The purpose of the SWC award is to recognize and reward transformational, outstanding, and impactful work that advances a climate of student success, wellness, and community engagement. This year’s recipient of the SWC Faculty Award for the 2023-24 academic year is Dr. Chardaé Whitner.
Dr. Whitner is being recognized for her extraordinary efforts in increasing the representation of students from historically underrepresented backgrounds in pharmacy, and for her commitment to improving the health of patients from underserved communities through her clinical and scholarly efforts.
Outside of her assigned duties, Dr. Whitner has been an influential leader in the Doctors and Clinicians of Tomorrow program, a pathway initiative designed to increase the number of students from diverse backgrounds gaining admission to professional medical, nursing, or pharmacy schools, with the ultimate goal of reducing health disparities in underresourced and underserved communities. Specifically, Dr. Whitner was integral in organizing an onsite event in Gainesville for high school students from underserved communities in Jacksonville. During this event, students participated in a pharmacy compounding activity and interacted with professionals from various health disciplines, including medicine, nursing, dentistry, and veterinary medicine.
Furthermore, in her clinical role, Dr. Whitner was recently selected by the CDC to spearhead a new pharmacy service model at UF Health Jacksonville Total Care Clinic. This initiative focuses on enhancing the pharmacist-patient care process to improve health outcomes, specifically for Black patients with hypertension.
Her scholarly work is also impactful. She is evaluating the effectiveness of ASHP-accredited community pharmacy residency programs on medically underserved communities. Dr. Whitner’s passion for serving the underserved has been noted by her students and mentees. In a letter of nomination, one student remarked, ‘Last year, I began working on a research project with her that looks at where community-based pharmacy residencies are located and how pharmacist-led interventions could help underserved populations. While working with her, I’ve witnessed her devotion to serving underrepresented communities while increasing access to healthcare in these communities.’
Dr. Whitner’s activities and commitment to improving access and health outcomes for the underserved are extraordinary, making her a deserving recipient of the 2023-24 SWC Award.
2022-2023 Recipient
Julio Duarte, PharmD, PhD, FAHA
2021-2022 ReciPient
Oliver Grundmann, PhD
