Two professors from the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy received New Investigator Awards from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.
David Steeb, Pharm.D., M.P.H., and Ben Urick, Pharm.D., Ph.D., won 2019 New Investigator Awards from the AACP. Steeb is a clinical assistant professor and Urick is a research assistant professor, both in the Division of Practice Advancement and Clinical Education.
The New Investigator Award provides start-up funding for the independent research programs of early-career pharmacy faculty.
Steeb’s research proposal, entitled Development and Assessment of Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) for Global Health, will survey global health experts in pharmacy, medicine, nursing, and other health professions to determine which global health activities may be suitable as EPAs.
“Health professional programs are increasing their global health education offerings, but there remains a challenge as to the most appropriate method of assessment for students and trainees,” Steeb said. “Results of this project will help educators and clinicians utilize EPAs for global health education assessment, strengthening student learning and ultimately patient care.”
Urick’s research proposal, entitled Pharmacy Owner Perceptions of Performance-Based Payment Models (PBPPMs), will be the first study to explore pharmacists’ perceptions of PBPPMs and how they have affected pharmacy practice.
“PBPPMs rely on performance measurement to set pharmacy reimbursement or fees, and have become very common over the last four years,” Urick said. “There is some indication that pharmacists are frustrated with these models, but it is also possible that these models have resulted in practice changes which benefit patients.”
The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy was one of two schools of pharmacy with multiple AACP New Investigator Award recipients among the 16 award winners, joined by the University of Mississippi.
Past award recipients from the School include Antonio Bush, Ph.D., in 2017; Nathaniel Hathaway, Ph.D., in 2016; Jacqui McLaughlin, Ph.D., in 2015; and Albert Bowers, Ph.D., in 2013.