School of Pharmacy Luncheon Celebrates Honored and Honorary Alumni

Awards presented to alumni and friends who have demonstrated exceptional professional and personal commitment to the School of Pharmacy and pharmacy profession.

By Malissa Carroll
June 10, 2019

The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy Alumni Association hosted a special luncheon on May 17, to recognize the 2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019 recipients of its Evander Frank Kelly Honored Alumnus Award and B. Olive Cole Honorary Alumnus Award. These prestigious awards are presented to alumni and friends of the School of Pharmacy who have demonstrated exceptional professional and personal commitment to the pharmacy profession and the School.

“I congratulate each of our award winners, and thank the Alumni Association for its hard work and dedication to helping advance the School of Pharmacy in its mission to lead pharmacy education, scientific discovery, patient care, and community engagement across the state of Maryland and beyond,” said Natalie D. Eddington, PhD ‘89, FCP, FAAPS, dean and professor of the School. “I feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of such a strong and impactful community of alumni – one that is truly a pillar of strength at the School.”

The Evander Frank Kelly Honored Alumnus Award recognizes School of Pharmacy alumni who have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in the profession of pharmacy through service in local, state, and national pharmacy, government, or civic organizations, and are active in the promotion of pharmacy at the University of Maryland. The 2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019 recipients of the Evander Frank Kelly Honored Alumnus Award are Wendy Klein-Schwartz, PharmD ‘77, MPH, retired professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science (PPS) and coordinator of research and education for the Maryland Poison Center (MPC); Lisa Booze, BSP ’79, PharmD ’00, CSPI, former clinical coordinator of health professional education for the MPC; and Neil Leikach, BSP ’92, owner of Your Community Pharmacy in Catonsville and Finksburg, respectively.

Klein-Schwartz received her Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from the School in 1977, and her Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University in 1996. She held several positions at the School during her 36-year career before retiring as a professor in PPS and coordinator of research and education for the MPC. However, even in retirement she remains active with the American Association of Poison Control Centers, serves on the editorial board of Annals of Pharmacotherapy, and acts as a referee in the fields of toxicology, emergency medicine, pharmacy for other specialty journals.

Booze received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (BSP) and PharmD from the School in 1979 and 2000, respectively. She began her career as a certified specialist in poison information (CSPI) with the MPC in 1979, where she provided poisoning and overdose treatment recommendations to the public and health care professionals. In 1988, she became the MPC’s clinical coordinator of health professional education, developing educational programs and publications on a variety of toxicology topics for health care professionals across the state of Maryland, as well as crafting national guidelines for poison centers and emergency medical service providers and monitoring toxicosurveillance for the state before her retirement in 2017.

“Throughout her career, Dr. Booze has tirelessly helped thousands of Maryland citizens by answering calls, triaging patients, and recommending the most appropriate therapy after someone got into a substance that he or she should not,” says David Booze, PharmD, BCPS, Booze’s husband and staff pharmacist at Saint Agnes Hospital, who nominated Booze for the award. “She has educated moms, dads, grandparents, and caregivers about the principles of poison prevention, helping to keep the sickest and most at-risk Marylanders safe. It is no exaggeration to say that there is no other single School of Pharmacy alumnus who has positively touched and influenced as many Marylanders as she.”

Leikach received his BSP from the School in 1992. He has dedicated his career to advancing the profession of pharmacy through his involvement in numerous professional organizations, while also building a successful chain of independent pharmacies in Catonsville and Finksburg. He is the current commissioner for the Maryland Board of Pharmacy, and a previous president of the Alumni Association and Maryland Pharmacists Association (MPhA). He volunteers both locally and nationally, serving on the National Community Pharmacists Association’s (NCPA) Long-Term Care Committee and supporting its Business Plan Competition as both a mentor and judge.

The B. Olive Cole Honorary Alumnus Award is presented to a non-alumnus who has demonstrated continued interest and exceptional loyalty and service to the profession of pharmacy in Maryland, and whose professional, personal, civic, and philanthropic pursuits reflect the high standards and values associated with the School of Pharmacy and its Alumni Association. The 2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019 recipients of the B. Olive Cole Honorary Alumnus Award are Dwayne Weaver, BSP, RPh, pharmacist and owner of Keystone Pharmacy in West Baltimore; Ardeen Leake, beloved security officer for Pharmacy Hall; and Christine Lee-Wilson, PharmD, owner of Professional Pharmacy in Rosedale, respectively.

Weaver earned his BSP from Ohio Northern University in 1982. Following graduation, he moved to Baltimore, where he accepted a position with Rite Aid. In 1985, he partnered to establish Keystone Pharmacy in West Baltimore, later becoming the sole owner of the business. He works hard to help pave the way for future independent pharmacists and is a strong supporter of the pharmacy profession and the School. He was previously honored by the School in 2016, when he was inducted into the Dean’s Hall of Fame for Distinguished Community Pharmacists.

Affectionately known as Ms. Dee to faculty, staff, and students at the School, Leake has served as a security officer for Pharmacy Hall for more than 30 years. Her kind reputation and generous spirit extends beyond the walls of the School, to her colleagues on the University of Maryland, Baltimore security team and the residents of neighboring communities in Baltimore City. She regularly volunteers with Project Jumpstart to deliver meals to the less fortunate, and helps bring food and toys to Baltimore families during the holidays.

“Ms. Dee has been far more than a security officer for the School of Pharmacy,” says Andrew Phan, PharmD ’13, an investigational drugs pharmacist at Johns Hopkins Hospital, who nominated Leake for the award. “Students from every class seek out her sage advice and nurturing companionship. She is firm and diligent in her professional duties, but also kind and helpful to the daily occupants of Pharmacy Hall.”

In addition to operating Professional Pharmacy, Lee-Wilson maintains multiple collaborative agreements with physicians across Baltimore County. She manages an anticoagulation clinic and works at another practice site one day each week, where she conducts wellness visits with patients. She serves on the National Independent Advisory Board for McKesson, CARE Pharmacies, and the Harford Belair Community. She is a past president of MPhA, and has received the organization’s Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award and Most Innovative Practice Award.

“It was a wonderful experience to attend this year’s Honored and Honorary Alumnus Awards Luncheon and watch as our Alumni Association honored professionals who have made a tremendous impact on the pharmacy profession, both through the services they provide as well as the support they give to the community,” said Greer Griffith, MS, director of alumni relations and annual giving in the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs at the School. “All of the individuals recognized truly emulate the characteristics of the highest standards of the pharmacy profession.”

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