Awardees Honored for Excellence in Patient Care and the Profession of Pharmacy
Memphis — The Tennessee Pharmacists Association (TPA), the only professional association representing pharmacists in all practice areas across the state, today announced its Memphis-area award recipients. Each honoree was recognized during the annual TPA Summer Meeting on June 17 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
“These professionals are at the forefront of the profession and through their work are advancing pharmacy innovation, enhancing patient care and adding value to the healthcare system,” said Anthony Pudlo, TPA’s Executive Director. “We are proud of this distinguished group for their well-deserved achievements and look forward to seeing how their leadership continues to inspire and set the bar for others.”
Of this year's thirteen statewide honorees, three are from Memphis. Recipients include:
Sheila Lankford Mitchell, PharmD | Bowl of Hygeia Award Recipient (Memphis, Tenn.)
Dr. Mitchell previously worked as the Founding Director of Pharmacy Services for Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare Germantown Hospital and currently serves as the Founding Dean of Union University College of Pharmacy. She has served with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Tennessee Board of Pharmacy, National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, Tennessee Pharmacists Association, and many others, representing not only her long-standing advocacy for the pharmacy profession, but also her devotion to giving back to the community. Dr. Mitchell’s commitment to community involvement, passion for pharmacy and ability to represent and serve with integrity and passion make her an asset to the profession of pharmacy.
Established in 1958, the Bowl of Hygeia Award recognizes pharmacists who have outstanding records of civic leadership in their communities and encourages pharmacists to take active roles in the affairs of their respective communities. The award is presented annually by participating state pharmacist associations, including those in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Athena L. V. Hobbs, PharmD, BCIDP | Health-System Pharmacist of the Year Award Recipient (Memphis, Tenn.)
Dr. Hobbs is the Infectious Diseases Coordinator for the Methodist Le Bonheur (MLH) system in Memphis, where she co-chairs the MLH Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee. Within the last 2 years, Dr. Hobbs has been a part of 3 research grants, published 15 articles in peer-reviewed journals, and presented 7 abstracts and 4 presentations on a local or regional level. Additionally, one of her articles was selected for the 2021 American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy (AJHP) Top Twenty-Five articles of the year.
The Health-System Pharmacist of the Year award is presented to a pharmacist who has made significant contributions to the profession of pharmacy and health-system practice. This award recognizes the development and implementation of advanced health-system pharmacy practice programs, research, and/or publications; personal enrichment endeavors through specialized training and advanced degrees; and demonstrated leadership qualities.
Stephan Foster, PharmD | Barbara McAndrew Herald Award Recipient (Atoka, Tenn.)
Dr. Foster has trained thousands of pharmacists as immunizers and has advocated tirelessly for the role of pharmacists in public health. He has generously shared his wealth of knowledge and played a valuable role in equipping pharmacists to be key members of the health care team both in their communities and nationally.
Nationally, Dr. Foster has been honored with the Hugo H. Schaefer Award (2022), APhA Invisible Superhero Immunization Recognition (2018) and the APhA Outstanding Career Achievement Award (2010). From the University of Tennessee (UT) College of Pharmacy, Dr. Foster earned the Student Government Association Executive Council Excellence in Teaching Award three times, the UT Outstanding Alumnus Award, and was named Teacher of the Year and Most Influential Professor. He was the TPA Tom C. Sharp Pharmacist of the Year honoree in 2010.
The Barbara McAndrew Herald Award is supported by Germantown pharmacist Paula Bailey Hinson.
For more information, please visit www.tnpharm.org/2022awards.
The Tennessee Pharmacists Association represents the profession of pharmacy across the state, united for the purpose of promoting safe and effective medication use to improve the health of patients. Since 1886, the Tennessee Pharmacists Association has preserved and advanced the interests of the profession and has served the professional needs of all pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians. For more information, please visit www.tnpharm.org.