 Sara Newton and Dean Raylene Rospond |
MEDIA CONTACT: Tory Olson, 515-271-1834, tory.olson@drake.edu
Recent Drake University graduate Sara Weirather Newton has received
Drake’s third Karbeling Memorial Leadership Award for her leadership
and outstanding contributions to the University and the pharmacy
profession.
The award was presented at Drake’s May 15 College of Pharmacy and
Health Sciences Hooding Ceremony, recognizing students graduating with
a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
The annual award is given to recognize a pharmacy student who has
shown leadership in professional education, association work, community
service and pharmacy practice. It was created in memory of Jerry
Karbeling, a 1974 Drake pharmacy graduate and an outstanding alumnus
who died in 2005.
“I was surprised to hear my name called for the Karbeling Memorial
Leadership Award as there are several individuals in my pharmacy class
who are also well-deserving of such an award,” said Newton of Montrose,
Iowa.
“I realized about halfway through Dean Rospond’s introduction that I
had been actively involved in all of the professional and leadership
organizations she was mentioning, and that I might be the award
recipient!”
Newton has been active in several organizations including:
* American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists
* (APhA-ASP)
* Iowa Pharmacy Association
* Drake College of Pharmacy Academic Integrity Committee
* Drake Pharmacy (Rx) Unified Group of Students (DRxUGS)
Matthew C. Gauck, vice-chair of the APhA-ASP communications
committee, praised Newton for combining her pharmacy education with
exemplary community service in the award nomination letter.
“Sara utilizes and hones the skills she attained in pharmacy school
to organize and participate in many Patient Care Projects as part of
APhA-ASP, including Operation Diabetes, Operation Immunization and the
Heartburn Awareness Challenge,” Gauck wrote.
“She also volunteers at skilled nursing facilities and oncology
units to assist patients in need. Sara’s caring personality radiates
into the lives of the people she serves.”
Newton said she plans to stay in the Des Moines area for the next
three years and work for Walgreens while her husband completes a family
practice residency at Broadlawns Medical Center. They both hope to
practice rural pharmacy and medicine in the future.
Karbeling: Longtime leader and advocate for pharmacy at Drake
Karbeling was the owner of Big Creek Pharmacy in Polk City, Iowa,
and senior vice president for public affairs and corporate development
for the Iowa Pharmacists Association. He was a member of Kappa Psi, a
professional leader, community advocate and strong supporter of Drake’s
pharmacy program.
The class of 1974 established the Karbeling Memorial Leadership
Fund, which supports the annual award for a student who demonstrates
Karbeling’s values and actions including professional involvement,
commitment to practice and political advocacy.
Candidates for the Karbeling Leadership Award are full-time Doctor
of Pharmacy students in their fourth year of the Professional Pharmacy
Program enrolled in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at
Drake.
For more information about the Karbeling Memorial Leadership Award,
contact the Emily Hamilton at 515-271-4049 or emily.hamilton@drake.edu.