Dr. Brian Erstad Receives APhA Pinnacle Award
Brian Erstad, PharmD, MCCM, FCCP, FASHP, BCPS, a professor and head of the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science at the University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, received the American Pharmacists Association Foundation Pinnacle Award for Career Achievement.
Brian Erstad, PharmD, MCCM, FCCP, FASHP, BCPS
“As a department head, I make it a point to nominate others for awards and honors, but I am always so appreciative of those who think to nominate me,” said Dr. Erstad, who is an investigator for the Center for Health Outcomes and PharmacoEconomics Research. “The nomination and letters of support are more rewarding than the actual award. I am so lucky to work with such outstanding and supportive faculty and staff.”
The annual Pinnacle Awards celebrate significant contributions to the medication use process that lead to increasing patient adherence, reducing adverse drug events, promoting the use of national treatment guidelines, improving patient outcomes and enhancing communication among members of the health care team.
Andreas Theodorou, MD, FCCM, FAAP, a clinical program leader in the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson Department of Pediatrics, wrote in a nomination letter: “Brian Erstad, through his leadership at the local and national levels, has carried the flag for decreasing medication errors and promoting medication safety. The enthusiasm and dedication our clinical pharmacists have in driving medication safety reflects the mentorship received from Brian.”
Dr. Erstad’s research focuses on critical care medicine with an emphasis on patient safety and related outcomes. He has authored more than 300 peer-reviewed articles, monographs and book chapters.
“Brian’s contributions to the field of pharmacy can’t be understated,” said Rick Schnellmann, PhD, dean of the Coit College of Pharmacy. “He is a model of professionalism, and his impact on clinical practices and patient care will be felt for years to come.”
Of his many contributions to the field of pharmacy, Dr. Erstad said he is most proud of his work “translating findings from my scholarship and that of others into practice and helpful information for patient care teams.”
Dr. Erstad, who is a member of the BIO5 Institute, graduated from the UArizona College of Pharmacy with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 1987. He joined the UArizona faculty in 1988 and has been led the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science since 2012. From 2011 to 2015, he served on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee.