Faculty & Staff Achievements

CPHS 2021 Faculty & Staff Awards

Campbell strives to provide a transformational learning experience that prepares students for servant leadership and equips them with the skills and habits to make a difference in the lives of others. Faculty and staff play a monumental role in cultivating leadership, professionalism, integrity, and diversity both in and out of the classroom. This year, six CPHS faculty and staff were recognized for their exemplary work, research, and student support.

CPHS Professors of the Year

This award is voted on by the students and recognizes faculty members who leave a mark on student lives.

The recipients for the CPHS Professor of the Year Awards were KATHLEEN JONES, instructor of Nursing, and DR. BRIDGET EUBANKS, assistant director of Clinical Education and assistant professor of Physical Therapy. Jones shared, “I will admit I was shocked to see my name nominated. I was truly honored and amazed that I was even considered this being my second-year teaching in a University. I felt badly that my students had to endure learning in a pandemic with limits to our clinicals, less socialization between their peer group due to social distancing, and the always ever-changing schedules of all their classes. I wanted their time to be spent wisely but fun, so I designed several games to concentrate on comprehension, while we saved analysis and application work for lecture, lab, and SIM. I was very proud of their effort while maintaining their sense of humor and community of kindness they displayed to one another. They were easy to teach because they were willing, and I could not have asked for a better group of young men and women to one day call my colleagues! This was a wonderful blessing to have received this award.”

Eubanks commented, “I was completely shocked to win this award. It was totally unexpected, but was equally touching. I feel so grateful and humbled to have been recognized for this award, especially given the company of previous awardees. I truly appreciate the opportunity to work with our students and my fellow colleagues at Campbell.” 

Outstanding Student Organization Advisor of the Year

This award is presented to an advisor who demonstrated a deep commitment to student advocacy and enhancing the student experience. The 2021 recipient showed an interest in students’ personal and academic achievements, was available and responsive to student needs, and displayed strong communication skills. The students voted that

DR. PAIGE BROWN (’06), assistant dean of Interprofessional Education, receive the Outstanding Student Organization Advisor of the Year Award. Brown advises Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International (CPFI), North Carolina Association of Pharmacists (NCAP), Phi Delta Chi Pharmaceutical Fraternity (PDC), and Student Leadership With IPE (SWIPE).

“Receiving this award was a wonderful surprise and a great way to wrap up the academic year. Working with students is what makes me love my job the most. Advising students as they serve in leadership roles for student organizations is a blessing and a gift. I have the opportunity to watch them grow personally and professionally as they become leaders of the pharmacy profession and witness firsthand the impact they are making in the lives of others. It is an honor to work with each student organization and get to celebrate their accomplishments,” Brown shared. 

2021 Excellence in Research Award

This award is given to a faculty member who makes a unique contribution to science with arguably the most impactful research he has conducted. The Dean appoints a selection committee who then reviews the nominations. The nominations are blinded from the nominee. DR. STEVEN JOHNSON, associate professor of Pharmacy Practice, received the Excellence in Research Award for his work on Clostridium difficile infections. Johnson’s nomination letter stated, “this research is significant, valuable, hypothesis-generating, and practical. When you recognize that a CPHS pharmacist faculty was the primary researcher on a collection of work of this magnitude, you must call it ‘remarkable!’” “I am extremely honored to be recognized for this award,” Johnson said. “Since the start of my career, I have wanted to make an impact with my research and improve quality of care for patients. I am grateful for the mentors and collaborators who have made this work possible.” 

Deans Award in Excellence for Teaching

This award recognizes and honors exemplary contributions to education. The 2021 recipient exceeded standards of excellence and elevated students to a deeper level of learning by encouraging them to make a sustained and substantial influence on how they process and put information into practice.

LAURA GERSTNER, director of Clinical Education and associate professor of Physician Assistant Practice, was the recipient of the Deans Award in Excellence for Teaching.

“I am so grateful to have been recognized by Dr. Adams and CPHS with this award,” said Gerstner. “When I made the change from my career as a clinically practicing PA to PA education, I took a leap of faith; but now eleven years later, I can honestly say that teaching and mentoring the next generation of PAs is what I am called to do. I couldn’t be more proud of our program, my fellow faculty and staff, students, and alumni for the success of our program over the past decade.” 

The Orange Pen Award

The Orange Pen Award is given to a faculty or staff member who goes above and beyond and embodies the mission and spirit of CPHS. This award honors someone who creates a nurturing environment that extends outside of the classroom and focuses more on the personal development of students.

Admissions Coordinator, LYNANNE FOWLE, received the Orange Pen Award. With COVID-19 restrictions, many international students faced tremendous hurdles, delays, and restrictions on entering the country. The Pharmaceutical Sciences program adapted to the students’ needs and allowed students a delayed start. Fowle went above and beyond her normal duties by picking students up from the airport, transporting them around town, taking them to open new bank accounts, helping them swap their cell phone plans, and even accompanying them to housing meetings. With the assistance from some of her local contacts, Fowle was also able to provide the students with basic household items like furniture and dishes. Fowle stated, “Honestly, I was very surprised and honored. I don’t help our international students for any recognition purposes, so I’m a bit embarrassed by all the attention. I help them because we invited them to Campbell to further their education and then discovered that they don’t have access to the same resources as our domestic students. It’s an area I am passionate about improving so we can make sure they have access to food and some recreation, and can get to appointments and things that we take for granted our students can manage on their own.” 

Campbell faculty receives the Milton W. Skolaut Leadership Award

Duke Pharmacy has a tradition of recognizing an individual who demonstrates outstanding leadership to the profession of pharmacy.

DR. D. BYRON MAY, professor of Pharmacy Practice, was recognized by the Residency Program Directors Committee as an outstanding leader in pharmacy practice. May was awarded the 2021 Milton W. Skolaut Leadership Award.

Dr. Paul W. Bush established the Milton W. Skolaut Leadership Award in 2014. Bush named this award in honor of Milton W. Skolaut, who was a past Director of Pharmacy at Duke Hospital and a nationally recognized pioneer in the pharmacy profession.

May graduated with his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Florida and completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at Duke Medical Center. He joined the faculty at Campbell as an Internal Medicine clinical specialist practicing at Duke University Hospital in 1989.

In August 2012, May became the chairman for the Department of Pharmacy Practice upon the retirement of Dr. Larry Swanson. He oversaw a Department of more than 35 faculty, four staff and seven pharmacy residents. He continues to teach in the areas of internal medicine and infectious diseases. His scholarship interests and publications are in the areas of medicine, infectious diseases and education. May was director of the pharmacy practice residency at Duke for 12 years and co-director of a specialty residency in internal medicine/infectious disease/ academics for 15 years.

May shared, “I am honored and humbled to be receiving this award. To be in the same company as the past recipients is truly a highlight of my career.”

As it is customary, May delivered the keynote address at the year-end Duke Pharmacy Residency Certificate Ceremony. “There are many who are eligible, but few so highly deserving of such recognition,” remarked Dr. Richard Drew, vice-chair of Research & Scholarship and professor of Pharmacy Practice. 

AACP Award for Excellence in Experiential Education presented to three CPHS faculty and staff

CPHS has a unique model of positioning clinical faculty in sites across North Carolina. While many locations faced COVID restrictions in the form of closures or limited personnel, Campbell’s faculty connections through various sites proved to be a saving grace for pharmacy students who needed to complete experiential education during the pandemic.

Three faculty and staff put forth extraordinary efforts to keep experiential education running smoothly for students despite so many unknowns.

DR. TINA THORNHILL (‘91), vice chair for Experiential & Professional Education and associate professor of Pharmacy Practice; SHAWN CARRILLO, director of Experiential Education; and PHYLLIS STRICKLAND, administrative assistant for Experiential Education, were recipients of the AACP Award for Excellence in Experiential Education. The award recognizes the dedication and innovations to the experiential curriculum in 2020-2021.

“COVID has caused many complications, delays, and cancellations,” remarked CPHS Dean Michael L. Adams. “Despite countless hurdles, faculty, staff, and students showed tremendous strength and adaptability in the face of adversity. I am proud of the ways CPHS faculty and staff advocated for students to ensure they remained on track in their academic endeavors. Congratulations to Tina, Shawn, and Phyllis on a job well done during an extremely difficult and stressful time.” 

DR. J. ANDREW BOWMAN (’93), director of Continuing Professional Education and assistant professor of Pharmacy Practice, was elected to serve a second five-year term as the Southeastern District Representative for the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy (NCBOP).

DR. JUSTIN M. GAMBINI, assistant professor of Physician Assistant Practice, graduated with a Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) degree from The University of Lynchburg School of PA Medicine in a commencement ceremony held on May 21, 2021. DR. EMILY GHASSEMI (’15), clinical assistant professor of Pharmacy Practice, and DR. SPENCER LIVENGOOD, clinical assistant professor of Pharmacy Practice, were honored by the Pharmacy Class of 2021 with the Preceptor of the Year Award for outstanding contributions to pharmacy education.

DR. MIRANDA VAN TILBURG, professor of Clinical Research and chair of the Institutional Review Board, received the D. P. Russ, Jr. and Walter S. Jones, Sr. Alumni Award for Research Excellence. DR. TONYA WILLINGHAM, assistant director and assistant professor of Nursing, has been selected to participate in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) Elevating Leaders in Academic Nursing Program.

DR. BROCK WOODIS, associate professor of Pharmacy Practice, was honored by the Pharmacy Class of 2021 with the Mentor of the Year Award.

DR. CHILEATHA WYNN, assistant professor of Physician Assistant Practice, graduated with a Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) degree from A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS) in a commencement ceremony held on June 4, 2021.