Rhode Island resident, URI alum and professor, Robert Dufresne, talks about winning the Judith J. Saklad Memorial Award, and the ultimate reward of giving back to students. PHOTO CREDIT: uri.edu
Robert Dufresne has been at the University of Rhode Island long enough to have taught current professors, and his long career was recently celebrated with a national reward.
Dufresne, a professor in the College of Pharmacy at URI recently won the Judith J. Saklad Memorial Award, a lifetime achievement award from the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP).
In addition to being a professor at URI, Dufresne serves as a clinical pharmacy specialist in mental health at the Providence VA Medical Center. He is a native Rhode Islander and received his bachelor’s in pharmaceutical sciences, master’s in pharmacology and toxicology and two doctorates in pharmaceutical sciences and psychology, all from URI.
Dufresne has been working as a professor in the College of Pharmacy at URI since 1990. He is currently teaching PHP 555: Advanced Neuropsychiatric Pharmacotherapy, as well as a core psychology course.
He is a founding member of the CPNP and served on its board of directors, as well as several of its committees. In 2013, he developed an ASHP-accredited PGY2 psychiatric pharmacy residency, which he continues to precept for. In addition, he is the current faculty mentor for URI’s student chapter of CPNP.
Dufresne said that what kept him going was the colleagues he’s shared time with throughout his career.
“The best thing is that I love the people I work with and the students,” Dufresne said. “I generally have wonderful students, and I work with great people and that’s what keeps me going.”
The Judith J. Saklad Memorial Award is named after the late Dr. Saklad, a clinical pharmacologist and a founding member of CPNP. She served many important roles, including the Clinical Coordinator of Pharmaceutical Sciences at San Antonio State School, and the Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy and Pharmacology at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Additionally, Saklad was recognized nationally as an innovator of pharmaceutical care for children and adults with mental disorders and developmental disabilities.
“Rob is so deserving of this award,” Erica Estus, a clinical professor at URI and PharmD program director, said. “I was fortunate to have him in class as one of my professors when I was a pharmacy student here at URI, and now, he continues to positively influence countless future pharmacists every day.”
The award is given every year to a psychiatric pharmacy practitioner who “demonstrates a continuing dedication to the practice of psychiatric pharmacy.” Additionally, recipients of the award have a passion for patient care, and represent qualities and ideals of the profession.
Since receiving the award, Dufresne said that many of the people that he worked with over the years have reached out with congratulatory messages.
“I’ve had people that I taught 20 years ago and residents that I worked with years ago contacting me to congratulate me, and that was the best thing out of all of this,” Dufresne said.
Among those reaching out with congratulations was Estus, who said that Dufresne’s experience and expertise made him a perfect candidate, but his positive influence continues to make him a great coworker.
“We are fortunate to have him as part of our faculty, and it is fantastic to see him recognized in this way,” Estus said.