APhA announces 2021 Immunization Champion Award recipients
The American Pharmacists Association has selected eight recipients of its 2021 Immunization Champion Awards, recognizing individuals and organizations who have made extraordinary contributions toward improved vaccination rates within their communities.
The American Pharmacists Association established these special awards in 2008, and made the first presentations in 2009, to recognize the value and extraordinary contributions pharmacists provide to improving the vaccination rates in their communities.
“The APhA Immunization Champion Awards program helps us tell the story regarding pharmacists' and the pharmacy teams’ contributions to and impact on the health of communities and as valued members of the immunization neighborhood,” said Mitchel Rothholz, APhA Chief Governance & State Affiliates and executive director of the APhA Foundation.
“This year is the 13th anniversary for presentation of the award,” Rothholz said. “We applaud the more than 460,000 pharmacists, student pharmacists and pharmacy technicians trained to administer vaccines and who are making a difference in their communities, especially during these challenging days of COVID-19."
Nominees were evaluated based on the areas of impact, collaboration, originality, and overcoming challenges and creating opportunities for pharmacists. APhA also recognizes Merck, VaxServe, and Pfizer for their support of this program.
Individual Practitioner
- National Winner: Krista Capehart, (Winfield, W.Va.)
- Honorable Mention: Grace Lee, (San Antonio, Tex.)
Friend of Pharmacy
- National Winner: Mike Popovich (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Corporation/Institution
- National Winner: Rhode Island Pharmacist Association (Warwick, R.I.)
- Honorable Mention: Purdue University Pharmacy (West Lafayette, Ind.)
Community Outreach
- National Winner: Brian Winbigler, MBA Store (Maryville, Tenn.)
- Honorable Mention: Jeffrey Marentette, (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Pharmacy Team Member
- National Winner: Sara Dreyer (Iowa City, Iowa)