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University of Wisconsin-Madison

DPPD welcomes faculty, staff, and celebrates accomplishment

Kay Breunig, conference coordinator and the lead staff person in the office for the Division of Pharmacy Professional Development (DPPD), retired in early July of 2015 after 28 years with DPPD, the School of Pharmacy and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The division welcomes Heidi Ableidinger to serve in the role of conference coordinator. Before joining DPPD, Abledinger worked in human resources at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and has prior experience in event planning with the Fluno Center on the University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus. DPPD is looking forward Heidi continuing our tradition of providing great customer support to registrants/attendees of our continuing education/professional development programs.

Professor Jim DeMuth, one of four faculty members in DPPD, also retired in July of 2015 after 41 years of service to the Division of Pharmacy Professional Development and to the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy. Professor DeMuth has had significant responsibilities in developing/conducting programs for scientists in the pharmaceutical industry (worldwide) and pharmacists in the United States. DPPD conducted a national search for an individual to join the group and continue our tradition of providing excellent program opportunities for scientists in the pharmaceutical industry as well as practicing pharmacists. Erik Burns, Ed.D., MBA will join DPPD in August 2015 as a clinical assistant professor. Dr. Burns has been working on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus the past two years as a Special Projects Manger with the Division of Continuing Studies. In that capacity, Dr. Burns has been developing continuing education/professional development programs for non-health professional audiences. DPPD looks forward to the addition of Dr. Burns and the application of his proven programming skills to our target audiences.

Ruth Bruskewitz (left) receives the award from Nancy Fjortoft, PhD, Dean at Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy, Downers Grove, Ill.
Ruth Bruskewitz (left) receives the award from Nancy Fjortoft, PhD, Dean at Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy, Downers Grove, Ill.

Ruth Bruskiewitz, clinical associate professor in the Division of Pharmacy Professional Development at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy, was recently recognized by the Continuing Pharmacy Education Section of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy with the presentation of the William S. Blockstein Award for outstanding achievement/contributions to the discipline of pharmacy continuing education. This Award, named after William S. Blockstein, Ph.D. (deceased) was a former faculty member at the UW-Madison School of Pharmacy and UW Extension, as well as, a national leader in the early development of pharmacy continuing education. The receipt of this award by Professor Bruskiewitz is not only a recognition of her personal achievements/contributions, but also continues to reflect highly on the Division of Pharmacy Professional Development at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy—as three other DPPD faculty members are past recipients of the Blockstein Award—Professor Emeritus and former Dean Mel Weinswig, Professor Jim DeMuth, and Professor Al Hanson.