Two 2011 Alumni Honorees Represent Medical Campus

CINCINNATI—The University of Cincinnati (UC) has announced its 2011 Top Alumni, with two of the six honorees representing the medical campus.

The annual UC Day awards program honors alumni for outstanding professional and community leadership. It is scheduled for Thursday, June 9, at the Kingsgate Marriott Conference Center.

The William Howard Taft Medal for Notable Achievement—the highest of the six honors—was awarded to professor emeritus J. Richard Wuest, PharmD (’58, ’68, ’71), for lifelong excellence in his chosen field. A Cincinnati native, Wuest became a leader in pharmacy education and practice far beyond the UC community, extending his reach to the Ohio Board of Pharmacy and numerous professional organizations throughout the country. In addition to enabling pharmacists to become multidisciplinary health care resources, Wuest was a leader in developing warning labels for prescription bottle alerts and reminders.

"Dick has dedicated his life to the education of pharmacists and the development of the practice of pharmacy,” James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy Dean Daniel Acosta said in his nomination. "His awards and recognitions are too numerous to list. Suffice it to say that he is an unselfish and caring individual who has helped many people establish successful careers in pharmacy.”

Marilyn Edmondson, PhD (Nursing ’62 and College of Education ’76), of Smyrna, Ga., received the Mosaic Award, which is presented to an individual whose collaborative community leadership enhances a shared community by championing the cause of the underrepresented and promoting greater equity and opportunity for others.

Edmondson, who received her bachelor of science in nursing at UC, has served in higher education in both the traditional health care field and the public sector, yet has made her greatest impact working with organizations to bring health-related opportunities to African nations. Currently, her efforts are focused on the humanitarian organization CARE International, which provides an array of emergency relief, post-disaster rehabilitation and community-based projects to address countries’ most threatening problems.

To read more about the honorees, visit the UC alumni website.