FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 11, 2016
Media Contacts:
Chad Clinton
Associate Director, Public Relations
American Pharmacists Association
(202) 429-7558
WASHINGTON, DC – The Oklahoma Pharmacists Association (OPhA) has selected Gregory S. Huenergardt, D.Ph., as the recipient of the 2016 Bowl of Hygeia Award for outstanding community service. Huenergardt was presented the award at the 2016 Mid-America Pharmacy Conference & Expo on Saturday, July 30. 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.
Huenergardt, who received his Bachelors of Science in Pharmacy, a graduate of Southwestern Oklahoma State University, is recognized for his outstanding involvement both in and outside the profession of pharmacy. He has demonstrated why the pharmacy profession is viewed as trustworthy in the eyes of the public. An extremely active member of the pharmacy community, Huenergardt is the President/CEO of six community pharmacies. He has served as OPhA Vice President, President-Elect, and President and has chaired various committees of the association. Huenergardt is also member of Pharmacy Providers of Oklahoma and has served as its Secretary, Vice President and President.
In addition, Huenergardt is on the board of directors of his local hospital and has served as its Secretary, Vice Chairman and Chairman. He has aided in developing initiatives to improve patient access for primary health care services in medically underserved rural areas by serving on the Committee of Rural Health Development. Huenergardt has dedicated himself to his community, serving on the city council and held the office of mayor. He is involved in his church and serves on the Board of Trustees and as its Finance Chair. Huenergardt has coached baseball and basketball for the youth in his community. He serves as an officer of the local high school booster club and is a lifetime member of his college alumni association.
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 active roles 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 Web site www.naspa.us.