Essex Community Pharmacist Inducted in Dean’s Hall of Fame

Owner of Fink’s Pharmacy recognized for his leadership, entrepreneurship, and passion for independent pharmacy.

By Becky Ceraul
May 7, 2012

Phil Fink, BSP ’79, owner of Fink’s Pharmacy in Essex, was inducted on April 24 into the Dean’s Hall of Fame for Distinguished Community Pharmacists as part of the annual banquet of the School’s student chapter of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA).

The award, created in 2006, recognizes leadership, entrepreneurship, and passion for independent pharmacy and is presented each year to a pharmacist who embodies those characteristics.

In selecting Fink for this year’s honor, School of Pharmacy Dean Natalie D. Eddington, PhD, FAAPS, FCP said Fink lives those ideals on a daily basis.

Fink graduated from the School of Pharmacy in 1979 and went to work in the community pharmacy setting, first as a staff pharmacist and then as a manager with Revco Drugstores. With a goal of owning a pharmacy, Fink knew he would need the business acumen to be successful. So he went back to school at Loyola at night and received an MBA degree. In 1982, he purchased what was then Eastern Pharmacy from Fred Abramson who is now an assistant professor of pharmacy practice and science at the School of Pharmacy.

“Since then, Phil has embraced the ever changing pharmacy and business landscapes,” says Eddington. “Recently, he introduced robotics to his pharmacy in order to free up his pharmacists’ time to focus on patient care through collaborative practice and diabetes education.”

As a long-time School of Pharmacy preceptor, Fink is a vital component of the School’s PharmD curriculum. His store offers both introductory and advance pharmacy practice experiences for students across all years of the curriculum. “Phil has mentored approximately 100 students over the years,” Eddington says. “At his store, students have learned the tools of the community pharmacy trade, working the counter, performing patient counseling, participating in community health fairs, training in diabetes education, and witnessing collaborative practice in action.”

In addition to his dedicated service as a community pharmacist, Fink is active in pharmacy organizations such as the Maryland Pharmacists Association, the American Pharmacists Association, the National Community Pharmacists Association, and EPIC.

“Being selected for this honor is the highlight of my 33 years in pharmacy,” says Fink. “The independent community pharmacy profession has always been an enjoyable and rewarding career for me, and I am sure it will continue to be so in the future. In this profession, people make the difference so I encourage all the School of Pharmacy students who rotate through my store to create their dream, pursue their passion, have fun, and go for it.”

The NCPA annual banquet recognizes the School’s Leavitt Student Chapter’s yearly achievements and new chapter officers are installed.

“This outstanding group of students is the future of the profession and based on what we’ve seen and heard here tonight, a group of which we can be especially proud,” said Eddington.

The Leavitt Chapter’s goal is to promote independent pharmacy with the intent of increasing student awareness of its advantages, encourage newly practicing pharmacists to pursue pharmacy ownership, and support independent pharmacy’s already established positive image.

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