VCU Pharm.D. student first to receive VPhA’s Morgan Award
Thuy Tran, a fourth-year Pharm.D. student at VCU School of Pharmacy, is the inaugural recipient of the Harvey B. Morgan Award for Advancing Health Policy. She received the award during the 2015 Virginia Pharmacists Association Annual Convention in Williamsburg.
The award, created as part of the VPhA Research & Education Foundation’s Morgan Institute Fund, was created to recognize individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service, activity and commitment in the area of policy development and related activity and who have applied their knowledge of pharmacy and policy to provide education and information to others.
In a statement, the Morgan Institute Board of Advisors said it found “Thuy’s record of work and service in the area of health policy exceptional and inspiring. … All of the student applicants were excellent, as were the letters of recommendation. The decision was a difficult one.”
Tran said, “This is truly a humbling recognition. This would not have been possible without the mentorship of Drs. [Gary] Matzke, [Jennifer] Neal, [Evan] Sisson, [Dave] Dixon and [Brigitte] Sicat. It truly took a village to raise this child!”
The “village” produced a busy student with a passion for policy. Among her many and varied activities in the areas of advocacy and policy, Tran has:
- Served as policy co-vice president for VPhA-Virginia Academy of Student Pharmacists for two years and as member of the Student Pharmacist Policy and Advocacy Forum Executive Committee for three years
- Helped plan and implement the inaugural SPPAF colloquium in conjunction with last year’s VPhA Midyear Conference and chaired the second colloquium this year, communicating with pharmacy schools across Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland to promote the role of student pharmacists in policy and advocacy
- Worked with former VASP president Jake Buck to align the VCU School of Pharmacy student organizations’ legislative chairs and presidents to reach more students, especially first-year students who can witness the importance of organizational collaboration. Results included events such as SOP alumnus and Virginia Del. Keith Hodges (B.S. ’89) joining SPPAF for a roundtable discussion on how pharmacists in the General Assembly can affect policy; alumna Cindy Warriner (B.S. ’86), as a representative of the Virginia Board of Pharmacy, discussing the lobbying process; a “Mock Legislative Day” session to educate students on how to talk to legislators about pharmacy issues; and a discussion centering on an AJPE opinion article about proposals for a two-tier pharmacy paradigm.
“My interpretation of health policy extend beyond talking to my peers or mentors about the issues relating to and affecting pharmacy,” Tran explained. “I believe it should also be integrated into how we present ourselves as a profession when working with other health professionals.
“A more effective approach to advocating for pharmacy and health policy is through action. We need to show people what pharmacy can do to benefit the patient’s outcome and improve the team’s productivity. Simply by applying our academic education in practice, at health screenings or community outreach events, we are advocating for the change and advancement of pharmacy.”
This, she continued, is why she is so passionate about practice settings such as the Center for High Blood Pressure, VCU’s Ambulatory Care Clinic and outreach initiatives including Remote Area Medical and Mission of Mercy.
In recognition of these efforts and more, Tran received a plaque, $1,000 and a stipend to attend the VPhA Annual Convention.
The Harvey B. Morgan Institute of Government & Public Service is named for the 1955 MCV School of Pharmacy alumnus who served as a delegate for Virginia’s 98th District from 1980 to 2012. Morgan, who presented the award to Tran, had noted earlier that all four Virginia pharmacy schools embraced the idea. “It’s really exciting,” he said, “taking the pharmacy aspect into the political aspect.”
Members of the Morgan Institute board encourage all Virginia pharmacy students to apply for the award “next year and in the years to come.”
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