Rachel Grolmus, third-year PharmD student, was recently awarded the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Practice Award. This prestigious national award recognizes pharmacy students who are committed to improving and promoting public health.

Mike Kelly, clinical professor and associate dean for professional education, nominated Grolmus for her outstanding efforts with immunization campaigns this past school year.

University of Iowa College of Pharmacy student pharmacists have played an important role in meeting the university’s goal of a healthy student body for many years by collaborating with University of Iowa Student Health and Wellness (UISHW) and beginning this year, with the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) Employee Health. 

Because of these collaborations, student pharmacists delivered influenza vaccinations to over 1,000 fellow students and over 1,200 UI employees in the fall, as well as over 500 measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccines.

Grolmus served an integral role in the success of these immunization campaigns. Specifically, she served as the student pharmacist liaison and coordinator who planned, organized, and developed the events in close collaboration with UISHW and UIHC Employee Health. 

Kelly says about Grolmus, “Her effort was outstanding and it is not an exaggeration to say that our campus would have been less healthy without her efforts. I have supervised these student volunteers for several years and we have never had a student that demonstrated more resourcefulness, drive, and determination.”

Grolmus was presented the award at the UI College of Pharmacy Senior Dinners and Awards Ceremony on May 11.