Skip to main content

Koval Reappointed as BPS Chair

January 30, 2018

Peter Koval, Pharm.D., has been reappointed to serve a three-year term on the Board of Pharmacy Specialties Board of Directors and elected as the 2019 chair of the organization. The chair commitment includes a year as chair-elect, a year as chair and a year as immediate past chair. Koval is an associate professor of clinical education in the Division of Practice Advancement and Experiential Education and director of pharmacy education at the Greensboro Area Health Education Center. The Board of Pharmacy Specialties was established in 1976 by the American Pharmacists Association with the goal of improving patient care and recognizing … Read more


Steeb Receives APhA New Practitioner Award

January 26, 2018

David Steeb, Pharm.D., M.P.H., is the recipient of the 2018 Distinguished New Practitioner Award from the American Pharmacists Association. The award recognizes a new practitioner, within the first five years of practice, who has demonstrated distinctive achievements in mentorship, service and commitment to the profession of pharmacy. Steeb is a clinical assistant professor and director of global engagement at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Steeb conducts research in global pharmacy education and training and is collaborating with faculty at other UNC health affairs schools in developing curricula at the intersection of pharmacy and global health. Award recipients must be … Read more


Ferreri Receives APhA Pharmacy Practice Award

January 25, 2018

Stefanie Ferreri, Pharm.D., is the recipient of the 2018 Distinguished Achievement Award in Pharmacy Practice from the American Pharmacists Association. The award recognizes an individual who has developed or implemented an innovative, original pharmacy program or service that is significant to their area of practice. Ferreri is a clinical professor at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and executive vice chair of the Division of Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Education. She is a fellow of the APhA and a board certified ambulatory care pharmacist. APhA selected Ferreri for her role in the development and implementation of a collaborative care model in … Read more


UNC Medical Center Receives ASHP Award for Excellence in Medication Safety

December 16, 2017

On Dec. 3, an interprofessional team led by pharmacists at UNC Medical Center received the 2017 Award for Excellence in Medication Safety from the ASHP Foundation and the Cardinal Health Foundation for its work improving the care of patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. The award is the only one of its kind for pharmacist-led interprofessional teams and offers $50,000 for first place. Kalynn Rohde, Pharm.D., medical ICU clinical pharmacist, was the project lead. HIT is a rare and serious complication of heparin administration. People with HIT who continue to receive heparin can enter a hypercoagulable state where the blood clots more … Read more


Kamakshi Rao Receives ABMT Lifetime Achievement Award

December 13, 2017

Kamakshi Rao, Pharm.D., clinical manager at UNC Hospitals and Clinics, is the recipient of the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation Pharmacy Special Interest Group Lifetime Achievement Award, which she will accept at the annual Blood and Marrow Transplant Pharmacist Conference in February. The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an ASBMT Pharmacy SIG member who has made a significant impact to the field of pharmacy in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and has been in practice for at least 10 years not including postgraduate or residency training, according to the ASBMT. “It is a privilege to be able to … Read more


Ives to Lead Opioid De-Prescribing Study with $9 Million PCORI Grant

December 13, 2017

Timothy Ives, Pharm.D., M.P.H., is leading one arm of a joint study between UNC, Duke, Vanderbilt and RTI International focusing on opioid de-prescribing that is funded by a $9 million grant from the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute. The study will start Feb. 1. Ives’ part of the study will recruit 300 or so patients who were prescribed opioids for chronic pain. Half will be examined by the pain management clinic at UNC and the other half will be treated according to the pain management regimen they’ve already been prescribed. Ives said his work at the clinic differs from other pain … Read more


Pharmacy Ownership Resident Wins APhA Foundation Award

December 7, 2017

Tanner Kowalski, Pharm.D., won the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Independent Pharmacy Owner Residency Program’s first incentive grant from the APhA Foundation. This APhA incentive grant offers pharmacists, students and community pharmacy residents seed money to implement or support an existing innovative patient-care service within their pharmacy practice. Kowalski’s project analyzes the effect that transition-of-care services have on preventing hospital readmissions for pediatric patients. As part of the transition-of-care program, pharmacists review patients’ medication, identify appropriate interventions, work with providers to implement changes and provide bedside counseling to reinforce proper use of new medications. “Hospital discharge is a critical time … Read more


Steeb to Lead AACP Global Pharmacy Education SIG

October 17, 2017

Clinical Assistant Professor David Steeb, Pharm.D. , was recently elected chair of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Global Pharmacy Education Special Interest Group. Steeb is director of global engagement and clinical assistant professor in the Division of Practice Advancement and Clinical Education. Steeb said the mission of the SIG is to develop, facilitate, advance and promote quality global health pharmacy education. In executing the mission, Steeb said, the SIG seeks to provide opportunities for SIG members to network and connect with each other around shared interests within global pharmacy education, including research projects, webinars and conference presentations among others. … Read more


Robinson is New Community Pharmacy Research Fellow as Previous Fellow Renfro Joins Tennessee Faculty

September 21, 2017

Jessica Robinson, Pharm.D., is the new community pharmacy practice research fellow at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy as the previous fellow, Chelsea Phillips Renfro, Pharm.D., moves on to a position as an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy. Renfro will be teaching student pharmacists in UTHSC’s Interprofessional Simulation and Patient Safety Center with a focus on community pharmacy. Renfro said a highlight of her time at the School was a $25,000 grant she received from the Community Pharmacy Foundation to investigate successful collaborative working relationships between pharmacists and other members of the … Read more


Steve Caiola Receives Eckel Award

September 15, 2017

Steve Caiola, M.S., professor emeritus in and former chair of the School’s Division of Practice Advancement and Clinical Education, received the Fred M. Eckel Pharmacy Leadership Award for 2017. The award in honor of Fred M. Eckel, M.S., is jointly given by the School and UNC Hospitals. Eckel created the UNC Hospital Pharmacy Residency Program in 1967 and the award is meant to honor someone associated with UNC Hospitals and Clinics post-graduate pharmacy training programs who has remained dedicated to pharmacy practice throughout his or her career. “I am not sure that you could name a single legacy for Steve … Read more