Celebrating Excellence: APhA Foundation's 2025 Pinnacle Award Honorees Announced

Honoring Excellence in Pharmacy: The 2025 Pinnacle Awards

The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Foundation has officially revealed the recipients for the prestigious 2025 Pinnacle Awards, an accolade established back in 1998. This award celebrates significant advancements within the medication use process that enhance patient care, improve adherence, reduce adverse drug events, and strengthen communication among healthcare teams. The announcement was made by Benjamin Bluml, RPh, who serves as the executive director of the APhA Foundation and is also the senior vice president of research and innovation. "The APhA Foundation is honored to announce the recipients of the 28th annual Pinnacle Awards," he stated, emphasizing the vital contributions made by this year's noteworthy recipients to improve outcomes for patients in their respective communities.

Recognizing Outstanding Contributions

The Pinnacle Awards this year focused particularly on Category 2, which honors teams that demonstrate exceptional collaborative efforts, innovation, and profound impact. Two standout organizations received accolades in this category:

1. West Virginia University (WVU) School of Pharmacy's Rational Drug Therapy Program (RDTP)

The Rational Drug Therapy Program at WVU's School of Pharmacy is committed to ensuring safe, rational, and economically effective drug therapy that prioritizes patient outcomes. This program plays a critical role in providing prior authorization services and consultations for the Medicaid pharmaceuticals program, the Public Employees Insurance Agency, and West Virginia's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

With the support of the CDC and West Virginia's Department of Health, RDTP launched the "Safe and Effective Management of Pain Program," introducing tailored opioid prescribing guidelines that address the unique needs of the state’s predominantly rural and underserved populations. Furthermore, the program assesses drug utilization within Medicaid and CHIP, enhancing evidence-based prescribing practices and resource management.

To bolster clinician education, RDTP has implemented an academic detailing initiative which has successfully delivered over 1,800 educational sessions statewide, ensuring clinicians are well-informed about current best practices.

2. The Ohio State University Primary Care Clinics

The Ohio State University is making meaningful strides in primary care through the integration of clinical pharmacists within its care teams. At the heart of their General Internal Medicine (OSUGIM) and Family and Community Medicine clinics, pharmacists are recognized as essential team members, working collaboratively with an extensive network of physicians, advanced practice providers, care coordinators, nurses, social workers, dietitians, and medical assistants.

This concerted effort allows the clinics to deliver comprehensive, patient-centered care to a diverse population exceeding 150,000 patients in central Ohio. The interdisciplinary approach ensures that patients receive high-quality medical services while addressing their unique health needs, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in modern healthcare.

The Bigger Picture

Support for the APhA Foundation's Pinnacle Awards Program arises from a generous educational grant provided by Merck, underscoring the commitment of both the APhA and its partners to improving the pharmacy profession and patient care.

As we look towards the future, the Pinnacle Awards continue to inspire healthcare practitioners to innovate and collaborate, ultimately striving to enhance the medication use process and foster better health outcomes for patients everywhere. These awards not only recognize exceptional teams but also serve as a reminder of the collective responsibility inherent in the healthcare industry.

For more information about the Pinnacle Awards and the impactful work being done by the recipients, visit the APhA Foundation’s website and stay tuned for updates on future award announcements and initiatives.