Kuhn Named 2017 Parker Award Recipient
Dr. Robert Kuhn, a specialist in pediatric pharmacy and University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy (UKCOP) faculty member since 1985, has been named the 2017 recipient of the Paul F. Parker Award. He will receive the award on December 5th at the Annual UK Luncheon during the 2017 American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear Meeting in Orlando.
The Paul F. Parker Award is given annually to a past resident of the University of Kentucky Pharmacy Residency Program or to an individual intimately associated with the success of the program. This award recognizes an individual who has displayed sustained contribution to the profession in practice, teaching or research; a commitment to high ideals and excellence in their chosen field; leadership and innovation; and a passion to encourage the personal and professional growth of others.
"I am honored and humbled by this selection,” said Dr. Kuhn. “This is a dream come true. I’m incredibly grateful to be honored by my professional home in this way, and I share this award with the residents, preceptors, students and colleagues who have helped continue the legacy of Paul Parker and his contemporaries. While I may not have completed my post-graduate training at UK, I do consider it my professional home.”
Dr. Kuhn currently serves as the Kentucky Hospital Association Endowed Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Science at the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy and is a specialist in pediatric pharmacy, serving patients at UK’s Kentucky Children’s Hospital. Dr. Kuhn received a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from the University of Steubenville (Ohio) and a Bachelor of Science in pharmacy from Ohio State University. His Pharm.D. was obtained in 1984 from the University of Texas at Austin and completed a pediatric fellowship at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in 1985 before joining the faculty.
As an active member of UKCOP faculty, Dr. Kuhn directed the pediatric pharmacy specialty residency program for 30 years. He has worked with over 500 students in the Pharm.D. program, precepted nearly 250 pharmacy residents, and served as Program Director for 40 pediatric specialty residents. His focus has been on cystic fibrosis and pediatric drug therapy, for which he has received numerous awards.
“When you think of excellence in pharmacy, specifically pediatric pharmacy, you immediately think of Bob Kuhn,” said Kip Guy, Dean of the UK College of Pharmacy. “His work in and outside the classroom is unparalleled. He is passionate about the profession and improving the lives of those who need it the most. Dr. Kuhn is beyond deserving of the Paul F. Parker Award.”
Dr. Kuhn has been invited to speak both nationally and internationally, giving over 100 presentations on cystic fibrosis throughout his career. He was the first pharmacist appointed to the National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) Planning Committee for educational programming and has worked with CFF to recognize and expand the role of the pharmacist in the care of cystic fibrosis. He has been active in clinical research for new therapies in cystic fibrosis, and in 2015 was awarded special recognition for his 30 years of patient care for those dealing with cystic fibrosis.
This year alone, Dr. Kuhn. received fellow status by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, as well as fellow status in the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP). He was also given the first Pediatric Achievement Award by the Pediatric PRN at this year’s ACCP meeting. In addition, Dr. Kuhn was instrumental in advising a group of UK College of Pharmacy students who went on to win the 2017 Clinical Pharmacy Challenge, a national competition among pharmacy schools, presented by ACCP at their Annual Meeting in Phoenix.
The Parker Luncheon will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, December 5 at the Hyatt Regency in Orlando.
We wish to remember and honor those who inhabited this Commonwealth before the arrival of the Europeans. Briefly occupying these lands were the Osage, Wyndott tribe, and Miami peoples. The Adena and Hopewell peoples, who are recognized by the naming of the time period in which they resided here, were here more permanently. Some of their mounds remain in the Lexington area, including at UK’s Adena Park.
In more recent years, the Cherokee occupied southeast Kentucky, the Yuchi southwest Kentucky, the Chickasaw extreme western Kentucky and the Shawnee central Kentucky including what is now the city of Lexington. The Shawnee left when colonization pushed through the Appalachian Mountains. Lower Shawnee Town ceremonial grounds are still visible in Greenup County.
We honor the first inhabitants who were here, respect their culture, and acknowledge the presence of their descendants who are here today in all walks of life including fellow pharmacists and healthcare professionals.