URI College of Pharmacy names Rhode Island NeighborCare pharmacist Preceptor of the Year KINGSTON, R.I. — March 23, 2001 — During his 46 years in the pharmacy industry, Sal Capozzoli has built relationships with people. He firmly believes that, “understanding people as a whole of mind, body and spirit is the key to the highest quality of medical care.” As with his patients, Cappozoli also connects with his URI pharmacy students, giving them some of the best hands-on experience any one has to offer. Named Preceptor of the Year for 2000 by URI’s College of Pharmacy, he recently received the award sponsored by Roche Laboratories, which honors pharmacists for their skill and dedication in mentoring URI pharmacy interns. Capozzoli is a supervisor in the preceptor program, which links fifth-year pharmacy students to more than 100 clinical sites to provide them with experiences outside the classroom. The students are placed in a variety of settings, including hospitals, retail stores, managed care facilities, and health maintenance organizations. They intern full time for six weeks and receive a grade at the end of the period. A retail and consultant pharmacist based at the Coventry Rhode Island NeighborCare Pharmacy, Capozzoli takes pride in his involvement with students. “URI’s turning out some great students,” he said. “They’re great because all of their knowledge bubbles forth once they get the hands-on experience.” A 1954 graduate of the Rhode Island College of Pharmacy (now the URI College of Pharmacy), Capozzoli is known throughout Rhode Island as the “father of nursing home consulting,” said Henrique Pedro, coordinator of the College of Pharmacy’s externship program. He added that Capozzoli is well liked by the community and a respected pharmacist. Capozzoli has also earned the respect of students who have worked with him. One of his former students commented that, “Sal was a true role model and provided me with knowledge and experiences that will last throughout my career. He always accepted my recommendations with an open mind and trusted me as a professional. He deserves to be recognized for his dedication to his students and his career.” In the end, he hopes that his involvement with students can make a difference in the future of upcoming pharmacists who enter the industry. As for him, he just loves being around young, energetic students. “I like being around the kids because I don’t feel old,” he said. So in a sense, this would make him one of the youngest recipients of the preceptor award yet. For Information: Dave Lavallee 874-5862, Keith Marshall 874-2116