KU News Release

KU pharmacy student wins national and state awards for leadership, service

LAWRENCE — Jeff Little, a senior in pharmacy at the University of Kansas, has won one of 12 awards for student leadership given by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and a state honor from the Kansas Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

The national Student Leadership Award Program provides 12 students with $2,500 awards, a drug information reference library and a plaque. The national organization’s Research and Education Foundation provides the cash award through the Walter Jones Memorial Pharmacy Student Financial Aid Fund.

In addition, Little received the state award as 2007-08 Outstanding Health-System Pharmacy student in Kansas during the state group’s April 25 meeting at the Overland Park Convention Center. The award, an engraved plaque, recognizes professional service and dedication.

Little works as a pharmacy intern at Olathe Medical Center and the KU Hospital Poison Control Center. He is a past-president of the Student Society of Health-System Pharmacists and a student representative of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Council on Pharmacy Management.

Little helped coordinate a role-playing project through the KU chapter of the national pharmacy leadership society, Phi Lambda Sigma, that that was added to the pharmacy school’s curriculum in 2007. The project proposed that pharmacy students first role-play their counseling and practice activities with actors trained to portray patients, parents and physicians.

Little’s role in establishing the role-playing proposal helped him earn the Jeremy A. Matchett Excellence in Pharmacy Award in 2007.

Little also participated in a 150-mile bike ride for multiple sclerosis research and attended community fairs to promote smoking cessation, heartburn awareness and proper use of multi-dose inhalers for people with asthma. He also has served as cook for the Phi Lambda Sigma chapter’s annual chili feed that raises money for selected community charities.

Little lives in Tonganoxie. He is the son of Glenmaye Linnea of Wichita and David Little of Maple Grove, Minn. He is a graduate of Osseo (Minn.) High School.

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Student Leadership Award Program recognizes students with interest in pharmacy practice who have demonstrated leadership abilities. The society offers 12 awards annually, four to student members in each professional year of pharmacy school, beginning with the second professional year.

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