AFPE NEWS
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Ellen L. Woods, President
(703) 875-3095
The 2018 American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education Mentor of the Year is
Kathleen M. Giacomini, PhD.
September 10, 2018–Alexandria, VA–Dr. Kathleen M. Giacomini is the 2018 AFPE Bill Heller Mentor of the Year Award recipient. The Bill Heller Mentor of the Year Award recognizes faculty who are nominated by their students, current or past AFPE Fellows, for their guidance, dedication, leadership, instruction, and encouragement. Dr. Giacomini is a world-renowned pharmacologist with many years of research experience focused on transporter biology and pharmacogenomics. Her research is particularly focused on the role of influx transporters involved in drug disposition and targeting. In the early 2000s, Dr. Giacomini and her research group began a comprehensive research program focused on the pharmacogenomics of membrane transporters. Her NIH funded Center, the Pharmacogenomics of Membrane Transporters Center, part of the NIH Pharmacogenomics Research Network (PGRN), was widely recognized as the leading research unit in the world for the discovery, functional characterization and clinical relevance of polymorphisms in drug transporters from 2000 to 2015. Kathy has been recognized by many awards and is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine. She is a recipient of an honorary doctoral degree from Uppsala University, and was awarded the North American Scientific Achievement Award from the International Society for the Study of Xenobiotics in 2017. Most recently in 2018, Dr. Giacomini was awarded the Volwiler Research Achievement Award and was recognized by her peers as one of the leading researchers in Pharmaceutical Sciences. We are so grateful for Dr. Giacomini’s contributions as a mentor.
Upon hearing of her award, Dr. Giacomini said: “Mentoring is the most meaningful thing I have done as a faculty member. I have been fortunate to have great mentors who have helped me, and in appreciation, I have devoted my life to giving back to young people, helping them in their careers and lives.”
About AFPE
AFPE supports the education of pharmaceutical scientists and strengthens pharmacy education at U.S. schools of pharmacy through scholarships and fellowshipsthat provide recognition and financial support to outstanding pharmaceutical science graduate students, PharmD candidates, and pharmacy faculty researchers. AFPE uses annual tax-deductible contributions from corporations, foundations, associations, alumni, friends and former Fellows to support the robust pharmaceutical education scholarship and fellowship programs.
American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education
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