University of Georgia College of Pharmacy

Senator Buddy Carter '80
Earl L. “Buddy” Carter was born and raised in Port Wentworth. He attended public schools in Chatham County and graduated in 1975 from Groves High School. From there he went to Young Harris College where he received an Associate of Science degree. He then transferred to the University of Georgia where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy in 1980. Buddy worked as a staff pharmacist and pharmacy manager at Rupert Heller’s Prescriptions on Highway 80 in Garden City from 1980 until November of 1988. On November 28, 1988, he opened his first retail pharmacy, Carter’s Pharmacy, Inc., in Pooler. In 1992 he opened another business, Carter’s Institutional Pharmacy, Inc., a business servicing nursing homes, personal care homes, and hospices. In 1996 he opened his second retail pharmacy in Garden City and in 2006, opened his third pharmacy in Rincon. In February of 1997, Buddy sold Carter’s Institutional Pharmacy, then servicing approximately 2000 nursing home beds throughout South Georgia, to Omnicare, Inc. Omnicare, Inc., located in Cincinnati, Ohio, is the largest provider of nursing home medications in the world. Today, Buddy still consults part time for Omnicare and he continues to own and operate the three retail pharmacies. On September 9, 1978, Buddy married his college sweetheart, the former Amy Coppage from Waycross. Amy is a registered physical therapist, having graduated from the Medical College of Georgia in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Therapy. Buddy and Amy have 3 adult sons – Joel, who lies in Charlottesville, VA with his wife, Megan; Barrett, who lives in New Orleans, LA; and Travis, a rising Senior at the University of Georgia. The Carter family has lived in Pooler since 1980 and now resides at 406 Purple Finch Dr.

Mr. J. Ashley Dukes '71
Ashley is owner of several independent community drug stores. He is a graduate of The University of Georgia, College of Pharmacy. He received a UGA College of Pharmacy Vision Plus Service Award for 14 years of service; the Distinguished Alumnus Award; a Founding Member of the UGA College of Pharmacy Presidents Club; President of Alumni Council; and member of the Pharmacy Advisory Board. Ashley served on and was President of the Georgia State Board of Pharmacy, a member of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, National Community Pharmacists Association, Academy of Independent Pharmacy and Georgia Pharmacy Association.

Mr. Mark W. Fitch
Mark is currently Senior Vice President of Global Operations for Impax Laboratories, Inc., based in Hayword, California. He is responsible for the manufacturing operations in California, Pennsylvania, and Taiwan. Mark has held positions of increasing responsibility at The Upjohn Company, Schering-Plough, Knoll/BASF Pharmaceuticals, Mylan Pharmaceuticals, and Nycomed US, Inc. He is the past Chairman of the PMA (PhRMA) Committee on cGMP and has served as a consultant to the pharmaceutical industry in the areas of cGMP and technical operations. Mark earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences from Purdue University, has been recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus, and previously served on the Dean’s Advisory Council at Purdue College of Pharmacy for over 20 years. Mark and his wife, Kandy, have two children: Elizabeth, who is currently pursuing a degree in Dentistry at West Virginia University, and Christy, who is pursuing a degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Colorado.

Dr. Eric Toby Herfindal
Toby served for 25 years on the faculty at the University of California, San Francisco, Medical Center College of Pharmacy, where he is currently Professor Emeritus. He was Chair of the Division of Clinical Pharmacy from 1972-1992. He holds a Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of California, San Francisco, and a Masters of Public Health from the University of California, Berkley. After leaving the University in 1992, he held a number of executive level positions in start-up companies. Toby was Co-Founder, President and CEO of National Oncology Alliance, Inc. (NOA), a company that provides business, clinical, technology and management services to community-based oncology practices. NOA is now a part of McKesson Corporation. He has authored numerous articles in professional journals, and is the editor of a number of books in the field of pharmacy and therapeutics, including the Textbook of Therapeutics: Drug and Disease Management, currently in its eighth edition. Toby has been active in various professional organizations, served on a number of editorial and advisory boards, and was a frequent lecturer at national and international healthcare meetings.

Dr. Marie W. Jackson
Marie received her Bachelor of Sciences in Chemistry in 1982 from Centre College of Kentucky, her BS/PharmD from the University of Kentucky in 1988, after which she completed a two year general clinical residency at the University of Kentucky AB Chandler Medical Center. From 1990-1992, she worked a joint position as Assistant Professor at Mercer University School of Pharmacy and Area Health Education Coordinator at the Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon, Georgia. Marie served as Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, and then as Manager of Pharmaceutical Care Services at University Hospital in Augusta, Georgia, before being promoted to Assistant Director of Clinical Pharmacy Services. In April of 2012, Marie was appointed to her current position as Director of Pharmacy at University Hospital in Augusta. She was awarded GSHP Pharmacist of the Year in 1999, and University Health Care System Employee of the Year in 2007.

Dr. Leslie Dotson Jaggers '85/'87
Leslie obtained her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the University of Georgia in 1985 and 1987, respectively. She completed a two-year clinical pharmacy residency at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in 1989, and obtained board certification as a pharmacotherapy specialist in 1996. Prior to moving to Atlanta, she practiced for five years as Clinical Supervisor for Adult Medicine at the University of Florida Shands Hospital. She was also Pharmacy Practice Residency Director and adjunct Clinical Associate Professor with the University of Florida College of Pharmacy. Leslie later worked for ASHP in the role of Clinical Affairs Associate where her responsibilities included coordinating the development of ASHP Therapeutic Guidelines and Therapeutic Position Statements. Since 1999, Leslie has practiced at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta as the Cardiovascular Clinical Pharmacist. She is a member of the Atlanta Academy of Institutional Pharmacy (AAIP), Georgia Society of Health-System Pharmacists (GSHP), American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), and the American College of Clinical Pharmacy. She is currently on the board of directors for AAIP and has completed terms as President and Chairman of the Board. In 2009, she was recognized as AAIP Pharmacist of the Year. For GSHP, she previously served as District Director and Co-Chairman for the Organizational Affairs Committee. Leslie is a frequent speaker at both state and local meetings. On the national front, she has served three terms as a member of the ASHP Council on Therapeutics. Leslie is an active preceptor for students and pharmacy practice residents. She is a past chairman and steering committee member of the Southeastern Residency Conference.

Dr. Bonnie Levin
Bonnie Levin, PharmD, MBA, is Corporate Assistant Vice President of Pharmacy Services for MedStar Health; an integrated health system in Maryland and Washington that includes nine hospitals, eight outpatient pharmacies and a centralized IV Admixture service that serves inpatient and home infusion patients. Dr. Levin’s responsibilities include leading MedStar’s “Communities of Pharmacy”, ongoing networks of clinical specialists, buyers, directors and informaticists; co-chairing the system Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee and Antibiotic Subcommittee, technology assessment and implementation and supply chain contracting. Previously, Dr. Levin was Director of Pharmacy and Behavioral Health at a community hospital where she implemented technology and innovative clinical services. Her interests include medication safety, informatics, clinical decision support and mentoring new and emerging leaders. Dr. Levin received her PharmD from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University. She has held leadership positions in state chapters of ASHP, has been active in ASHP’s Section of Pharmacy and Technology and is currently Vice-Chair of the ASHP Advisory Group on Multi-hospital Health System Pharmacy Leaders. She co-edited the ASHP’s Informatics Pearls, published in 2009.

Dr. John Mauger
John is Professor of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Utah College of Pharmacy. He served as Dean of the University of Utah College of Pharmacy from 1994-2009 and currently serves as Associate Vice President for Health Sciences at the University of Utah. He received his pharmacy degree from Union University, Albany College of Pharmacy (B.S., 1965), and his graduate degrees from the University of Rhode Island (M.S., 1967; Ph.D., 1971). He is board examined to practice pharmacy in New York and Vermont. John’s professional interests include: 1) pharmacy education, 2) pharmaceutical research related to the physic-chemical characteristics of dosage forms, 3) service to organizations that address the world-wide need for quality medicines and foods, and 4) contributions of the arts and sciences to society. He has served on the USP Biopharmaceutics Expert Committee, as Chair of the USP Board of Trustees, and as Vice President and President of the Board of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. He is also a member of the Editorial Advisory Board for the Journal, Pharmaceutical Development and Technology and is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. John’s avocation is water coloring.

Dr. Valerie L. Ng
Valerie is currently Chair, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine; Director, Clinical Laboratory; Director, Transfusion Service; and Immediate Past Chief of the Medical Staff at Alameda County Medical Center/Highland General Hospital, Oakland, California. She received her PhD from the U. Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston TX in 1980 and her MD from the U. Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas TX in 1984. She completed a residency in Laboratory Medicine at UCSF from 1984-1987 and joined the faculty. Her UCSF career culminated with her attaining the rank of Professor and included Director of the UCSF Clinical Laboratory at San Francisco General Hospital (1999-2005), Interim Chair, UCSF Department of Laboratory Medicine (2000-2005), and Chief of the Medical Staff, San Francisco General Hospital (2003-2005). She retired from UCSF in 2005 and went across the Bay to join Alameda County Medical Center (ACMC). In addition to her ACMC duties, she is also serves on the Board of Directors for the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI, formerly known as NCCLS; 2006-present), is a member of the external advisory board for the UGA College of Pharmacy (2001-present), and is the Chair of the Laboratory Medicine Editorial Review group for Doody Enterprises (1999-present). She completed a seven-year stint on the national Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee (CLIAC, 2000-2007) and remains a consultant for the Hematology and Microbiology Devices Panel in the FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health. In her spare time she lectures locally and nationally by invitation on various Laboratory Medicine topics, plays violin or piano in chamber ensembles and tries to stay current with Kung Fu movies.

Mr. John E. Nine
John joined Schering-Plough in 1975 as Vice President of Pharmaceutical Production. He later served as Senior Vice President, Manufacturing Operations of Schering Laboratories from 1986 to 1990, when he was appointed President, Technical Operations for Schering Laboratories. He subsequently served as Senior Vice President, Group C, and as President of Schering-Plough K.K., Japan. Prior to joining Schering-Plough, Mr. Nine held positions in manufacturing and packaging operations with Ciba-Geigy Corporation, Merck and Yardley of London. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy; an Honorary Science Doctorate of Pharmacy from Long Island University Arnold and Marie Schwatz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Brooklyn, New York; an Honorary Doctor of Pharmacy at Purdue University; and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida. Mr. Nine served as acting CEO of A-Bio Pharma Ltd., Singapore for 18 months. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Yonkers Industries in Cary, North Carolina, Board of Directors of A-Bio Pharma Ltd., Board of Directors of Aptuit, Board of Advisors of The Chao Center for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, and as Corporate Advisor of Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited, Singapore, as well as an Adjunct Professor at Purdue University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. He is now working as a Consultant to Gilead and to Porton Pharmaceutical in Chongqing China.

Ms. Ann Perry '83
Ann received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Georgia in 1983. Since her graduation, Ann has practiced primarily in the area of community pharmacy, in both chain and independent settings. She served on the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy Alumni Council from 1996 to 2000, and was selected as the College’s Distinguished Alumnus in 2000. Ann was appointed to the Georgia State Board of Pharmacy in 1997 and served until 2001, serving one term as Board President. Ann became involved with NABP in 1997 and was the NABP representative to the Pharmacy Technician Certification Council of PTCB from 2001 through 2006. A career-long member of the Georgia Pharmacy Association, Ann has served her profession on various levels. She has served several terms on both the GPhA Board of Directors and the PharmPac Board of Directors. A member of GPhA’s Academy of Employee Pharmacists, Ann has served as both a member of the AEP Board, AEP Vice-Chairman, and AEP Chairman. Additionally, she served as GPhA’s Public Affairs Committee Chairman from 1996 until 2011. Recognizing her commitment to the pharmacy profession and her community, she received the Bowl of Hygeia Award in 2006. Ann currently practices independent community pharmacy with Iva Drug Store in Iva, South Carolina.

Dr. Phil L. Samples '80/'92
Phil currently serves as Vice President, Federal Military with Truven Health Analytics (formerly Thomson Reuters Healthcare) and is responsible for managing business relations with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense and other Federal agencies ensuring that Truven Health solutions are optimally responsive to clinician, patient, and management information needs to include clinical decision support tools like MicroMedex and Pharmacy eXpert. Previous to joining Truvan Health, Colonel Samples served in numerous executive leadership roles in the Department of Defense to include the Pharmacy Consultant to the air Force Surgeon General and Chief Pharmacist for the United States Air Force. He was the senior advisor to the USAF Surgeon General for pharmacy policy and direction encompassing a $5 billion DoD benefit for 8.9 million beneficiaries. He established Air Force policy and coordinated matters with DoD and civilian leaders. He directed career development and served as senior mentor for 283 Air Force pharmacists. He successfully executed a $25M pharmacy automation project reducing risk of medication errors across the USAF leading to recognition with the APhA Pinnacle Award in 2004. He is a highly sought after speaker at numerous national and international conventions.

Mr. Fred Sharpe '74
Fred graduated from the University of Georgia, School of Pharmacy, in June, 1974, and began practicing at a pharmacy in Dublin, Georgia. In 1979, after working for others for 5 years, he purchased U-Save-It Pharmacy in Albany, Georgia. As of July, 2012, he owns 100% of eighteen stores in Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina and is a partner and director of fifteen other pharmacies in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. Along with over-seeing those who run the day-to-day operation of the businesses and working behind the counter as a pharmacist, Sharpe spends most of his time these days evaluating prospective locations for pharmacies – either purchasing existing stores or establishing new ones. Mr. Sharpe has been and continues to be active in the Georgia Pharmacy Association, having just retired from another term as the District President. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Academy of Independent Pharmacists and has served on the Board of Directors for a buying co-op based in Alabama known as API. In the community, Fred is on the Board of Directors of Heritage Bank of the South, The Anchorage (a facility for men with addiction problems), and is on the Vestry of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Albany. He has also served in the past on the Chamber of Commerce Board, the ADICA Board (Albany/Dougherty Inner City Authority), the Vestry of Christ Episcopal Church in Dublin Georgia, and in several capacities with various youth sports teams as well as being a Rotarian.

Mr. Jim Smeeding, Chair of the Board
Jim is a founding member of the Center for Pharmacoeconomic Studies at the University of Texas College of Pharmacy. His research interests are in applied pharmacoeconomics, systems integration and managed care. He received his Pharmacy Degree from the University of Buffalo and his MBA from the University of Texas. Over the last 36 years, his practice orientation has been in hospital pharmacy, clinical services, design, home infusion therapy, managed care services, and disease management. Jim is the President of four companies. The Jestarx Group is a data and educational resources company that works with pharmaceutical manufacturers. Project Rx is a service company that works with hospital pharmacies to assess, evaluate and improve quality, safety and efficiency of service delivery. National Managed Care Roundtable is an educational company that brings products and service offerings to managed care decision makers. Digital Health Dialog/One2One Health Media is a personalized digital patient contact company that assists patients in resolving prescription related benefit issues through the use of digital media. Within ASHP, Jim has chaired the Nominations Committee and the Committee on Professional Affairs. Jim has been nominated for ASHP Board of Director and President. He currently serves on the Communications Committee for the Section of Pharmacy Practice Management within ASHP. Jim is the past president of the Texas Society of Hospital Pharmacists (TSHP), and past board member of the TSHP R&E Foundation. He has many notable accomplishments within TSHP, including innovation programs for the R&E Foundation, formational support for three TSHP chapters, hiring of their management team, and the identification and hiring of their lobbyist, Brad Shields. He has served as an ASHP delegate in the past and is dedicated to improving the leadership and management support for health systems pharmacists with ASHP. He is active in legislative affairs and has presented at numerous state and national meetings. Jim is also a founding member of ISPOR and served as President in 1997-1998.

Mr. Robert I. Thompson '76
Robert is a licensed pharmacist and is currently Executive Vice President Pharmacy at Rite Aid Corporation. Rite Aid is the third largest drug chain in the United States and currently operates over 4,600 pharmacies in 31 states and the District of Columbia with annual sales of $26.1 billion. Robert is a native of Georgia and a 1976 graduate of the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy. After graduating from the College of Pharmacy, Robert practiced pharmacy in an independent pharmacy setting before joining Revco Drug Stores, a large chain, in 1978. After moving into operations management in 1984, Robert held a number of executive field and corporate management positions including Vice President Pharmacy Operations for the 2,500 store pharmacy chain. After a 20 year career at Revco, he was Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of DentalCare Partners, the fourth largest dental practice management company in the US. And for five years prior to joining Rite Aid, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Complient Corporation, a health and safety services company. In his role at Rite Aid, Robert is the senior pharmacy executive responsible for developing and implementing the company’s pharmacy strategy. This includes pharmaceutical purchasing, managed care, government affairs, direction and oversight of day-to-day pharmacy operations, regulatory compliance, pharmacy technology, standards of practice and quality assurance for Rite Aid’s 11,500 pharmacists and 20,000 ancillary pharmacy team members. Robert was recognized in 2009 by the University of George College of Pharmacy as Distinguished Alumnus.

Click here to view the Bylaws in PDF format.