CPNP was honored to present the Saklad Memorial Award at the May 2011 CPNP Annual Meeting for the fourteenth time. This award celebrates the life and work of the late Judith J. Saklad. Dr. Saklad was a founding member of CPNP and nationally recognized as an innovator of pharmaceutical care to children and adults with serious mental disorders, developmental disabilities and mental retardation.
Roger W. Sommi, PharmD, FCCP, BCPP, was awarded the 2011 Saklad Memorial Award by CPNP at the CPNP Annual Meeting in Phoenix on May 2. Dr. Sommi is Professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy - Department of Pharmacy Practice, with a cross appointment in the Department of Psychiatry in the UMKC School of Medicine. He is also Research Director at the Psychopharmacy Research and Education Program at the Center for Behavioral Medicine (formerly Western Missouri Mental Health Center).
He received his BS in Pharmacy from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Utah. He completed his residency in Hospital Pharmacy at the University of Utah Hospital and Fellowship in Psychopharmacy at the University of Texas at Austin. He is board certified in Psychiatric Pharmacy Practice by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties and is a Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy.
Dr. Sommi is actively involved in the training and education of a variety of health professionals both in degree seeking programs and in postgraduate education. Dr. Sommi has been a preceptor for the ASHP accredited psychiatry specialty residency for the past 23 years. The program has graduated over 30 residents/fellows during this time. His area of research interest is primarily in outcomes associated with drug treatment of schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. A highlight of his research is being principle investigator for the Kansas City investigative site for the Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE) study, and on multiple clinical trials. He has over $2.5 million in funding and has numerous journal articles, book chapters and presentations.
Dr. Sommi is a founding member and Past President of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists. He has served CPNP on several committees including the Past President’s Council, strategic planning committee, and for the past several years as chair of the Business Development Committee. He was actively involved in the establishment of Psychiatric Pharmacy as a specialty, conducting the first survey of psychiatric pharmacists. He was part of the effort that led to the development of the recertification process for psychiatric pharmacy. Dr. Sommi is actively involved with the local NAMI chapter – providing numerous “Psychotropics Made Simple” presentations for the Crisis Intervention Team training program. The CIT program trains several police and Sherriff’s departments in the Kansas City area and throughout Missouri. He is also a consultant to several community mental health centers in Kansas City and Missouri. Dr. Sommi is also a member of ACCP, AACP, Missouri and Greater Kansas City Society of Health System Pharmacists.
Dr. Sommi’s acceptance speech is available on the CPNP website.
Poster and Award Chair Jeff Bishop, PharmD, BCPP, is pleased to recognize the Research and Practice Award winners and finalists selected at the recently completed 14th Annual Meeting. These awards recognize excellence in investigators presenting abstracts at the CPNP Annual Meeting. Award Finalists presented platform presentations during the meeting and displayed their posters during the meeting.
Innovative Practice Award Winner:
Monica Mathys, Pharm.D, CGP, BCPP, Associate Professor, Advanced Practice Pharmacist, TTUHSC School of Pharmacy, VA North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, TX. Utilizing 4th Year Pharmacy Students as Primary Pharmacy Members within Mental Health Interdisciplinary Teams
Innovative Practice Award Finalist:
Michele McCue, PharmD, PGY2 Psychiatric Pharmacy Resident, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA.Effect Of Clinical Pharmacist Involvement With The Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM) Team At VA San Diego
Original Research Award Winner:
Leigh Anne Nelson, PharmD, BCPP, Assistant Professor, University of Missouri-Kansas City, MO. Medication Adherence, Lipid and Glycemic Control in Patients with Psychotic Disorders Compared to Patients without Psychiatric Illness Receiving Care in a Veterans Affairs Medical System
Original Research Award Finalist:
Jack Chen, PharmD, FASCP, FCCP, BCPS, CGP, Associate Professor, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA. Rasagiline and Antidepressant Use in Patients With Parkinson Disease: Assessing the Occurrence of Serotonin Toxicity
Research Trainee Award Winner:
Rebecca L. Graham, PharmD, PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Resident, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA. Atypical Antipsychotic Polypharmacy: Safety and Economic Concerns
Research Trainee Award Finalist:
Meghan Morgan, PharmD, BCPP, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, VA Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care, Biloxi, MS. Pharmacotherapeutic Regimens in Patients with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Comorbid Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Therapeutic Case Report Award Winner:
Jonathan G Leung, PharmD, BCPS, Psychiatric Clinical Pharmacist, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA. Severe Hypothyroidism Presenting As Psychosis: A Case Of Myxedema Madness
Therapeutic Case Report Award Finalist:
Marina Grgas, PharmD, White River Junction VAMC, White River Junction, VT. Treatment of Schizophrenia and Co-Morbid Diphenhydramine Dependence with Clozapine: A Case Report