FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2005

CONTACT: Daniel P. Finney, (515) 271-2833 or Daniel.Finney@drake.edu

DRAKE PHARMACY PROFESSOR EARNS NATIONAL RESEARCH AWARD

Sandy Dirks, Drake University assistant professor of pharmacy practice, has been selected to receive the Annual Pharmacy Practice Award by the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists. Dirks was selected for the award when her case study “Lamotrigine-Induced Lupus: A Case Report,” was recognized as one of the best in the nation by the CPNP Awards and Nominations committee.

“CPNP is the national organization for pharmacists practicing psychiatric pharmacy and I am very excited and proud that I was selected for this award by a group of my peers,” said Dirks. The award will be presented at the CPNP annual meeting on March 11 in San Diego.

Dirks is a member of the CPNP, Iowa Pharmacy Association, Iowa Pharmacists Recovery Network, Iowa Board of Psychology Examiners and the Mental Health Advisory Council for Iowa. She also plans to sit for the Board Certification Exam for Psychiatric Pharmacy.

“I applaud Sandy’s initiative in submitting her case study to the committee,” said Raylene Rospond, professor and dean of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. “Her selection from the national pool supports that which we have always known about the quality of our faculty and their work.”

- 30 -