. I am so proud to be a member of this one! Thank you all, for your commitment to helping us provide world-class pharmaceutical care.”