National Harbor, Md. (October 12, 2015) Laura Schwartzwald, RPh, the co-founder of GuidePoint Pharmacies in Minnesota, today was named the 2015 National Preceptor of the Year by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Foundation during the NCPA 2015 Annual Convention in National Harbor, Md. The National Preceptor of the Year Award honors a pharmacist who has made significant contributions to the education of pharmacy students by devoting time, talent, and efforts as a preceptor.
"Laura Schwartzwald is an experienced and dedicated preceptor who demonstrates a deep care and passion for her students," said Sharlea Leatherwood, PD, president of the NCPA Foundation. "Students from multiple universities have benefited from her guidance, expertise, and knowledge based on her wide array of experiences in the profession. I join the members of the NCPA Foundation's Board of Trustees in congratulating Laura on this honor and thanking her for her efforts in grooming the next generation of community pharmacists."
Prior to co-founding GuidePoint, Schwartzwald worked in a variety of practice settings including large chains, hospitals, and independent pharmacies. Over the past 10 years, she has served as a preceptor for 135 pharmacy students. As such, she has twice been awarded the Community Pharmacy Preceptor of the Year award from the University of Minnesota. She has been influential in making changes to the school's curriculum and has also participated in working groups on ambulatory care and community care.
Schwartzwald is also active in other areas of the profession and strongly encourages her students' participation in those activities. Some of those projects include serving on a number of task forces and advisory committees on immunization objectives with the Minnesota Department of Health. Because of her efforts, Schwartzwald was awarded the 2014 G. Scott Giebink Excellence in Immunizations Award for the State of Minnesota and received an honorable mention at the 2015 national summit for her work on adult immunizations.
Schwartzwald is a 1988 graduate of North Dakota State University and currently serves as Vice President of the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy, having been appointed in 2010 by Gov. Tim Pawlenty and reappointed in 2014 by Gov. Mark Dayton.
About the National Community Pharmacists Association Foundation
The NCPA Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established in 1953 to honor the previous incarnation of NCPA, the National Association of Retail Druggists (NARD) Executive Secretary John W. Dargavel. Contributions to the foundation are tax-deductible as charitable donations to the extent permitted under federal tax law. The NCPA Foundation supports the growth of independent community pharmacy through scholarships to pharmacy students, critical research/programs to improve the success of independent pharmacy and patient care, community service programs, and financial aid to community pharmacy owners for their recovery in the event of disaster or other adverse circumstances. For more information, go to www.ncpafoundation.org.
About the National Community Pharmacists Association
The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA®) represents the interests of America's community pharmacists, including the owners of more than 22,000 independent community pharmacies. Together they represent an $81.4 billion health care marketplace and employ more than 314,000 individuals on a full or part-time basis. To learn more, go to www.ncpanet.org, visit facebook.com/commpharmacy, or follow NCPA on Twitter @Commpharmacy.