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Scholarship awarded to drug information resident by Chris West Public Relations For one resident in the College of Pharmacy, “hard work pays off” isn’t just an old proverb, it is reality.  Monica Burleson, Pharm.D., recently found out that she would be this year's recipient of the National Drug Facts and Comparisons scholarship for post-graduate study and drug information.  The annual scholarship is awarded to a post-graduate working within the drug information practice.  Applications are sent to campuses with a pharmacy program and drug information centers with a residency program. The applications are sent out in April and interested applicants must submit a biographical sketch of themselves, a synopsis of their residency and an essay outlining the role they hope to play in pharmacy upon completion of their residency. These are accompanied with two letters of recommendation from professors and preceptors. Selection is made by a committee who carefully evaluates the applicant’s submitted materials for consideration as well as academic achievement, scholarly activities and professional attributes.  Burleson received letters of recommendation from assistant professors Kristi Lenz and Nannette Turcasso of the College of Pharmacy.  “When Monica applied to the residency program in January, she brought with her the best letters of recommendation I had ever read,” Turcasso said. “I would rank Monica's academic abilities in the top one percent of all pharmacy students.” Burleson has worked with Turcasso for the past three years in various facets such as during her baccalaureate program and on three rotations in the Drug Information Center. “It has been delightful to watch Monica develop as an outstanding clinician,” Turcasso said. She began her residency in earnest in July, but admits that the first month was predominantly orientation.  She started work in the actual facilities the beginning of this month. Since then, the bulk of her work has been on the MUSC formulary on the web. But this won’t be the only work she will be doing.  “A typical day in the center would consist of taking calls from pharmacists, physicians and nurses and answering any question they may have regarding a certain drug or one relative to an actual patient or any other medical related questions regarding medication. We have at our disposal several on-line databases and literature that we use to assess the needs of the caller,” Burleson said. She will travel to St. Louis to tour the Facts and Comparisons facilities as part of the award. The presentation will be made there on Sept. 11, honoring her with the scholarship which, consists of a full Facts and Comparisons library and a $5,000 stipend.  Burleson completed her pre-pharmacy studies at the University of South Carolina at Spartanburg. She received her bachelor of science in pharmacy in 1998 and then her doctor of pharmacy as first honor graduate from MUSC in 2000. Burleson hopes to enter a university-based drug information center upon completion of her residency.  “I enjoy staffing the center and the challenge of providing accurate, useful answers to patient-specific pharmacotherapy questions,” Burleson said. “However, my primary goal is to teach pharmacists where to find accurate drug information and how to read and interpret that literature, I believe my role will be primarily one of educator.” Outside of work, she spends her time volunteering at the Crisis Ministries. For two years Burleson has manned a pharmacy set up within the shelter. One night-a-week free medical care is offered and Burleson rotates with other volunteers within the shelter. She also admits that when she has a free day she spends it gardening or reading historical fiction. “Winning this scholarship, and the subsequent trip to the Facts and Comparisons Headquarters, will allow me to meet other drug information practitioners and gain exposure to additional opportunities within the field of drug information,” she said.