The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) honored Jean M. Nappi, Pharm.D., professor of clinical pharmacy and outcome sciences at the S.C. College of Pharmacy, for her excellence as a teacher, achievements as a researcher and scholar, and impact on pharmacy education and the profession.

Nappi received the Robert K. Chalmers Distinguished Pharmacy Educator Award July 17 during the Examining Excellence Awards Plenary at the AACP Annual Meeting, Pharmacy Education 2012, in Florida.

"I am humbled to be among the recipients of the Chalmers award. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work with colleagues who are dedicated to their students and residents," Nappi said. "We share a passion for pharmacy education and patient care, and we encourage each other to become better educators and clinicians. I thank the students and residents who have inspired and challenged me. Their constructive critiques motivated me to improve what I do. I also want to recognize my mentors at The University of Texas, especially Drs. Charlie Walton and Bob Leonard."

Nappi has been at the forefront of postgraduate residency training, particularly pharmacotherapy specialty residencies. She is a leader at the S.C. College of Pharmacy in the area of interprofessional education and a substantial contributor to scholarship in pharmacy education. She has authored more than 125 publications, 34 of which contribute to pharmacy education.

Not only has Nappi had a significant impact on pharmacy education through her own work, but also through the careers of those she has taught. Nearly 80 students and residents have gone on to become pharmacy faculty members at approximately 40 pharmacy schools across the country, a record rarely matched in the academic pharmacy community.

Robert L. Page II, Pharm.D., associate professor of clinical pharmacy at the University of Colorado Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine and former mentee of Nappi's, said he has never found a more motivated, energetic, and innovative practitioner and educator as Nappi. "Her many years of dedication to patient care and her contributions to clinical pharmacy education have made her an excellent role model to students, residents and new practitioners. She's paved the way for growth and expansion in areas of clinical pharmacy practice and academic pharmacy."

Nappi was appointed to lead the MUSC residency program in 1997. In that role she brought together 12 residency program directors under one administrative umbrella and was able to generate consensus that all postgraduate year one and postgraduate year two programs follow the same requirements for successful completion of the individual programs. Nappi also developed and implemented the first 24-month Pharmacotherapy Residency Program in the United States and served as its director for 11 years. It was developed to produce practitioners who are able to design and implement pharmacotherapy regimens for patients with a broad range of diseases and to work effectively in health care systems.

Lucinda L. Maine, Ph.D., AACP executive vice president and CEO, said it would be impossible to count the lives that have been touched and enhanced by the work of Nappi. "Her teaching has an exponential impact on patients as her inspired students go on to teach others and improve patient care."

The award, named for the late Robert K. Chalmers, former AACP president and distinguished educator, consists of a Steuben glass owl sculpture and a monetary prize.