Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association

Educational Foundation

508 North Third Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101-1199

Phone: 717-234-6151 fax: 717-236-1618

For Immediate Release: For more information, please contact:

March 9, 2015 Pat Epple at

Foundation Announces Grant Recipients for 2015

The Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association Educational Foundation recently announced its 2015 grant recipients. The Foundation awarded five grants of up to $1,000 each for the purpose of the exploration of innovative and best pharmacy practices, especially focusing on patient centered outcomes. The recipients and their respective studies included:

Hailey Choi, PharmD, an Academic and Research Fellow with Duquesne University Mylan School of Pharmacy, for her study “Medication Discrepancies in the Dental Record: Implications on Oral Health.” Her co-investigator is Autumn Stewart, PharmD, BCACP.

Gale Garmong, PharmD, PGY-1 community practice resident with University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and Rite Aid Pharmacy, for his study “Impact of Pharmacist Coaching on Targeted Medication Review Completion.” His co-investigators are Lucas A. Berenbrok, PharmD; Stephanie Harriman McGrath, PharmD; Kristine L. Ossman, PharmD; Olufunmilola Kamilat, BPharm, PhD; Jennifer Bacci, PharmD.

Michele F. Hebda, PharmD, TTS, an Academic and Research Fellow with Duquesne University, for her study “Evaluation of the Impact of Pharmacist-run ‘Courage to Quit’ Group Tobacco Cessation Classes on Abstinence Rates in Patients Prescribed Varenicline or Bupropion in a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Practice.” Her co-investigator is Jamie L. McConaha, PharmD, CGP, BCACP, TTS, CDE.

Kyle McCormick, PharmD, community practice resident at Gatti Pharmacy and University of Pittsburgh, for his study “Patient Activation as a Measure of Medication List Accuracy.” His co-investigators are Jennifer Bacci, PharmD; Stephanie Smith Cooney, PharmD; Randall Smith, PhD; Alyssa Kunkel, PharmD Candidate 2016.

Michelle Myers, student pharmacist at the University of Pittsburgh, for her study “Pharmacist—Led Improvements to Care Coordination for Patients on Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics Transitioning from Hospital to Home.” Her co-investigators are Olufunmilola K. Odukoya, BPharm, PhD; Tanya Fabian, PharmD, PhD; Bryan A. Norman, PhD.

Each has a one-year timetable for completing their research study and submitting a report to the Foundation of their findings, which are shared with the membership of the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association.

The PPA Educational Foundation’s mission is to foster research, education, and the development of practice models that advance patient care. It currently provides research grants and supports both the student pharmacist pain counseling competition and the student poster presentations at PPA’s Mid-Year Conference. The Foundation depends on individual charitable contributions for its work.

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