Dr. Nanci Murphy, associate dean of Academic and Student Programs at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy, has been named APhA-ASP Outstanding Chapter Advisor for 2008. This award, established to recognize advisers who have promoted with distinction the welfare of student pharmacists through various professional activities, is a great honor and could not go to anyone more deserving than Dr. Murphy.
“Nanci makes an effort with each student on a personal level. We are but one generation of students with countless stories of Nanci’s inspiration, dedication and boundless support,” say Emily Schulze,’09, a member of a team of students to nominate Dr. Murphy for this award.
Nanci Murphy is tireless in her efforts to support, train, mentor and care for our students. In addition to her role as associate dean, Nanci spends time teaching students in both the classroom and practice settings and supporting their many extracurricular activities at the University, community, state and national level. With such a busy schedule, Dr. Murphy still finds time to attend nearly every student function, organization meeting and event and her door always remains open for students with special circumstances, in need of encouragement, or simply seeking advice.
“Nanci will always take extra time out of her schedule to listen, give support, and provide a creative solution,” says Schulze.
Nanci Murphy creates leaders. In each student, she sees great potential for leadership, high achievement and success. One student says of Nanci’s unique ability to instill confidence and bring out the best in our students: “She listens, makes suggestions, and through that opens a student’s eyes to all the possibilities that we were blind to before. It’s like turning a prism in just the right way so that a rainbow appears. She takes obstacles and turns them into windows of opportunity and that is inspiring.”
Dr. Murphy may pull these talents from her own personal drive and commitment topharmacy. She has held leadership roles in University and state-wide programs to include co-director of the University of Washington’s Center for Health Sciences Interprofessional Education, chair of the Faculty Council on Student Affairs, the Diversity Council, the Senate Executive Committee, the Faculty Leadership in Interprofessional Education to Promote Patient Safety, the Washington State Pharmacy Association’s Board of Directors, State of Washington Pharmacy Leadership Conference, and the Board of Pharmacy’s Task Force on Practitioner Competency.
As fortunate as we are to have Dr. Murphy, our school is not the only institution to benefit from her commitment to providing excellent resources, education and support to young pharmacists. Dr. Murphy has had a national impact as chair of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Joint Task Force on the Healthy Student Program, the Curriculum Special Interest Group, and the Student Services Special Interest Group. Dr. Murphy contributed to the development of the APhA-ASP/AACP Toolkit on Student Professionalism, the AACP Healthy Student Program Toolkit, Successful Practices in Student, Faculty and Staff Leadership, and the Pharmacy Practice CAPE Supplemental Educational Outcomes.
“I am very proud to be an adviser at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy where it is a joy and privilege to work with such inspirational student pharmacists, faculty, administrators, and staff,” says Dr. Murphy.
It is the University of Washington School of Pharmacy that is honored to have Nanci Murphy as one of its own and the school would like extend a personal thank you on behalf of generations of students, faculty and staff for her ongoing support of future pharmacists and the advancement of pharmacy. Dr Murphy will be formally recognized at the APhA 2008 conference in San Diego, March 14-17.
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