UC's Jane Pruemer, PharmD, Named Top Preceptor at National Level

Jane Pruemer, PharmD, a professor of pharmacy at the University of Cincinnati James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy and oncology clinical pharmacy specialist at University of Cincinnati Medical Center (UCMC) and UC Health’s Barrett Center, has been named the recipient of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Research and Education Foundation’s 2013 Pharmacy Residency Excellence Preceptor Award.

"It is truly an honor ... I am reminded of all those who mentored and trained me, as well as those whom I have mentored and trained. When I think of all the lives of the patients whom we have touched, I am sincerely amazed,” says Pruemer, who will be formally presented the award Saturday, Dec. 7, at the 2013 ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting in Orlando, Fla.

"To have a strong preceptor, especially in the area of oncology where many of the drugs have such severe side-effects, is key to the successful training of specialty pharmacists,” such as the dozens who have completed their residencies under Pruemer, says Neil MacKinnon, PhD, dean of UC’s College of Pharmacy.

However, of equal importance, he says, is the ability of a mentor such as Pruemer to convey to pharmacy residents that it’s not on the science behind the medications but the "huge role that one-on-one personal interaction” means in patient care—especially in an area of pharmacy with an emotional, patient population.

Indeed, Pruemer is widely known in academia and the clinical setting for inspiring pharmacy residents to continue working in the oncology setting and also for being a compassionate mentor. She encourages her residents to take on teaching roles and opportunities to publish or present, providing them with multiple valuable experiences that they continue throughout their careers.

"Residency preceptors and program directors have the opportunity and the responsibility to influence, motivate and cultivate the next generation of pharmacy practice leaders,” says Stephen J. Allen, ASHP Foundation executive vice president. "In administering the Pharmacy Residency Excellence Awards Program, we work to share the success stories of these recipients with all residency program directors and preceptors as examples of successful strategies that they may consider applying in their own residency training programs.”

Since 1986 Pruemer has practiced as an oncology clinical pharmacy specialist at UCMC, where she is the founding program director for an ASHP-accredited specialty residency in oncology pharmacy practice and currently serves as the residency program director for the PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency. Her practice includes ambulatory oncology, palliative care and sickle cell anemia services, and she runs a smoking cessation program at the Barrett Center.

She has held various offices and served on several committees for national and state pharmacy associations, including the ASHP Oncology Specialty Practice Group. She was a member of the Advisory Board and Interim Executive Committee for ASHP’s Section of Clinical Specialists and Scientists and served on the ASHP Commission on Credentialing as its chair.

She was a member of the Oncology Pharmacy Specialty Council of the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties. She served on the Executive Board of the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association. Her primary research interest is the supportive care of cancer patients.

Pruemer received a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy (’80) and her doctor of pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy (’83). She completed an American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)-accredited residency in clinical pharmacy at the Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania (’85) and a fellowship in pharmacokinetics/oncology at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Sciences (’86).

For more information about the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy visit http://pharmacy.uc.edu/   or for more information about the ASHP this awards program and the recipients, visit www.ashpfoundation.org/residencyawards.