Professor selected for national Faculty Scholars Program

Meagan Brown (right) works closely with patients in Mississippi community pharmacies.

he National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation has chosen Meagan Brown, clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice at Ole Miss, to participate in its Faculty Scholars Program.

The 2-year-old program is designed to mentor junior faculty at pharmacy schools across the country through pharmacy-based patient care research. The initiative also connects participating scholars with experts in the fields of community pharmacy and research.

"We are thrilled that Dr. Brown has been selected to participate in the second class of the NACDS Foundation Faculty Scholars Program," said Leigh Ann Ross, associate dean for clinical affairs. "As coordinator of community pharmacy development, Meagan is committed to work in Mississippi communities and, specifically, with community pharmacies in our state. This program will provide a framework for developing and evaluating initiatives in this setting and will facilitate relationships and collaborations with faculty at other institutions who have similar interests."

The program provides a $2,500 startup grant to conduct and evaluate a patient-focused research project in community pharmacy practice.

"I hope to take my research capabilities to another level by being the primary investigator and seeing this project through to publication," Brown said. "I also hope to be exposed to a network of community-engaged pharmacists who are doing similar things [to what I'm doing] and possibly create research opportunities across the country."

As coordinator of community pharmacy development, Brown works with community pharmacists around the state to advance pharmacy practice by providing medication therapy management and chronic disease management training, and assisting with health fairs.

"I am passionate about the health and wellness of our community, especially the underserved," she said. "I will be able to conduct a project that displays my research interests and also will be able to share in the world of community-based research, which is what the program is about – dissemination of community-based, quality research programs."

Ross said she believes Brown will contribute greatly to the Faculty Scholars Program.

"Meagan's commitment, enthusiasm and collaborative spirit make her a true delight to have on our School of Pharmacy team, and I am confident that she will be an asset to the program," she said.

Last year, another Ole Miss clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice, Ashley Ellis, was selected to participate in the inaugural class of the NACDS Foundation's Faculty Scholars Program.