Manchester Magazine manchester magazine fall 2019 for joomag | Page 7
MU | N e w s
Pharmacy faculty honored
P1 Lorin M. Sheppard Teacher of the Year –
Sandy Hrometz
The professor of pharmaceutical sciences
and pharmacogenomics encourages students
who make great strides and is “continuously
encouraging students to grow and improve,” says
one of her students.
P2 Lorin M. Sheppard Teacher of the Year –
Trent Towne
The associate professor of pharmacy practice is
always “willing to go the extra mile,” according
to a student. Even though Towne teaches what
many students might consider the hardest course,
he makes it clear and aligns his teaching with
objectives.
P3 Lorin M. Sheppard Teacher of the Year –
Brian Skinner
An assistant professor and distance faculty
member, Skinner is “a master of technology,”
says a colleague who nominated him. His focus is
on individualizing care to the patient and making
recommendations that best fit the patient’s
situation.
Outstanding Service Award – Carrie Hoefer
The assistant professor of pharmaceutical
sciences and pharmacogenomics was cited
for her service to colleagues. She led the
Honor Council and helped develop three new
pharmacogenomics programs from scratch. In
the Fort Wayne community, she conducted a
gene variant analysis involving the Burmese
community and did research on the age-
vulnerable population.
Scholar of the Year – Vaibhav Mundra
The assistant professor of pharmaceutical
sciences received a prestigious research grant
from the American Association of Colleges of
Pharmacy. The award enabled study on a method
of delivering anticancer drugs for treating
multiple myeloma. Another grant involved
research on the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences
(APPE) Faculty Preceptor – Sara Trovinger
An assistant professor of pharmacy practice
and the director of experiential education,
she brings “passion, energy and compassion,”
to her job, says a student. Her work includes
coordinating introductory pharmacy practice
experiences for students in their first three
years and advanced pharmacy practice
experiences for fourth-year students.
Planer named Hoosier
Jewish Legend
The Indiana Jewish Historical Society
has inducted John Planer, professor
emeritus of music at Manchester, into
the Hoosier Jewish Legends – A Hall
of Fame.
Planer accepted the honor Aug. 25 at a
ceremony in Indianapolis.
The hall celebrates Hoosiers who have
created a significant and lasting impact
to their profession, faith-based and/
or secular community, and the legacy
of the Jewish community in Indiana’s
story.
Planer taught at Manchester for 47 years until his retirement in 2016.
“The teachings of Judaism have shaped my responses to our world,”
Planer said in his acceptance speech. We are charged to commit
ourselves to the welfare of others, he added. “Despair is not an option.”
At Manchester, Planer said, “my Judaism impels me to care for others –
to teach, advise, counsel and comfort; to apply Sam Levenson’s four-
letter words: Help. Give. Care. Feel. Love.”
Former student Maddy Minehart ’19 nominated Planer for the honor.
Planer is married to Janina Traxler ’73, professor emerita of French.
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