Professionalism awards: Kudos to Griffin, Higbea, Smith and Stiene
To see more photos from the professionalism ceremony, please visit the School of Pharmacy Facebook page.
VCU School of Pharmacy’s first Student Professionalism Excellence Awards ceremony recognized four of the school’s most professional students – as determined by their peers and faculty — as well as seven fellow nominees.
The 2011 nominees were P2s James Behler, Catherine Floroff, Ashley Higbea, Bradford McDaniel and Harriett Lesley Smith; and P3s Richard Byrd, Maria Duricko Griffin, Hillary Hudgins, Margaret LoPresti, Lindsey Madures and Erika Stiene.
The awards were created to recognize P1, P2 and/or P3 class members who have exhibited the highest ideals of professionalism during their tenure at the school. The first call for peer nominations garnered 11 nomination packages.
Brigitte Sicat, Professionalism Committee chairwoman, said, “The nominations impressively included justification forms from over 40 students who offered their reflections — based on the VCU School of Pharmacy Attributes of Professionalism card – about the professionalism of their peers.”
As she noted during the ceremony, nominees were engaged with local, national and international communities and exhibited compassion, respect and professional presence.
Nomination packages included a nomination form, current CV and three justification forms documenting why the nominee deserved the award. Nominators were asked to consider students who had demonstrated excellence in some or all of these areas: scholarship and commitment to excellence, accountability and initiative, self-growth and self-care, responsibility and sense of duty, compassion and respect for others, integrity and trustworthiness, teamwork and professional demeanor, and concern for the welfare of patients. Nominees also must have demonstrated exceptional service and commitment to the profession through involvement in professional organizations and other extracurricular committees.
Faculty were offered the opportunity to support any and all nominations and to indicate any minor or major professionalism concerns they might have.
2011 nominees were recognized at the April 13 ceremony in the Smith Building’s first-floor student commons area. Receiving the awards were Maria Duricko Griffin, Ashley Higbea, Harriet Lesley Smith and Erika Stiene. Introducing these students, Sicat noted some of the factors that set them apart, such as “willing to help others, always prepared and motivated,” “takes responsibility for events and preparation,” “strong work ethic, truly cares for patients” and “on time, group advocate, advocate for patients.”
After congratulating the recipients and all nominees, Dean Victor Yanchick said, “The committee had to make some tough decisions. I am so proud to be the dean here. I hear nothing but positive comments about our students here and at professional meetings.
“I hope we will see more nominations [next year] and know that you will continue to reflect well on the school and the profession.”
A Student Professionalism Award also will be given to a P4 student ; that recipient will be nominated and selected by the school’s Scholarship and Awards Committee.
The School of Pharmacy Professionalism Committee, appointed by the dean and chaired by Sicat, includes faculty/staff Malgorzata Dukat, Laura Georgiadis, Cindy Kirkwood, Craig Kirkwood, Leticia Moczygemba, Tom Reinders and Evan Sisson; and students Tamara Davidson (P3), Bonnie Dennis (P4), Corey Estoll (P1) and Joey Shao (P2).
Bradford McDaniel, Richard Byrd, Catherine Floroff, Lindsey Madures, Harriett Lesley Smith, Maria Duricko Griffin,
Ashley Higbea, Erika Stiene, Hillary Hudgins, Margaret LoPresti, James Behler and Brigitte Sicat.