University of Georgia pharmacy professor becomes first appointee to Rite Aid-endowed professorship

ATHENS, Ga. — A professor at the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy has been named the first Rite Aid professor in community pharmacy, the school said.

Beth Phillips, who took the new role on Dec. 1, joined the college's faculty in 2007, and the school said the professorship, its newest, includes a $250,000 endowment for salary support, research and teaching assistance and traveling expenses. Of the school's other endowed professorships, one also is sponsored by Kroger.

"We are delighted for the support Rite Aid has shown in establishing this community pharmacy professorship," college dean Svein Øie said. "The professorship will be key in our efforts to advance community pharmacy in our new healthcare environment."

Phillips teaches courses in community and ambulatory care in the doctor of pharmacy and graduate certificate in clinical pharmacy programs at the school and was named teacher of the year in 2012. In her 18 years teaching pharmacy, she has trained more than 60 postgraduate-year-one and postgraduate-year-two residents.