Greater Lawrence Family Health Center is proud to recognize Alicia Mam daCunha, PharmD, AE-C for receiving the 2014 Distinguished Young Pharmacist award for Massachusetts, presented by Pharmacists Mutual Companies in cooperation with the Massachusetts Pharmacists Association. She received her award in late October during a regional award ceremony in Connecticut.
The Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award is an annual award in each state, and was designed to acknowledge young pharmacists for individual excellence and outstanding contribution to their pharmacy association and community.
daCunha graduated with her Doctor of Pharmacy from MCPHS University in 2010. During that time, she had been working as a clinical pharmacist in the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center Pharmacy. daCunha also served as a Clinical Pharmacist for the health center, specifically dealing with Coumadin patients in partnership with a dozen local visiting nurse associations. In June 2013, daCunha began serving as the Pharmacy Residency Program Coordinator in partnership with MCPHS in Boston. In this unique program, she is charged with developing the post-graduate pharmacy program to meet the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) accreditation requirements, as well as overseeing the operation for the program at GLFHC.
“Alicia is frequently identified on a national level as an expert in the area of clinical pharmacy services,” states Bob Ingala, President and Chief Executive Officer of GLFHC. “She presents on many national webinars with the Patient Safety Collaborative. In addition to her clinical skills she is operationally one of our strongest pharmacists and has been a mentor to many new physicians and clinical pharmacists. We are very proud to have Alicia on our team, creating new opportunities for pharmacy services and education.”
Diane Gatchell Martin, Director of Pharmacy for GLFHC praises the work daCunha has accomplished since joining GLFHC four years ago. “I have known Alicia for many years as I hired her as a pharmacy cashier for a previous employer when she was a senior in high school. Even then, I knew Alicia was special. She had a strong work ethic and a deep commitment to helping our patients. Alicia has been with GLFHC for a little over 4 years and in that time she has transformed our clinical pharmacy program.”
Alicia has been an active member in local pharmacy organizations. She has been a member of the American Pharmacist Association (APhA) and the American Society of Health System Pharmacists. Alicia is also an active member of the Massachusetts Pharmacists Association (MPhA) serving as Academy Governor of Specialty Pharmacy. She is also currently a member of the GLFHC Quality Council, Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.
A California native, daCunha moved to Lowell, MA as a child and calls that city home with her husband Derek. In her spare time, she enjoys spicy food and skydiving.
