SAN DIEGO — Dr. Katie Westgerdes of the Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy has been named the 2019 Outstanding Faculty Liaison of the Year by the National Community Pharmacists Association Foundation. Westgerdes is the faculty laision for the the NCPA Student Chapter at ONU and is the pharmacy manager at the university’s on-campus independent pharmacy, Healthwise Pharmacy. She is a 2013 graduate of ONU and throughout college actively participated in ONU’s NCPA Student Chapter. She became a faculty member and then faculty liaison in the winter of 2018.

Living in a medically underserved location of Ada, Ohio, Westgerdes saw a need and opportunity to help open the ONU on-campus pharmacy for use by members of the campus community and the surrounding area. With the strong business skills gained by starting a pharmacy, Westgerdes was instrumental in helping ONU’s student business plan team to receive second runner up at NCPA’s 2018 Student Business Plan Competition and a first place finish at the Ohio Pharmacists Association’s Business Plan Competition.

In addition, Westgerdes’ guidance also contributed to ONU’s chapter earning recognition as the NCPA 2018 Chapter of the Year first runner up as well as that year’s Legislative Challenge winner. She always finds a way to attend and remain deeply involved in every executive committee meeting and monthly chapter meetings. Westgerdes regularly demonstrates leadership, love of independent pharmacy, and dedication to the ONU Student NCPA chapter.