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MPA Annual Awards

Nominations are open for 2025 Annual Awards

One of the duties and privileges of a professional association is to recognize excellence within the profession. The Montana Pharmacy Association does this each year at the winter conference by presenting professional awards of excellence. Awards will be presented at the 2025 MPA Winter CE Conference at the Fairmont Resort January 17th-19th. These awards are the Distinguished Young Pharmacist, Excellence in Innovation, Fitzgerald Pharmacist of the Year, Pharmacy Technician of the Year, Bowl of Hygeia, and MPA Fellowship Award. Click on the below button to nominate a deserving member of MPA!!

MPA Fellow Designation Program – Apply to highlight your professional achievements!

Dear MPA Member,

We are pleased to announce the 3rd year of our “Montana Pharmacy Association (MPA) Fellow Designation Program.”   This program allows members to nominate their colleagues or themselves to apply and receive recognition for their professional achievements and dedication to the practice of pharmacy.

This initiative has been endorsed by the MPA Board to recognize and reward pharmacist members who have demonstrated excellence in helping people achieve optimal health outcomes and advance the practice of pharmacy.  Successful candidates for the Fellow of MPA (FMPA) will have made sustained contributions to MPA in addition to demonstrating a high level of excellence in the pharmacy profession.

Applicants who qualify as a FMPA will receive recognition at the MPA Annual Awards Ceremony, special coverage in the MPA Newsletter, an exclusive label pin, a certificate, and an announcement of your achievement to local press outlets in your practice area.

To learn more about how you can apply please go to 2025 Fellow of MPA Application and checkout the complete Fellow of MPA Application form which describes the process and points needed to earn the fellowship designation. Or click here for a downloadable PDF to print and mail or email back to MPA. Thank you!

 We Honor Our 2024 MPA Award Recipients

Click here to view a full listing of all past award recipients.

Bowl of Hygeia
Hayley Blackburn, PharmD, BCACP, BC-ADM with the University of Montana Skaggs School of Pharmacy - Missoula 

Dr. Blackburn is an associate professor within the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and a didactic instructor and clinical preceptor who is always thinking of innovative ways to teach the upcoming generation of pharmacists. In addition, Dr. Blackburn serves as the assistant director for was monumental in the new Skaggs Institute for Health Innovation (SIHI), a statewide hub for health education, research, and outreach to improve access to emerging health innovations for underserved populations. Dr. Blackburn is also the co-founder of Rx for Climate Global Pharmacy Alliance. She is also active in securing funds for the improvement of patient care, including in part receiving $679,000 under the FCC COVID-19 Telehealth Funding Program which allowed the College of Health to purchase and disseminate telehealth equipment to provide simulation training opportunities for health professions trainees across Western Montana.

Dr. Blackburn strives to promote harm reduction measures for persons struggling with illicit and prescription drug use disorder by being an active member of the Missoula Rx Drug Taskforce and serving on the Board of Directors for Open Aid Alliance as their secretary. In addition, she is the faculty advisor for UM Students for Sensible Drug Policy. She also serves on the board of directors for SIMS-MT and Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate. In addition, she sits on a variety of committees within the University of Montana including the curriculum committee for the Skaggs School of Pharmacy. She is a member of MPA, APhA, ACCP, and is a past recipient of the University of Montana Skaggs School of Pharmacy Clinical Instructor of the Year.

Distinguished Young Pharmacist of the Year
William Rotter, PharmD with Livingston Community Pharmacy (Community Health Partners) Livingston, MT

Rotter is a pharmacist with Livingston Community Pharmacy and has been involved in championing initiatives such as promoting immunizations to the community, MTM, and medication reconciliation. Livingston Community Pharmacy provides an essential service to the town of Livingston, and Rotter plays a pivotal role in the success of this pharmacy—not only with his extensive knowledge in both clinical and administrative areas, but more importantly, with his dedication to excellence in patient care. He never hesitates to go above and beyond for his patients.

Notably, Rotter is an active member of the MPA and holds pharmacy licenses across multiple states. His commitment to public service extends to his role as a volunteer firefighter, where he holds certifications as an Engine Boss (Wildland Fire Certification) and FFT 1 (structure fire certification). 

Excellence in Innovation - No nominations for this award were received. 

Fitzgerald Pharmacist of the Year
Erin Ellingson, BS Pharm with Sidney Health Center

Ellingson is the pharmacist at the cancer center at Sidney Health Center.  Ellingson works side-by-side with their oncologist and the team and is instrumental in the care that their patients receive. From consulting on CNS penetration of different medications to treat certain cancers to helping develop treatment plans that help provide better patient outcomes, it would be impossible to find a professional that is more dedicated to the care of patients in any geography than Erin. 

Ellingson attends various conferences related to oncology every year.  This year she was in Denver and Washington DC with some of her team to improve their skills and capacity to care for patients.  Aside from that Ellingson has 2 kids that keep her more than busy with hockey and rodeo.

Pharmacy Technician of the Year
Carly Thomason, CPhT with Barrett Hospital & HealthCare Dillon, MT

Thomason is a Certified Pharmacy Technician at Barrett Hospital and HealthCare.  She is their lead technician; as well as managing their procuring of medications.  She has organized and streamlined many of their procedures to help make the best of their technicians and pharmacists’ time.  Carly has completed VFC training and is one of Barrett’s representatives for the state vaccine program.  Carly is currently working on an advanced pharmacy technician certificate program.

Carly's 5-year-old daughter Oakly keeps them busy with dance and her horse French Fry.  Additionally, Carly rides with the Ramblin' Rose Equestrian Drill Team performing at rodeos and competitions throughout the summer.  She is the secretary for Ramblin Rose.  Carly is also a Mary Kay Consultant.

Fellow of MPA for 2024

 

 

Donna Beall, PharmD, BCPS, FCCP, Director of Student Services and Interim Dean of Skaggs School of Pharmacy with the University of Montana

 

Beall received the Fellowship of Montana Pharmacy Association Award at the 2024 MPA Winter CE Conference, which recognizes the recipient’s achievements and dedication to the practice of pharmacy and the community. The distinction signifies the recipients’ actions well beyond regular pharmacy practice.

 

Beall has been a longstanding member of Montana Pharmacy Association and serves on the board as a liaison between Skaggs School of Pharmacy and MPA.  She has been invaluable as the Chair of the Program/Awards Committee pulling together speakers from across the state and nation to give our association the best conference to help our pharmacists, technicians, and students keep current on issues impacting the profession. 

Kristin N. Dimond, PharmD, BCPS, Clinical Coordinator-Inpatient Pharmacy Services with the Billings Clinic

Dimond received the Fellowship of Montana Pharmacy Association Award at the 2024 MPA Winter CE Conference, which recognizes the recipient’s achievements and dedication to the practice of pharmacy and the community. The distinction signifies the recipients’ actions well beyond regular pharmacy practice.  Kristin is the current Chair and distinguished leader of MPA.

In her work setting, Kristin’s responsibilities include onboarding new pharmacists, maintaining robust staff competency structure and leading new clinical & educational initiatives. She has extensive involvement in the provision of pharmacy clinical and operational services spanning a broad spectrum of pharmacy settings. Her professional interests include trauma resuscitation, toxicology, oral oncology, drug information, and education.