Pharmacy College Names Distinguished Alumni

Three prominent alumni from the University of Cincinnati's James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy returned to campus Oct.  23, 2015, to receive Distinguished Alumni awards—the highest honor bestowed upon graduates from the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy.

The 2015 Distinguished Alumni Awards are as follows:

The Glasser Alumni Achievement Award

(presented to honor long-term, significant involvement with the College) went to Chad Worz, PharmD ('96,'98). Worz received his bachelor of science and doctor of pharmacy from UC in 1996 and 1998, respectively. He developed an innovative clinical practice in the long-term care setting in Ohio and directed the pharmacy practice of a regional, independent pharmacy serving 10,000 residents in long-term care. In July of 2007, Worz established Medication Managers, LLC, whose mission is to educate and serve nursing home residents, nursing home administration, long term care pharmacies and the public through a comprehensive knowledge of medication use, geriatric pharmacy and the systems that manage the pharmaceutical care of the elderly in the United States.

Medication Managers, LLC is the first organized independent consulting group in Ohio and has expanded to provide consulting services to over 35,000 nursing home, assisted living and developmentally disabled residents in 30 states. Worz is an adjunct assistant professor of pharmacy practice and a member of the board of advisors for the James L Winkle College of Pharmacy. He also serves as a board member at the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists and is a member of Humana's National Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.

The DeSalvo Alumni Achievement Award

(presented to honor alumni for significant national or international achievement) went to Verneda Hawkins, PharmD ('84). Hawkins is currently employed as an executive medical science liaison (MSL) at Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Company (BMS). She is also the 2014 recipient of the National Pharmaceutical Association's (NPhA) highest distinction, the Chauncey I. Cooper Award, to recognize her sustained and distinguished service to the profession of pharmacy.

Hawkins joined BMS as an MSL in 1993. In her current role at BMS, she utilizes her therapeutic expertise to provide medical education and research support to regionally and nationally recognized thought leader customers. In addition, Hawkins has expanded responsibilities to include serving as a national project leader in collaboration with her colleagues at Headquarters Medical Affairs in Princeton, New Jersey, in the areas of training and health care economics. Her strong reputation for being innovative as well as engaging and growing people on her team was recently acknowledged within BMS by the receipt of several national "Difference Maker" Awards and her selection as the 2014 Cardiovascular Field Medical recipient of the peer-nominated Allen Brown Memorial Leadership Award.

Prior to joining BMS,  Hawkins worked for MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland as the manager of decentralized pharmacy services and education as well as a clinical pharmacy coordinator. She remains an appointed prestige clinical pharmacy instructor at the University of Toledo College of Pharmacy and recently became a member of the Dean's Commission on Pharmacy Education. She is a member of several health care organizations including the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA), International Society of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR), American Heart Association (AHA), American College of Clinical Pharmacists (ACCP), National Pharmaceutical Association (NPhA) and the Cincinnati Pharmaceutical Association (CinPhA). Hawkins graduated magna cum laude from the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy with a bachelor of science degree in pharmacy. As a student at the College, she served as president of the UC Chapter of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA). She was also inducted into the Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society. She obtained her doctor of pharmacy degree (PharmD) from the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Hawkins completed an American Society of Hospital Pharmacy (ASHP) Accredited Residency in Clinical Pharmacy Practice at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

The GOLD (Graduate of the Last Decade) Alumni Achievement Award went to Kelly Dobos, PharmD ('12). Dobos is a cosmetic chemist and expert in both skin care and makeup product formulation. She began her formulations career in 2001 after obtaining a bachelor's in chemistry from Oberlin College, and moved into the cosmetics industry a few years later. Kelly graduated with an MBA from Cleveland State University as well as a master's of science in pharmaceutical sciences – cosmetic science track from the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy in 2012. Currently, she markets conventional and effect pigments in North and South America for Sun Chemical. She previously worked as a formulator for the Bonne Bell Company and GOJO Industries, and as a product development specialist for the Kao Brands Company.

Dobos has also provided her time and talent to further her profession. She served as an area director and the national treasurer for the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, winning the young scientist and chapter merit awards in the process. She has been published twice, has three patents and was named to the "top 20 in their 20's" list in Crain's Cleveland business magazine. She serves on several local Cincinnati boards including the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy Board of Advisors.