Awards season: NCPA names award winners at virtual convention

The National Community Pharmacists Association has named Amina Abubakar, owner of Rx Clinic Pharmacy in Charlotte, N.C., the 2020 Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year. The award, sponsored by Upsher-Smith Laboratories, is given to a pharmacist who exhibits exemplary professional leadership, service to community and commitment to independent pharmacy. Abubakar, who grew up in Kenya, opened Rx Clinic Pharmacy in 2009, specializing in treating HIV patients. She is a passionate advocate for patients with HIV/AIDS, presenting to the community on the subject and participating in patient support groups to offer education and empowerment services. Abubakar and Rx Clinic Pharmacy are also involved in local health fairs and seminars, promoting various health screenings for early detection of diseases and linkage to care. They offer immunizations and point-of-care testing in the community, as well…The NCPA has named Nasir Mahmood, owner of Pine Plains Pharmacy and resident of Wappingers Falls, N.Y., as the recipient of the 2020 Calvin J. Anthony Lifetime Achievement Award. The award honors a pharmacist who has dedicated his or her career to the advancement of the pharmacy profession. Throughout his career, Mahmood has been active in professional organizations, including the NCPA, the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York, the American Pharmacists Association and the Hudson Valley Pharmacists Association. While president of the PSSNY in 2008-09, he was instrumental in state legislation that allows pharmacists to become immunizers for influenza and pneumococcal disease…The NCPA has named William Scharringhausen, a third-generation pharmacist/pharmacy owner from Park Ridge, Ill., as the recipient of the 2020 John W. Dargavel Medal. The award, sponsored by McKesson, honors an individual whose contributions on behalf of independent pharmacy embody the spirit of leadership and accomplishment personified by John W. Dargavel. Scharringhausen has been very involved in local Park Ridge organizations, including the area Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, Men's Prayer Breakfast and the Park Ridge Community Church. He has also been active in the NARD/NCPA throughout his career…The NCPA has named Beverly Schaefer, co-owner of Katterman's Sand Point Pharmacy in Seattle, the recipient of the Sharlea Leatherwood Memorial Trailblazer Award. The award recognizes an outstanding pharmacy owner whose pharmacy blazes a trail for other independent pharmacy owners and future generations of independent pharmacy owners. Schaefer is a 40-year member of the NCPA. She has served on many of the association's steering committees, provided numerous hours of continuing education to attendees of its annual convention and mentored pharmacy students participating in an annual business plan competition...The NCPA has named Mayank Parikh the recipient of the NARD Ownership Award. The award recognizes an independent community pharmacist who embraces entrepreneurial spirit through promotion and demonstrated excellence in the field of community pharmacy ownership. Parikh is a second-generation health care provider who has helped to grow Super Health Pharmacy in Staten Island, N.Y., to 10 independent pharmacies in various areas of the Tri-State area. He has converted the pharmacies into full-service COVID-19 testing centers and transformed them into a place where customers can have their prescriptions or daily essentials delivered for free the same day.