Published: October 20, 2009 06:58 pm      

Pharmacists association honors Colony Drug’s Johnston

A Beckley pharmacist has been recognized nationally for her work with students.

Patricia Johnston, owner of Colony Drug and Wellness Center in Beckley, was named the 2009 NCPA National Preceptor of the Year by the National Community Pharmacists Association Tuesday at the association’s 111th annual Convention and Trade Exposition in New Orleans.

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 effort as a preceptor.

“Patty Johnston exemplifies the type of invaluable guidance that helps pharmacy students thrive on the way to becoming outstanding practicing pharmacists,” said Holly Whitcomb Henry, NCPA president and pharmacy owner in Seattle. “As the 2009 NCPA National Preceptor of the Year award winner she has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to ensuring West Virginia University pharmacy students are prepared for their futures. We appreciate her and every preceptor’s strong commitment to the next generation of pharmacists.”

A preceptor at WVU since 1979, Johnston owns and operates Colony Drug and Wellness Center. She serves as a preceptor to 24 WVU School of Pharmacy students every year and as an adjunct associate faculty member. She incorporates students in the many unique patient-oriented programs in her pharmacy, including nutritional counseling and face-to-face diabetes education.

One student provided her comments on the rotation she completed at Patty’s pharmacy: “All of the staff at Colony Drug are great! They all do a wonderful job of including students, and providing insight and knowledge in various situations. The best thing about this rotation was the feeling that students make an important contribution to the services provided at the pharmacy. I also enjoyed the many problem-solving opportunities available, especially in the compounding lab. This site is really a wonderful site for hands-on learning.”

A cum laude graduate of WVU in 1977, Johnston currently serves on the West Virginia Medicaid Pharmacy Committee and the West Virginia University School of Pharmacy Board of Advisers. She is a member of the West Virginia Pharmacists Association, International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists, the New River Pharmacists Association and the American Pharmacists Association, among many others. She also was instrumental in the passage of collaborative practice and pharmacy-based immunization legislation in West Virginia and a member of the subcommittee studying reference pricing for the West Virginia Pharmaceutical Cost Management Council, established by the West Virginia Legislature, from 2002 to 2004.

“In my 30 years of teaching pharmacy students and offering continuing education programs to practicing pharmacists, I can think of no better person to recognize with the National Preceptor of the Year Award. Patty Johnston truly exemplifies the definition of practitioner-educator. The students she has precepted offer glowing evaluations of her enthusiasm and commitment to the practice of pharmacy,” wrote Arthur Jacknowitz, professor and chair in clinical pharmacy at WVU.