The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) announced that Shah N. Malik, MS (Pharm), RPh, of Vancouver, WA is the 2008 recipient of the APhA Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management (APhA-APPM) Distinguished Achievement Award in Community and Ambulatory Practice. Malik was officially recognized at the APhA Annual Meeting and Exposition March 14-17 in San Diego, California. The award was established to recognize the achievements of an individual who has made a significant contribution or sustained contributions to the provision of pharmaceutical care within community and ambulatory practice.

Malik was selected in recognition of dedicating his distinguished career to developing pharmacy-based immunization programs on the national and regional levels. He has been a role model, mentor, and advisor to countless pharmacists, interns, and student pharmacists, having trained hundreds of community and hospital pharmacists across the country.

Malik's nominator stated, "Shah has been a tireless advocate of pharmacy-based immunization programs and the strongest proponent of changes in the law and pharmacy practice regulations to further that direction."

Malik immigrated to the United States from Pakistan in 1968, after which he earned BS and MS degrees in pharmacy from the University of Montana. He has published several biopharmaceutical papers in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. He is a consultant to the Oregon State Pharmacists Association (OSPA) and the Oregon Board of Pharmacy on immunization-related issues. He was the first pharmacist in Oregon authorized to receive a Yellow Fever Stamp. He has received numerous awards, including Pharmacist of the Year from OSPA, Payless Drug Store, and the Professional Society of Pharmacists. His work has also received recognition by the American Diabetes Association and OAIC. He is an active member of APhA, Oregon and Washington State Pharmacist Associations, Washington's Emergency Preparedness and Response Team, and Sigma Xi.

About the American Pharmacists Association (APhA)

The American Pharmacists Association, founded in 1852 as the American Pharmaceutical Association, represents more than 63,000 practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and others interested in advancing the profession. APhA, dedicated to helping all pharmacists improve medication use and advance patient care, is the first-established and largest association of pharmacists in the United States. APhA members provide care in all practice settings, including community pharmacies, hospitals, long-term care facilities, managed care organizations, hospice settings, and the military.

American Pharmacists Association