Ashby Receives 2011 Harvey A.K. Whitney Lecture Award

Highest honor in health-system pharmacy recognizes Ashby’s outstanding contributions to the profession.

By Becky Ceraul
July 11, 2011

Daniel M. Ashby, MS, FASHP, noted health-system pharmacy leader and visionary and an adjunct clinical professor at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, has been named the recipient of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists’ (ASHP) 2011 Harvey A.K. Whitney Lecture Award.

Ashby has been the senior director of pharmacy at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, in Baltimore, Md., since 1999, where he reestablished and expanded the pharmacy residency programs.

Ashby is renowned as a dynamic visionary who has devoted many years of service to health-system pharmacy, professional pharmacy organizations, pharmacy education, and pharmacy research. He is also known as a champion of residency programs and has personally mentored more than 150 pharmacy residents.

Ashby’s leadership includes serving the profession in numerous key positions, including serving as president and chairman of the ASHP Board of Directors (2003-2004), chair of the Accreditation Council Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (2009-2011), member of the ASHP Board of Directors (1998-2001), member of the ASHP Foundation Board of Directors (2004-2005), and chair of the external advisory committee of the ASHP and ASHP Foundation Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative.

Ashby has authored numerous professional articles, textbook chapters, and given presentations on pharmacy practice, pharmacy management, and patient safety. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy and his Master of Science in hospital pharmacy administration from Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich.

“As an adjunct clinical professor in our Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science (PPS), Dan is always willing to go the extra mile to provide valuable input,” says Magaly Rodriguez de Bittner, PharmD, professor and chair of PPS. “He is a strong advocate for the School’s residency program and a great role model to practitioners and residents. As chair of the Department’s Health Systems Committee, he has provided tremendous guidance on how the School, in partnership with health systems in the state, can markedly improve health outcomes for all Marylanders. He is a great advocate for pharmacy and a leader in our state and truly deserving of this honor.”

“Dan’s involvement at our School has been invaluable over the years,” says Natalie D. Eddington, PhD, FAAPS, professor and dean of the School of Pharmacy. “He is a wealth of knowledge and experience that we turn to time and again on issues related to health system pharmacy. We celebrate this achievement with Dan and are happy to have him as part of the School of Pharmacy family.”

ASHP has administered the Harvey A. K. Whitney Lecture Award, established in 1950 by the Southeastern Michigan Society of Hospital Pharmacists, since 1963. Harvey A. K. Whitney, ASHP’s first president, was an editor, author, educator, practitioner, and leader in hospital pharmacy. Nominations for the award are made by past recipients and ASHP members. The winner is selected by a majority vote of past honorees.

Ashby received the award on June 14 during ASHP’s Summer Meeting in Denver.