Mel Baron, associate professor at the USC School of Pharmacy, was named Pharmacist of the Year, and Pharm.D. student Danielle Colayco won Student of the Year at the California Pharmacists Association’s annual meeting in Sacramento on Feb. 8.

Pharmacist of the Year is the highest award given by the association.

Baron, who graduated from the school in 1957 and joined the USC faculty in 1980, was recognized for his work in meeting pharmacy needs of the community.

Baron’s career has been characterized by an eye to matching need with opportunity.

In the 1980s, he was a national leader in offering first-year students clinical experiences, known as externships, before most schools were providing any hands-on opportunities to students during the early years of their pharmacy education.

Baron also pioneered the role of the clinical pharmacist in safety-net clinics in Los Angeles, serving the needs of the area’s uninsured residents.

He recognized that expanded pharmacy services in these settings could greatly increase the number of patients seen while providing better care and saving health-care dollars. He spearheaded the school’s first funding grant for safety-net clinic work in 2000, which has led to the school’s expanded services in multiple locations serving some of Los Angeles’ neediest patients.

Working in underserved areas, Baron realized there was a lack of print material to educate Spanish speakers on health topics. Toward that end, he has produced fotonovelas (English and Spanish comic books) addressing the need for folic acid in women of childbearing age and the myths surrounding diabetes. Currently, he is in production on two additional fotonovelas on pediatric asthma and depression.

According to Dean R. Pete Vanderveen, “Pioneering vision, complemented by hard work, are the distinguishing marks of the long, still-vibrant career of Dr. Mel Baron.”

Taking the association’s highest student honor is Colayco, a fourth-year Pharm.D. candidate at the School of Pharmacy.

Colayco was nominated to represent USC in the statewide competition by peers and faculty. Her extraordinary record of professional pharmacy activities and community outreach garnered her the California title.

“I believe this award is a testament to the incredible mentors I have in my life and to my peers who inspire me to continue fighting for our profession,” said Colayco, who plans to continue her pharmacy education next year in either a residency or fellowship program.

Colayco served as the 2006-07 chapter president for the American Pharmacy Student Alliance, the umbrella organization for the four primary pharmacy groups on campus.

During her presidency, Colayco coordinated health fairs, legislative advocacy, professional development and other activities.

The School of Pharmacy also won the Project Hypertension Award for work led by students Helen Lee and Crista Qi.

The Pharmacy Foundation of California Film Festival announced USC as the first-place winner for the best presentation on medication errors. Bonnie Hui was the lead on the winning video project.