Meagan Brown (right) works closely with patients in Mississippi community pharmacies.
OXFORD, Miss. – Meagan Brown, clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice at the University of Mississippi, has been selected to participate in the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation’s Faculty Scholars Program.
The 2-year-old program is designed to mentor junior faculty at pharmacy schools across the country through pharmacy-based patient care research. The initiative also seeks to connect participating scholars with experts in the fields of community pharmacy and research.
“We are thrilled that Dr. Brown has been selected to participate in the second class of the NACDS Foundation Faculty Scholars Program,” said Leigh Ann Ross, associate dean for clinical affairs at the UM School of Pharmacy. “As coordinator of community pharmacy development, Meagan is committed to work in Mississippi communities and, specifically, with community pharmacies in our state. This program will provide a framework for developing and evaluating initiatives in this setting and will facilitate relationships and collaborations with faculty at other institutions who have similar interests.”
The program provides a $2,500 startup grant to conduct and evaluate a patient-focused research project in community pharmacy practice. Brown said she is looking forward to this research opportunity.
“I hope to take my research capabilities to another level by being the primary investigator and seeing this project through to publication,” Brown said. “I also hope to be exposed to a network of community-engaged pharmacists who are doing similar things and having similar thoughts and could possibly create research opportunities across the country.”
As coordinator of community pharmacy development, Brown works with community pharmacists around Mississippi to advance pharmacy practice by providing medication therapy management and chronic disease management training, and assisting with health fairs.
“I am passionate about the health and wellness of our community, especially the underserved,” she said. “I will be able to conduct a project that displays my research interests and also will be able to share in the world of community-based research, which is what the program is about – dissemination of community-based, quality research programs.”
The School of Pharmacy was represented in the Faculty Scholars Program last year. Ashley Ellis, clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice, was a member of the program’s inaugural class.
Ross said she believes Brown will contribute greatly to the program.
“Meagan’s commitment, enthusiasm, and collaborative spirit make her a true delight to have on our School of Pharmacy team, and I am confident that she will be an asset to the Faculty Scholars Program this year,” she said.