UC College of Pharmacy Wins Crystal APPLE Award

CINCINNATI

—The James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy at the University of Cincinnati (UC) along with Michael Hegener, PharmD, and Community Pharmacy Care (CPC) have been awarded the 2008 Crystal APPLE by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP).

The Crystal APPLE (Academic-Practice Partnerships for Learning Excellence) award recognizes the contributions of faculty and administrators in colleges and schools of pharmacy and their collaborating “practice partners” —pharmacies where staff conduct and support experiential education and provide students with clinical experience.

UC’s College of Pharmacy collaborates with CPC, a three-store, neighborhood pharmacy chain in Covington, Ky., owned an operated by five members of the Ruwe family, all of whom graduated from UC’s College of Pharmacy.

“Education works both ways; we provide the experience for the students and they bring us fresh energy and talent, which keeps us up to date,” says Don Ruwe (class of 1958). Don’s brother, Paul (class of 1960), purchased CPC in 1983, and Don came on board shortly after; and so did their three, UC trained, pharmacist daughters: Paula, Elizabeth and Jeannie.

The award also recognizes Hegener, the on-site program coordinator and preceptor (educational instructor) at CPC. Hegener is an adjunct assistant professor of clinical pharmacy at UC and completed a pharmacy practice residency with an emphasis in community care at UC in 2006.

"Having the opportunity to precept student pharmacists and provide direct patient care is personally rewarding, and being nationally recognized for my time and effort makes it all the more fulfilling,“ comments Hegener, who in 2007 received the College of Pharmacy’s “Preceptor of the Year” award.  

“The Crystal APPLE awards program seeks to identify the most exemplary clinical education sites,” says Lucinda Maine, PhD, AACP executive vice president and CEO.  

Only eight colleges and schools of pharmacy—out of approximately 100 nationwide—receive the APPLE award annually. 

Michael Doherty is the director of experiential training at UC’s College of Pharmacy and coordinates the experiential education program.  “We are very fortunate to have so many outstanding practice partners to collaborate with here at the College.  The fact that we are being recognized for providing our students unique and exemplary learning experiences is a tremendous honor."

UC administrators and their practice partners will be honored with a Tiffany & Co. crystal apple and plaque at the 2009 AACP awards meeting in Washington, D.C.