Richard A. Helms Excellence in Practice Award Established

For several years the leadership of the Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group (PPAG) has worked to establish a prestigious awards program.  The Board of Directors is pleased to announce the creation of a new award – the Richard A. Helms Excellence in Pharmacy Practice Award.  The award was established in 2005 and serves to recognize a pharmacist and member of PPAG who has made a sustained and significant contribution to the pharmaceutical care of children. 

Dr. Helms received a B.S. in Biological Sciences from The Ohio State University in 1971, a B.S. in Pharmacy from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in 1976, and a Pharm.D. from Duquesne University in 1979.  He then completed an ASHP-accredited residency in Hospital Pharmacy at Mercy Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA.  Dr. Helms is also Board Certified in Nutrition Support Pharmacy Practice.  

Dr. Helms is currently professor of Pharmacy and Pediatrics and serves as Chair of the Department of Pharmacy, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center.  He is Director of Clinical Pharmacy at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center, part of Methodist Healthcare, where he practices in the area of pediatric nutritional/ metabolic support. Dr. Helms' major research interests include amino acid and fatty acid metabolism in the neonate and infant. He is currently conducting research on cysteine dosing in the pre-term neonate, carnitine effects on neonatal morbidities, and amino acid requirements in home parenteral nutrition patients.

For over 30 years, Dr. Helms has been instrumental in defining the standard of practice in pediatric parenteral nutrition. His commitment to the care of children is exemplified by his involvement in the training of over 50 pharmacy residents in pediatric pharmacotherapy. He has been a leader in the profession and has served on the Board of Director of both PPAG and the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN). He is also a member of the Editorial Board of The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Dr. Helms received the Pharmacist of the Year Award from the Tennessee Society of Hospital Pharmacist (TSHP) and has been recognized for research excellence through ASPEN and TSHP.

 

This award is made possible through funds contributed by past post-doctoral trainees, colleagues, and friends of Dr. Helms:

 
B|Braun
Gillian Bradshaw
Jay and Kelly Bobo
Rex Brown
Jason and Kristina Bryowsky
Mike Christensen
Amanda Clark
Cathy Crill 
Karen Dominguez
Shannan Eades
David Gregory
Alison Grisso 
Kathleen Gura
Emily Hak
Kelly Kirby
Laureen Klein 
Robert Kuhn
Kelley Lee
Beth Mauer
Maureen McColl
Jay & Denise Mouser
Stephanie Phelps
Bert Price
Pam Reiter
Jessica Sandy
Cortney Schneider
Michael Storm 
Cindy Stowe
Jill Thompson
Paul Walker
Mary Worthington
Lori Wright 

To donate to the Helms Award Fund, click here.