Honoring Long-Term Contributions to Hospital Pharmacy and AAHP

The Louise Pope Award was established by the Arkansas Association of Health-System Pharmacists (AAHP) Board of Directors to recognize individuals whose long-term service has significantly advanced hospital pharmacy and the mission of AAHP. This award is not given annually by default; it is reserved for those whose impact truly stands out over time.

Who Was Louise Pope?

Louise Pope was a dedicated hospital pharmacist who worked at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in the 1970s and 1980s. During a pivotal era in hospital pharmacy, she played a key role in keeping AAHP active and moving forward, often credited with almost single-handedly sustaining the organization.

Louise was a strong proponent of unit dose dispensing, an innovative approach to medication distribution that improved safety and efficiency. UAMS served as one of the national pilot hospitals for unit dose in the 1970s, and the pilot program was highly successful.

Throughout this time, Louise’s advocacy and dedication to patient safety and best practices left a lasting mark on hospital pharmacy in Arkansas.

About the Award

Purpose
The Louise Pope Award was created to:

• Recognize long-term contributions to hospital pharmacy practice.

• Honor individuals who have made a significant impact on AAHP through sustained involvement, leadership, and service.

• Celebrate those who embody the same commitment, perseverance, and forward-thinking spirit demonstrated by Louise Pope.

Selection Process

• The award is given at the discretion of the AAHP Board of Directors.

• There is no general membership vote; the Board reviews potential candidates and selects the recipient.

• In some years, the award is not presented if the Board determines that no nominee clearly meets the high standard of long-term, outstanding contribution that the award represents.

Past Award Recipients