PAUL WHITE RECEIVES PHARMACY AWARD FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS

COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Ohio Pharmacists Association (OPA) announced today that Paul White, R.Ph., of Canton, Ohio, is the 2013 recipient of the Pharmacist Public Relations Award.

This award, presented at the OPA 135^nd Annual Conference held April 12-14 in Columbus, is presented annually to honor a pharmacist for continuous service to the community in educating the public on pharmacy-related issues and safe medicine use.

Paul White, a 1966 graduate of Ohio Northern University, is the owner of the Medicine Center Pharmacies in the Canton area. White is committed to patient care and educating the public about the vital role pharmacists play keeping them healthy. He hosts an hour-long, health-related talk show, Health Matters with the Medicine Center Pharmacy, on News-Talk 1480 WHBC in Canton along with this son, Brad White, R.Ph. The duo welcome health care professionals from different specialties as guest speakers. The public is invited to submit questions in advance via email or social media, or call in during the live show and talk with these professionals about their area of expertise. Past programs can be found on medshoprx.com. White is the Vice President of the Canton Rotary and received the 2012 Rotarian of the Year award. He is also 1^st Vice President of the Chain Drug Marketing Association and received the Member of the Year award in 2011.

White also fought for freedom of pharmacy choice in his community. Along with 12 other independent pharmacy owners, he organized meetings with school district, city and county officials to explain the importance of patients choosing their pharmacy. He educated decision makers on the implications of removing the personal interaction between a pharmacist and his/her patient.

“It is not out of the ordinary for pharmacists to be active in their communities – in fact, most pharmacists are ‘go-to’ health care resources in areas they practice and reside in. Paul White is a true ambassador for the profession in every sense of the word. It’s pharmacists like him who take health care to the next level that goes beyond what goes on behind the counter,” said Ernest Boyd, OPA Executive Director.

OPA, established in 1879, represents more than 4,000 pharmacists, pharmacy educators, and pharmacy students throughout the state. It is OPA’s mission to unite the profession of pharmacy and encourage interprofessional relations, while promoting public health through education, discussion, and legislation.