Julie Ann Dopheide, PharmD, professor of clinical pharmacy, psychiatry and the behavioral sciences, received the 2020 Judith J. Saklad Memorial Award from the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP) on May 1.

The award recognizes Dopheide’s professional distinction in the practice of psychiatric pharmacy. A board-certified psychiatric pharmacist, she is actively involved in teaching pharmacy students, medical students and psychiatry and pharmacy residents. Dopheide joined the USC faculty in 1988 and has been a member of CPNP since its inception, serving as its president in 2013–2014.

During the virtual award ceremony, Dopheide was warmly introduced by Kelly Gable, who worked with her as a psychiatric pharmacy resident and now serves as a professor in the department of pharmacy practice at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s School of Pharmacy.

“As a young learner, not only did she show me that … we are valuable members of the healthcare team, but to not be afraid to be innovative and to pave a new path for psychiatric pharmacy and to follow our hearts and our passions in life. And for this I will forever be grateful to her,” Gable said. “If we were physically together right now, we would be giving Julie the standing ovation that she so beautifully deserves.”

In accepting the award, Dopheide expressed gratitude to the CPNP community and described the journey of her psychiatric career. She said she always aimed to surround herself with people who were kind, energetic and hard-working. “We are all a part of the colleagues, students, residents and patients we have met, and all we do and say in our personal lives and in our professional lives to students and patients and colleagues impact the people around us,” she noted.

Dopheide also encouraged attendees to “take on new challenges and new clinics … and stay engaged in CPNP.”

The Saklad Memorial Award is named in honor of Judith J. Saklad, a founding member of CPNP and a nationally recognized innovator in pharmaceutical care for children and adults with serious mental disorders and developmental disabilities. Award recipients represent the qualities of professional enthusiasm and passion for optimizing patient care.

Dopheide is the third USC School of Pharmacy faculty member to receive the Saklad Award. Glen L. Stimmel, professor of clinical pharmacy, psychiatry and the behavioral sciences, was the inaugural honoree, in 1998. The late Michael Z. Wincor received the award in 2007.