UC's Kelly Epplen Named ASHP Fellow

In recognition of excellence achieved in pharmacy practice, Kelly Epplen, PharmD, an assistant professor in the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, has been named a fellow by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).

ASHP is a national professional organization whose more than 40,000 members include pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and student pharmacists who provide patient care services in hospitals, health systems and ambulatory clinics. Awarding fellowship in the ASHP is one means by which the organization fosters and rewards demonstrated excellence in hospital and health-system pharmacy.

To earn fellowship status, Epplen, who is also an ambulatory clinical pharmacist with St. Elizabeth Healthcare Family Care Center in Northern Kentucky, had to: successfully demonstrate sustained commitment or contributions to practice for at least 10 years; prove contribution to the total body of knowledge in the field; demonstrate active involvement and leadership in ASHP and other professional organizations; and have been actively involved and committed to educating practitioners and others.

Since earning her PharmD at UC ('97), Epplen says she has been passionate regarding the education of patients about their disease and associated medication regimens and as an educator her philosophy has always been "to teach students to place patient care at the forefront of everything—truly making their practice patient-centered." In addition to clinical practice, she has been precepting students from the Winkle College of Pharmacy since 1998.

Epplen will be honored Tuesday, June 3, 2014, during the ASHP Summer Meetings and Exhibition in Las Vegas.