CEDARVILLE — The Cedarville University School of Pharmacy handed out its first alumni awards of excellence in the categories of education, profession and ministry and missions during homecoming Oct. 5.
Award recipients were nominated by the school of pharmacy alumni awards subcommittee and recommended to the dean of the school of pharmacy, Dr. Marc Sweeney. The school of pharmacy launched the alumni advisory council earlier this year.
“I am encouraged by the interest and excitement about our inaugural alumni reception and awards ceremony for the school of pharmacy,” Sweeney said. “We thought this would be a good year to launch our awards now that we have several classes of graduates.”
The school of pharmacy advisory council is divided into three areas of focus to advise the leadership on strategic planning, initiatives and current trends in the health care and pharmacy industries. The advisory council offers insight on innovation, missions and experiential training and alumni and engagement. The council represents a wide variety of professionals and alumni who share expertise and perspectives to assist the school of pharmacy realize its vision and mission.
Alumni Award for Excellence in Education: Juanita Draime, Pharm.D. ‘16
Draime is currently an assistant professor of pharmacy practice at Cedarville University. She has been involved with local and state pharmacy associations and currently serves as the president of the Miami Valley Pharmacists Association (MVPA). Her work leading the interprofessional Students Teaching Educational Plans for Success (STEPS) program earned the Cedarville University School of Pharmacy the Student Community Engaged Service Award from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) in 2015.
“I am thankful for Cedarville University School of Pharmacy and the education I received while a student here,” Draime said. “The training I received has enabled me to develop into an effective educator. I only hope to continue this legacy by building into the lives of the students here through the grace of God.”
Alumni Award for Excellence in the Professions: McKenzie Shenk, Pharm.D. ‘17
Shenk is conducting her pharmacy residency at Eskenazi Health in Indianapolis. During her college career she interned at the Memorial Health System in South Bend, Ind.; St. Margret’s House in South Bend; and the Saint Joseph Health System in Mishawaka, Ind. In the summer of 2018, Shenk was awarded the Nicholas G. Popovich Award from the Indiana Pharmacy Teaching Certificate (IPTeC) Program. The IPTeC Program is a statewide training program for pharmacy residents, fellows and experienced pharmacists. Shenk won the award based on her teaching portfolio, character and passion for pharmacy academia.
Alumni Award for Excellence in Missions and Ministry: Paul Srnis, Pharm.D. ‘16, MBA
Srnis is a current district leader at Rite Aid, where he supervises the pharmacy businesses for 16 Rite Aid stores. He serves on the pharmacy alumni/engagement advisory council for the Cedarville University School of Pharmacy. Srinis preceded Draime as the president of the MVPA in 2016-2018. During his education, Srinis served as a student pharmacist at the Long/Zeigler Pharmacy in Wilmington; the Kettering Medical Center; Raj Soin Medical Center in Beavercreek; the Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton; the Cleveland Clinic at a variety of locations; and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) in Arlington, Va.
