Pharmacy professor bridges the Alzheimer's divide

That ability and his strong performance in Alzheimer's care was why Cluxton was chosen to receive Eisai's hhc (human health care) Pharmacist Recognition Award. This is the sixth year that Eisai, maker of Aricept (donepezil), has offered this award program, which drew more than 300 entries this year. Out of these entries, three pharmacists were selected, representing the hospital, long-term care, and community pharmacy settings, respectively. Cluxton represents the community pharmacy setting.

The other winners are Iowa hospital pharmacist Anne Salamon, R.Ph., and Connecticut consultant pharmacist Peggy Memoli, Pharm.D., for long-term care. (For more on the awards program, see "Three pharmacists nab award for their strong Alzheimer's care," Drug Topics, Nov. 5.)

Meeting those goals also meant spending quality time with patients, not "treating the chart," Cluxton told Drug Topics. That hands-on approach also led him to new opportunities to spread the word on the importance of taking an interdisciplinary approach. Cluxton and Warshaw developed a continuing education curriculum for doctors, and over the years he has participated in more than 400 in-office sessions as well as countless community education programs.