KINGSTON, R.I.-- July 9, 2003 -- Raynham, Mass. resident Lisa Cohen was named the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy’s Clerkship Preceptor of the Year during recent ceremonies at URI’s Kingston Campus.

Cohen, who earned her bachelor’s degree in pharmacy and her doctor of pharmacy degree from URI in 1994 and 1996 respectively, is a clinical care coordinator and general manager at CVS Health Connection in South Weymouth, Mass. At the Health Connection, Cohen works with a nutritionist and nurse practitioner to provide direct patient care, with a focus on patient education in diabetes management, congestive heart disease, weight loss management, smoking cessation, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and blood pressure management.

Cohen has served as a URI preceptor for the past six years, acting as a mentor and teacher for students in the field of direct patient care.

"Dr. Cohen provides students with an excellent learning environment through her own experience," said Margaret Charpentier, director of advanced practice experiences at URI’s College of Pharmacy. "She involves the students in all aspects of her work, serving as a role model for them. As a preceptor and a practitioner, Dr. Cohen has demonstrated compassion, intelligence and motivation.

"Dr. Cohen has motivated several students to continue their education beyond their degree in hopes they too may develop a practice similar to the one they experienced with her."

Cohen is a mentor and teacher to about six URI pharmacy students a year who learn about disease-state management through contact with Cohen’s patients who number up to 50 per week.

"We don’t do any (drug) dispensing, so the students help me provide the patient education, counseling and instruction in various medical conditions," Cohen said. "My focus is to make sure the students are well-versed and comfortable in talking with patients."

She said working with students helps keep her tuned in to the latest in the pharmacy practice. "Students also think differently. One student created a (diabetes) Jeopardy game for patient education that I still use. Another created a Family Feud game dealing with diabetes. I have found that patients learn much better with these than they do with lecture, lecture, lecture.

"I find that the URI students are very well prepared, especially those who’ve worked in clinical pharmacy settings before," Cohen said. "But even the ones who haven’t, really soaked this experience up."

For Further Information: Margaret Charpentier 401-874-5418