Alvarez inducted into AZ Pharmacy Association Hall of Fame
Nancy Alvarez, PharmD, BCPS, associate dean of academic and professional affairs and an associate professor of pharmacy practice and science at the University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy in Phoenix, was inducted into the Arizona Pharmacy Association Hall of Fame.Nancy Alvarez, PharmD, BCPS
Nancy Alvarez, PharmD, BCPS
Inductees, who are chosen by the AzPA board of directors, must be a member of the AzPA with at least 10 years of practice experience in Arizona and have demonstrated innovation or excellence in practice, education or research. They must also be an “Arizona pharmacy pioneer who has been instrumental in advancing the profession of pharmacy by promoting the importance of innovation and integrity in the field,” according to the nomination website.
“It is a humbling experience to know that others think enough of you to acknowledge and celebrate your body of work and career-long contributions,” said Alvarez, who is also the director of diversity, equity and inclusion at the college.
“Dr. Alvarez's induction into the AzPA Hall of Fame is a well-deserved recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field of pharmacy,” said Rick G. Schnellmann, PhD, dean of the Coit College of Pharmacy and Howard J. Schaeffer Endowed Chair in Pharmaceutical Sciences. “She has left an indelible mark on our students and college, and we are proud to have her as a valuable member of our academic community.”
Alvarez first joined AzPA as a student member in 1989 and served on the board of directors during her final year before graduating in 1992 with her PharmD. She remained a member until 1999, when she moved to the East Coast. She rejoined AzPA in 2013 when she moved to southern California to participate in the establishment of a new school of pharmacy at Chapman University.
“Since joining the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy in 2019, I have served on the board of directors as a non-voting liaison from the college,” Alvarez said. “I have found small ways to meaningfully contribute to support the officers or the executive director by serving on work groups to establish policies and procedures or engage in strategic planning. Most recently, I volunteered on a workgroup that secured a $1 million grant from the Maricopa County Department of Public Health to the AzPA to figure out how to distribute naloxone through community pharmacies, including the education of pharmacy personnel.”
Alvarez has advice for pharmacy students and faculty at early stages in their career hoping to have similar success in their careers: “Look for opportunities to engage and contribute to your chosen field of work beyond that for which you receive a paycheck. It is enriching to be part of professional organizations or activities because you are exposed to an array of people and activities from which you can learn, especially in areas that might be new to you.”
The AzPA Hall of Fame induction has given Alvarez a chance to look back on her career. “I am in the fall season of my career, and I cannot see myself doing anything different – working hard and finding ways to contribute and learn, cultivating my community and a strong sense of belonging.”