Distinguished Achievement Awards

Deanna Tran, PharmD, BCACP, FAPhA

Deanna Tran, PharmD, BCACP, FAPhA, is a director of member relations at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. She was an associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and APhA–ASP co-advisor for 14 years. She has held multiple leadership positions within APhA including APPM member-at-large, Immunizing Pharmacists SIG coordinator, and NPAC member-at-large. During her tenure at the University of Maryland, she was a preceptor for Safeway Pharmacy/University of Maryland’s PGY1 community-based pharmacy residency program and coach for Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Networks (CPESN)-DMV (Maryland, DC, Delaware). As a board-certified ambulatory care pharmacist, Tran has expertise in family medicine, transitions of care, and anticoagulation. Her interests span professional development of student pharmacists, vaccine hesitancy, and community-based pharmacy services. She is a recipient of numerous honors, including APhA–ASP Outstanding Chapter Advisor, Baltimore Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, and Maryland Pharmacists Association Mentor Award. She received her degree from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in 2011 and subsequently completed a PGY1 Community Pharmacy Residency with Virginia Commonwealth University.

Amy K. Kennedy, PharmD, BCACP, BC-ADM, FAPhA

Amy K. Kennedy is an associate clinical professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science at the University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy and clinical pharmacist at El Rio health center. Her scholarship interests include preventive health, professional development, the scholarship of teaching and learning and the pharmacist’s role in caring for the underserved. Kennedy graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with her PharmD in 2008. She completed her community pharmacy practice residency and community participatory research fellowship at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2010. Her clinical focus is family medicine where she sees patients under a collaborative practice agreement. She has been an active member of APhA since 2004.

Nominees must be a pharmacist member of APhA. Remington Medalists are not eligible for these awards. All Distinguished Achievement Award nominations will be evaluation based upon the following criteria (listed alphabetically; not in rank order):

APhA-related activities
Awards and recognition
Community service
Participation in other professional associations
Impact on practice & profession within nominee’s focus area (pharmacy practice/pharmacy management/service)
 

The nominator is responsible for submitting a complete award nomination.

The nomination is to include the following items:

A letter from the nominator describing the most important achievements of the nominee and explaining why the nominee meets the criteria for the award

One letter of recommendation is required; a maximum of two letters accepted

A current curriculum vitae or detailed résumé

The selection is made by the APhA Pharmacist Awards Selection Committee based upon careful review of the complete nominations and criteria as listed above. Particular attention will be given to the individual’s impact on the profession.

The award is presented at the APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition and consists of a crystal recognition piece. The recipient also receives a 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.

Kayce M. Shealy

Kayce M. Shealy received her bachelor of science degree from Newberry College, her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, and completed a community pharmacy residency with the University of Georgia at Barney's Pharmacy in Augusta, GA. Dr. Shealy is board-certified in pharmacotherapy and is also a certified diabetes care and education specialist. She joined the faculty at Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy in 2010 and she has served in several administrative roles, including department chair, associate dean, and acting dean for the program. In January 2025, she transitioned to the South Carolina Board of Pharmacy as the Board Executive/Chief Drug Inspector. Dr. Shealy is an advocate for the profession and has served in various capacities with the American Pharmacists Association, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, American College of Clinical Pharmacy, American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists, and the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists. She is a former president of the South Carolina Pharmacy Association (SCPhA), and has served as a co-coordinator with SCPhA for grant initiatives. Dr. Shealy has numerous publications related to women’s health, diabetes, and public health. She is the mother to 3 awesome kids—Kate who loves the limelight; Jack who loves all things baseball, and James who loves to express himself through art. She lives with her kids and husband Brian in Leesville, SC.