Fostoria woman wins Ohio pharmacy award

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Pharmacists Association announced that Tonya Dauterman of Fostoria has been named the 2021 recipient of the OPA Good Government Award. This award, which was presented to Dauterman at the OPA's 143rd Annual Conference, conducted April 16 through 18, honors members who have made significant contributions to the public through government and/or legislative service/education at the local, state or national level. Dauterman is associate dean for external affairs & Advocacy and director of the Experiential Program at the University of Findlay's College of Pharmacy. She works to educate legislators and the public on how pharmacists can best utilize their education in providing excellent patient care, according to a news release from the OPA. Dauterman has coordinated advocacy Town Hall and other meetings with legislators to speak on the impact of pharmacists in optimizing patient care, and has organized faculty and student letter-writing campaigns. Dauterman earned her bachelor's of science degree in pharmacy from the University of Toledo and her doctor of pharmacy degree from Ohio State University. In addition to her faculty appointment at the University of Findlay, she is also a diabetes educator at Lima Memorial Hospital. "Tonya Dauterman doesn't only advocate for her profession, but teaches her students to do the same for their future profession" Ernest Boyd, OPA executive director, said. "If you want to make a difference and change things for the better, you have to be involved, and despite her busy academic schedule, Tonya makes time to work toward positive change for pharmacists to better patient care."The 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, according to the news release.