Orville C. Baxter Memorial Professional Practice Award

Brim has worked as a pharmacist for over 40 years, with the past 20 years as a clinical pharmacist at Independent Health, where she is primarily responsible for researching and evaluating new products and therapeutic issues to develop strategies to optimize their use along with evaluation of pharmacy and medical claims data. In addition, she also supports managed care activities, including developing action plans for quality measures, pharmacy network and pharmaceutical manufacturer partnerships, as well as provider, employer group, broker relations and physician engagement.

She is a strong advocate of diversity, inclusion and belonging, evidenced through her work at Independent Health’s Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Core Team along with her work across the Western New York Community. Her passion, respect and care for the wellbeing of others is what drives her every day. It also drives her to want to serve, educate and help the community where she lives.

Since 2015, she has been an Independent Health RedShirt volunteer at the ‘Ask the Pharmacist’ information table at the Good for the Neighborhood events, free, quarterly wellness programs in health care limited areas. Her involvement in these community events provides an opportunity to stay connected with patients and gain insight into the lives of those who are underserved, which she hopes will lead to better health outcomes and enhanced community engagement.

In 2016, Brim established an external informal group comprised of Black female pharmacists from around the region. The group supports various community events and organizations including Buffalo Prep, which helps to close the access and opportunity gaps for talented students who need financial assistance. In addition, the group participates in the national Tech Savvy conference, which hosts day-long conferences designed to attract and support girls in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields of study.

Brim is currently in her third three-year term on the board of directors of the Independent Health Foundation and in 2020 joined the Evergreen Health Board of Directors. Since 2008, she has volunteered as a University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Dean’s Alumni Ambassador, where she has mentored many PharmD students and assisted with hundreds of student interviews and application reviews. She was a recipient of Buffalo Business First’s 2023 IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Awareness) award and in 2022, she was recognized by WGRZ TV with a ‘Selfless Among Us’ acknowledgement for her long-standing volunteer work and health care advocacy throughout Western New York. 

The Orville C. Baxter Memorial Professional Practice Award, established in 1992, bears the name of a long standing faculty member who was extraordinarily dedicated to the professional practice of pharmacy. This annual award is given to recognize an outstanding practicing alumni pharmacist who demonstrates high ideals of professionalism and whose practice demonstrates genuine concern for patients.

The recipient must be a practicing pharmacist with at least five years of experience and have a BS in Pharmacy or a PharmD degree from the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

The recipient must be an alumni pharmacist and hold a degree from the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Nominees should be considered based on their professional and innovative pharmacy practice; concern for patients; pursuit of continuing education; mentoring of pharmacy students; participation in community health information programs; and ability to work cooperatively and effectively with others for the advancement of the profession of pharmacy.

Please Note: Current faculty members are ineligible for nomination.

Nominations for 2024 Alumni Awards are now closed.