Pamela U. Joyner, M.S.Pharm., Ed.D., is the recipient of the 2018 PAA Distinguished Service Award from the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Alumni Association. Joyner is retiring from the School April 1 from her position as executive associate dean for professional education, which she has held since 2010.
As executive associate dean, Joyner has been responsible for all professional-education initiatives, including accreditation, the curriculum, experiential education and continuing education. Joyner previously served as associate dean for professional education since 1998.
“As Dr. Joyner prepares to leave, we can all appreciate the positive effect she has had on this school, this university, the profession and on every student who has graduated with a Pharm.D. from UNC in the past 20 years,” said Dhiren Thakker, Ph.D., interim dean of the School. “I am very proud to have been able to work with her during her tenure, and I know that I speak for all our faculty, staff and students when I extend to her our deep appreciation and warmest thanks for a job very well done.”
One of those nominating Joyner for the award was Betsy Sleath, Ph.D., chair of the School’s Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy and the George H. Cocolas Distinguished Professor.
“Pam has dedicated tireless effort to the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy for more than 20 years,” Sleath said. “She brings out the best in people and is a wonderful role model for faculty, practitioners and students. I don’t think you could find a more dedicated individual in the School. She will be greatly missed by everyone and truly deserves this award.”
Joyner has held an academic appointment with the School since 1975 when she was the pharmacy coordinator at Wake Medical Center in Raleigh and an adjunct instructor at UNC-Chapel Hill. She then served first as co-director from 1979 to 1985 and then director of pharmacy education from 1985 to 1996 at the Wake Area Health Education Center at Wake Medical Center. She became a clinical assistant professor at the School in 1977 and was promoted to clinical associate professor in 1987. In February 1996, she joined the School as the director of external professional programs and implemented the School’s off-campus External Doctor of Pharmacy Program.
Joyner has been actively involved in state and national professional organizations including the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, American Pharmacists Association and the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists. She was recognized as a fellow of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists in 1991 and was selected to participate in the 2007–2008 AACP Academic Leadership Fellows Program.
Joyner received her doctor of education from North Carolina State University and her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in pharmacy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.