Chronic Care Forum Update and Awards
Chronic Care Practice Forum Update Keely Ray, Past Chair, Chronic Care Practice Forum On March 15th, 2017, the Chronic Care Practice Forum (CCPF) kicked off their Annual Meeting at the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, NC. The three-day event consisted of 15 hours of ACPE-accredited continuing education and provided attendees the opportunity to network with colleagues and exhibitors. Attendance at the Forum included 96 pharmacists, 12 students, 2 residents, as well as 1 out-of-state pharmacist. Program planning for next year’s meeting is already underway. During this year’s meeting, the CCPF recognized two pharmacists for their outstanding work in chronic care pharmacy. The NCAP Chronic Care Pharmacist of the Year Award recognizes a pharmacist who demonstrates an advancement of chronic care for patients and/or pharmacists or other practitioners over the past year or longer. This year’s recipient of the award is Rhonda Gentry. Rhonda has been a pharmacist for the past 29 years. She received her BS in pharmacy from University of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1988. She has been involved in chronic care for over 20 years, holds her BCGP, and has been a mentor for countless students and colleagues, including myself. She currently practices as a consultant pharmacist for Neil Medical Group. It is in the capacity as CCPF’s Chair and Past Chair, Rhonda served and provided direction and counsel.
Rhonda Gentry
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At the outset of her term, she set the tone as a catalyst for advancing our Forum, long-term care pharmacy practice, and the profession as a whole. While serving on the NCAP Board of Directors, she persisted in her quest for enhanced transparency regarding Board functions and Forum insight on key issues including, but not limited to, the organization’s financial status, forum-directed budgeting, and clarification of Board member roles and responsibilities. She was instrumental in spearheading the initiative for our forum to establish its very own mission and vision statements. Her leadership and contributions undoubtedly will serve as part of the foundation for our Forum’s lasting legacy, and her advocacy for improved geriatric care in our profession can also be evidenced by her involvement with ASCP. In addition to this role and continued service to our organization and members, Rhonda is also active in her community and has served as Sustaining Advisor to the Board of Directors for the Junior League of Asheville.