Pharmacist wins teaching award

Tim Lopez

Tim Lopez, a clinical pharmacist in internal medicine at Community Regional Medical Center, was named as the recipient of the Longs Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching – the highest teaching award given by the University of San Francisco School of Pharmacy.

Students from each of the state’s six Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience regions nominate a local preceptor for the teaching award. One person is selected from each site for an award, which includes a cash prize and recognition during the school’s May commencement ceremony in San Francisco.

One student had this to say in her nomination of Lopez: “Dr. Lopez is very supportive, encouraging, knowledgeable, professional, and above all, a real role model. Needless to say, he has been a great inspiration to all, and truly deserves this award.”

This marks the second time Lopez has been honored with the award, also winning it in 2005.

“He is an excellent example of what a teacher should be,” said Alice Robbins, the pharmacy practice residency program director for Community Regional Medical Center. “We are proud of his accomplishments in his service to internal medicine, patient care and pharmacy services.”

The only other Community Medical Centers-affiliated pharmacist to win the Longs award was Amy Bower (critical care-medicine) in 2006. Lopez also was part of the rotation of the year teams awarded in 2003 (with Tim Sayles and Robbins) and 2006 (with Robbins) for internal medicine. Ogo Molokwu was honored last year for his work at Community Health Center-Sierra and Community Health Center-Cedar.

This story was reported by Eddie Hughes. He can be reached at eddieh@communitymedical.org.

Thursday, March 20, 2008