Distinguished Federal Pharmacist Award

RDML Kelly J. Battese , Pharm.D., MBA

RDML Kelly J. Battese currently serves in the Indian Health Service (I.H.S) as director – division of commissioned personnel support at I.H.S headquarters, Additionally, RDML Battese serves as the United States Public Health Service chief professional officer (CPO) – pharmacy category. He started his career with I.H.S as a clinical pharmacist with the Haskell Indian Health Center in Lawrence, KS. His work ethic and leadership skills have transitioned him into several leadership positions within the I.H.S Oklahoma City area. He moved on to serve as the chief pharmacist of the White Cloud Health Station in White Cloud, KS, and assumed the chief executive officer duties for that facility. Looking to further his knowledge and leadership skills he transferred to the Claremore Indian Hospital where he served as the ambulatory care director and later as the hospital’s administrative officer. These positions and experiences led him back to his current position as chief executive officer. RDML Battese was selected as the 12th pharmacy chief professional officer and provides leadership and direction for the category and provides consultation and advice to the surgeon general and issues of policy in areas related to the pharmacy profession.

RDML Battese has received numerous prestigious awards from the I.H.S, Commissioned Corps, Pharmacy associations and his alma mater, the University of Kansas. RDML Battese received his Bachelor of Arts in biology from Tabor College, a Master of Business Administration in health care from Southern Nazarene University and Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Kansas.

The nominee for the APhA Distinguished Federal Pharmacist Award must be a pharmacist who is a member of APhA, served in a federal pharmacy practice for the past 10 years, and is on active federal service at the time of nomination and has distinguished himself/herself and the profession of pharmacy by sustained outstanding performance and achievement. Applications will be evaluated based upon the following criteria (listed alphabetically; not in rank order):

• Active participation in Inter-Agency Collaboration (cross-service activities)
• Community service (contributions to the local community in which you live, federal agency community, facility, etc.)
• Demonstrated leadership and mentorship
• Impact on the pharmacy profession
• Innovation in practice, research, and/or scholarly activity
• Sustained impact and contributions to positive patient or health outcomes

The nominator is responsible for submitting a complete award nomination.

The nomination is to include the following items:

A narrative letter of justification (no more than two pages or 1,000 words) from the nominator describing the most significant contributions of the nominee and an explanation of how the nominee meets the award criteria

Two supporting letters

Current complete curriculum vitae or a detailed résumé of the nominee that includes professional activities, publications, and awards/honors

The selection of the award recipient will be based upon careful review of the completed nominations by the APhA Distinguished Federal Pharmacist Award Selection Committee. All nominations will be evaluated using the award criteria. No one from the selection committee will be eligible for the award.

The selection committee will be comprised of the following representatives:

One representative from each federal pharmacy group selected by the chief pharmacist; the chief pharmacist is not eligible to serve on the selection committee (i.e., U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, U.S. Public Health Service).

The award recipient from the immediate preceding year

One nonfederal representative from the APhA Board of Trustees selected by the APhA President will serve as the chairman.

The APhA Distinguished Federal Pharmacist Award will be presented at the APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition and will consist of a crystal figurine. The recipient will receive: a $1,500 honorarium,and complimentary APhA Annual Meeting registration and reimbursement for meeting-related travel expenses, according to current travel policies and up to the maximum amount budgeted by APhA. The recipient will be asked to participate in a session highlighting his/her specific achievement. The award is endowed by The Roche Foundation.