STATEMENT
Through a generous donation to the American Pharmacists Association Foundation, a new endowed scholarship has been established to honor Dr. Natalie M. Certo.
The Natalie M. Certo Endowed Scholarship will fund one scholarship in the amount of $1,000 which will be awarded annually to a meritorious student pharmacist. The endowment also will provide $400 each year to the APhA Foundation to help defray incurred administrative expenses.
In 2019, marked the passing of a prominent member of the APhA community, Natalie M. Certo, PhD.
Dr. Certo dedicated her life to pharmacy. She worked in community pharmacies, taught at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, and was the Director of the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Pharmacy Service. During her tenure at the Children’s Hospital, which began in 1961, she led a staff of pharmacists, technicians, and support personnel in a department that provided 24-hour services. In this role, Dr. Certo supported the changing role of pharmacists which entailed participating in patient nutrition rounds, instructing patients regarding the use of medications and consulting with physicians about drug regimens. She celebrated the positive changes in pharmacy practice over the years. Featured in a profile published in the April 1983 issue of American Pharmacy, she stated, “In whatever setting, we practice today, pharmacy continues to be viable, dynamic profession – one that enables us to service the public’s health needs with pride.”
Dr. Certo was also very proud of her APhA membership, which began in 1957. She had a long record of leadership and considered her election to the APhA Board of Trustees as the biggest honor of her career. Her term of service on the board was 1981-1984. Her other APhA roles included: member of the Bioavailability Panel (its 1973 Practitioner Panel), the APhA Judicial Board (1976-1979), and the 1984 Presidential Search Committee. Dr. Certo also served for many years in the APhA House of Delegates. She was a regular attendee at the APhA Annual Meeting and was usually accompanied by her sister and fellow pharmacist, Dr. Josephine Certo.
Part of Dr. Certo’s record of excellence includes graduating magna cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. When Dr. Certo passed in 2019, her sister Josephine decided to honor Natalie by establishing a memorial scholarship. This generous act to create the Dr. Natalie M. Certo Endowed Scholarship is a lasting legacy which invests in the education of young pharmacists.
The scholarship will be awarded each year to an APhA student member who demonstrates a record of engagement and academic achievement. Applications will be accepted in Fall 2021, for a $1,000 scholarship to be awarded annually beginning in 2022. The APhA Foundation is grateful for the generous funding that honors Dr. Certo’s exceptional commitment to APhA by supporting the education of pharmacy students for years to come.
The Natalie Certo Scholarship is presented annually to one (1) recipient with a scholarship of $1,000.
Learn more about other APhA Foundation scholarships for students.