The College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP) is pleased to announce the selection of Matthew A. Fuller, PharmD, BCPP, FASHP, as the recipient of the 2018 Judith J. Saklad Memorial Award. Dr. Fuller is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Psychiatry at the Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

This award is presented annually to a senior psychiatric pharmacy practitioner who has achieved a level of professional distinction and represents the qualities and ideals of professional enthusiasm, a passion for optimizing patient care, and continuing dedication to the practice of psychiatric pharmacy. The Saklad Memorial Award is named after the late Judith J. Saklad, and will be presented at the 2018 Annual Meeting on the evening of Sunday, April 22.

Those who nominated Dr. Fuller had this to say:

  • Dr. Fuller exemplifies the dedication to psychiatric pharmacy practice and training that this award represents.
  • I often find myself even as a practitioner many years out from my residency using Matthew as a mentor and resource when I have career questions or choices. I am thankful for having been one of his residents, I would not be the practitioner, educator or pharmacist I am today without him.
  • I cannot think of a more deserving person to be considered for the Saklad award as he absolutely embodies the criteria which she represented- a level of professional distinction and a continuing dedication to the practice of psychiatric pharmacy. He represents the qualities and ideals of professional enthusiasm, in addition to possessing a passion for optimizing patient care.
  • Dr. Fuller has had a total of thirty-three past psychiatric pharmacy residents since 1995 and he informally trains numerous other pharmacy residents, medical residents, pharmacy and medical students and trainees of other disciplines. He is an outstanding preceptor, pharmacy residency director, and mentor. He is a role model not only in pharmacy practice, but in his involvement within research, psychiatric organizations, as well as locally, nationally, and internationally. His passion for psychiatric pharmacy is unique and deserves to be recognized.

Dr. Fuller received his BS in pharmacy from Ohio Northern University and received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Cincinnati. He completed a residency in hospital pharmacy from Bethesda Hospital in Zanesville, OH. Following the completion of his training he joined the Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Fuller has over 34 years of experience as a pharmacist. His main practice site is acute inpatient psychiatry. Dr. Fuller is currently a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Psychiatry at the Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He is also a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH, and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Toledo. He is also the Director of an ASHP accredited PGY2 Psychiatric Pharmacy Practice Residency Program.

Dr. Fuller has received several awards including the Upjohn Excellence in Research Award and the OSHP Hospital Pharmacist of the Year Award in 1994. In 1996 he received the CSHP Evelyn Gray Scott Award (Pharmacist of the Year). In 2001 he received the OSHP Pharmacy Practice Research Award and in 2003 and 2015 he received Outstanding Contribution Awards from the VA Healthcare System of Ohio as well as multiple performance awards. Dr. Fuller is Board Certified in Psychiatric Pharmacy and is an ASHP Fellow. He is a Past President of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists and is the current President of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists Foundation. He is a member of local, state, and national pharmacy organizations and is active in scholarly pursuits. From 1998-2015, Dr. Fuller was a member of Lexi-Comp’s editorial advisory panel and is the author of multiple editions of two psychotropic drug information handbooks and a co-author of a drug interactions handbook.

Congratulations to Dr. Fuller!