College of Pharmacy’s Campbell receives prestigious APHA Outstanding Dean Award
Kim Chaudoin |
Serving others through the practice of pharmacy is in Tom Campbell’s DNA. It is something he has devoted his career to and that today he strives to instill in others.
With more than 35 years of experience in various aspects of pharmacy practice, including patient care, pharmaceutical industry management and higher education, Campbell has been part of the Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy’s administrative team since its founding in 2007 and has served as its dean since 2019.
Earlier this month, Campbell was recognized for his dedication and leadership in the field of pharmacy education as he was selected for the 2024 Outstanding Dean Award by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA).
“This prestigious accolade serves as a testament to Dean Campbell's unwavering commitment to advancing pharmacy education and his profound impact on shaping the future of the profession,” said Lipscomb University Provost Jennifer Shewmaker.
The APhA Academy of Student Pharmacists Outstanding Dean Award was established to recognize a school or college of pharmacy dean who has made significant contributions to the APhA-ASP Chapter and promoted with distinction the welfare of student pharmacists through various community service, leadership and professional activities.
“I'm very honored by the award. It is a reflection of more than just myself, though. It's a reflection of the work of the entire college and our focus on having an environment that allows our students to not only learn about pharmacy and drug therapies but to also realize the important role they play in the community by helping people live better, healthier lives,” said Campbell. “It's also a reflection of how our student pharmacists have gone out to the community and made a difference. Through immunization programs, offering educational events focused on topics such as diabetes, heart disease and women's health, those activities have made a tremendous difference in people's lives.”
Campbell, right, with College of Pharmacy founding dean Roger Davis.
Campbell joins a list of previous winners who have represented schools such as West Virginia University, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, the University of Iowa, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, the University of Southern California, The Ohio State University, University of Kentucky and the University of Connecticut. Roger L. Davis, founding dean of Lipscomb’s College of Pharmacy, received the award in 2019. Campbell will be recognized during the APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition March 22-25 in Orlando, Florida.
Campbell credits Davis, who served as dean from 2008-2019, with building a strong foundation for the college — one upon which he continues to build today. He said the college has “absolutely incredible” faculty who are recognized for their research internationally, have developed outstanding partnerships in research and clinical practice, and mentoring students to be ready to be leaders for the next generation of pharmacists.
Under Campbell’s leadership, the college has had a consistent 100% job placement rate for graduates, residency and fellowship placement rates well above the national average, increased the amount of faculty research supported by grants, supported the creation and development of a center of excellence in drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic research that has led to significant collaborations with healthcare leaders such as Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Cleveland Clinic, and launched a spring cohort in January.
He also guided the college through the COVID-19 pandemic during which student pharmacists mobilized to compound hand sanitizer to give to community groups and administered countless tests and vaccinations.
“The willingness of our students to serve in the very earliest days of the pandemic illustrates their courage and heart for helping others,” Campbell reflected. “Many of them were asked to be on the frontlines at community pharmacies administering COVID tests. In the early days and months of the pandemic, we didn't know the severity and scope of it all. However, our students and faculty did not hesitate to volunteer to help others despite not knowing. I’m very proud of their willingness to do that.”
Lipscomb’s student pharmacists have been recognized with several regional and national awards during Campbell’s tenure. Lipscomb’s APhA-ASP chapter has been honored nationally for its community service through vaccinations twice, winning the association’s Operation Immunization crown for the number of vaccinations given in the 2020-2021 school year and the 2018-2019 school year. The chapter has won the regional award for Operation Immunization three times. Last year, a Lipscomb student pharmacist was named the American College of Rheumatology (ARP) Outstanding Student in Rheumatology Award along with numerous others in recent years.
The accolades are rewarding, Campbell said, but the most satisfying aspect of practicing pharmacy is helping others. This past September, the College of Pharmacy provided its 100,000th flu shot since the establishment of the college, and the college has continued its commitment to service through long-term mission programs in Honduras and partnerships with local organizations such as Jovenes en Camino, Faith Family Medical and Dispensary of Hope.
“We have been very community-facing in what we're trying to do in having our students available for those types of activities. What's incredible is our students, who are very busy with a heavy load of courses, regularly volunteer for these activities, which underscores their servant hearts,” explained Campbell. “They want to be there and be a part of it. We have a heavy emphasis on meeting the needs of the underrepresented, vulnerable populations of this city making sure that people in those communities have access to pharmacy services as well as other medical services. It is just part of who we are as a college and as a university.”
“That's what it all comes down to — serving others. Our student APhA chapter has earned a host of awards and recognitions. But the most important thing about all of this is that we have done something to help people … to make a difference in their lives,” he continued. “Maybe what we have done helps someone stay on the job and continue earning wages or helps a family stay healthy. Those are really important things.”
Campbell’s prior work experience includes serving as the clinical pharmacy and research coordinator at Columbus Regional Health System in Columbus, Georgia, and senior director for cardiovascular medical affairs at Sanofi Pharmaceuticals. Campbell also served as a clinical assistant professor at Auburn University. He has served as president of the Tennessee Pharmacists Association and served on the Board of Directors. He is a member of AACP, APhA, ASHP, TPA, and ACCP. Campbell received his Pharm.D. degree from the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy and completed board certification in pharmacotherapy in 1995. Campbell also serves on the Board of Directors for Jovenes en Camino.
“I love the profession. Because it is one of the more outward-facing professions, we engage with the public as much as any healthcare provider does,” Campbell reflected. “I love being able to see people come in with issues and help resolve those issues. That's one of the things that has always drawn me to the profession of pharmacy. I love my role as dean because it's an opportunity to see the passion and excitement of our students as they embark on that same career that I did more than 30 years ago. It’s also rewarding to see how they want to go out and make a difference in the world … how they want to make sure patients are treated optimally. That's what drives me.”