FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 17, 2017
Media Contacts:
Chad Clinton
Associate Director, Public Relations
American Pharmacists Association
(202) 429-7558
WASHINGTON, DC – The Pharmacists Society of the State of New York (PSSNY) has selected John McDonald, III, RPh, as the recipient of the 2017 Bowl of Hygeia Award for outstanding community service. McDonald was presented the award at the PSSNY's 139th Annual Convention on Saturday, June 24. The Bowl of Hygeia is sponsored by the American Pharmacists Association Foundation, the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations, and the American Pharmacists Association, with support from Boehringer Ingelheim.
McDonald has contributed to his community since graduating from the Albany College of Pharmacy in 1985. McDonald is a practicing independent community pharmacy owner and the President of Marra’s Pharmacy. His service to the profession and his community is unparalleled; his determination to accomplish what is right for all patients of New York is admirable and his dedication to his fellow New Yorkers continues long after his pharmacy has closed for the day. McDonald continues to serve his state and his patients as a third term member of the New York State Assembly, crafting and supporting legislation that protects the public, and he has demonstrated great success in gaining the respect and confidence of his fellow legislators. McDonald is the only practicing health care provider in the entire Legislative branch.
McDonald attends Board of Pharmacy meetings, New York State Business Council meetings, and community events such as college and community center dedications. He continues to fill prescriptions, immunize patients, and perform other important pharmacy services to his community on a regular basis. He has also served as a Board Member of PSSNY; member of the Cohoes Memorial Hospital Board; President of St. Bernard’s Church Parish Council; and member of the Cohoes Chamber of Commerce. McDonald served as Mayor of Cohoes, focusing on financial accountability, improved quality of life, and expanding economic opportunity. McDonald has been an active member of the New York State Conference of Mayors where he served as President of the statewide organization. He has also chaired the Capital District Transportation Committee; RiverSpark; the Cohoes Industrial Development Agency; and the Cohoes Local Development Corporation. In addition, he has served on the boards of the New York State Heritage Areas Advisory Board; New York State Workforce Investment Board; State Comptroller’s Local Advisory Team; the NYS Local Government Records Management Council; the Board of Governors for the New York State Municipal Insurance Reciprocal; and many other regional councils and commissions.
Established in 1958, the Bowl of Hygeia Award recognizes pharmacists who possess outstanding records of civic leadership in their communities and encourages pharmacists to take an active role in the affairs of their respective communities. The award is presented annually by participating state pharmacist associations, including those in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In addition to service through their local, state and national pharmacy associations, award recipients have devoted their time, talent and resources to a wide variety of causes and community service.
The Bowl of Hygeia is the most widely recognized international symbol for the pharmacy profession and is considered one of the profession’s most prestigious awards. The Bowl of Hygeia has been associated with the pharmacy profession since as early as 1796 when the symbol was used on a coin minted for the Parisian Society of Pharmacy. The bowl represents a medicinal potion and the snake represents healing. Healing through medicine is precisely why the pharmacy profession has adopted the Bowl of Hygeia symbol.
About the American Pharmacists Association Foundation
The APhA Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., is a trusted source of research demonstrating how pharmacists can improve health care. The APhA Foundation’s mission is to improve people’s health through pharmacists’ patient care services. The APhA Foundation is affiliated with the American Pharmacists Association, the national professional society of pharmacists in the U.S. For more information, please visit the APhA Foundation website www.aphafoundation.org. Follow the APhA Foundation on Twitter and Facebook for the latest updates.
About the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations
The National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations (NASPA) promotes leadership, sharing, learning, and policy exchange among pharmacy leaders in all 50 states and Washington, DC, and provides education and advocacy to support pharmacists, patients, and communities working together to improve public health. NASPA was founded in 1927 as the National Council of State Pharmacy Association Executives (NCSPAE). For more information, please visit the NASPA website www.naspa.us.