2/4/00
AU PROFESSOR TWICE HONORED FOR PHARMACY, HEALTHCARE SERVICE
AUBURN -- Ken Barker, Sterling Distinguished Professor in Auburn University's School of Pharmacy and director of AU's Center for Pharmacy Operations Design, has been named an honorary member of the United States Pharmacopeial Convention.
He will also be inducted into the Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame in March.
"Anytime that you're recognized by your peers in this manner, it's certainly an honor," Barker said. "But I have never had in my sights the reception of these awards and honors. I've only tried to do what I can to improve patient care in the field that I love."
Barker is being recognized for his contributions to the health care and pharmaceutical professions, ranging from pioneering work on a unit dose medication distribution system in the 1950s to ongoing research into methods to reduce the number of errors in medication administered in hospitals, nursing homes and other institutions.
In addition, Barker teamed with other AU faculty and researchers to design a retail pharmacy layout -- dubbed the Pharmacy of the Future -- conducive to pharmacists' expanded roles in patient consultation and the monitoring of such illnesses as hypertension and diabetes.
According to a profile of Barker by the Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame, his "career is distinguished with a series of accomplishments and innovations that have had a major impact on the practice of pharmacy and greatly improved the quality of the American health care system."
Barker will be one of 12 inductees at a March 18 reception.
The USP Convention establishes state-of-the-art standards to ensure the quality of medicines for human and veterinary use. Barker served as USP's director for administrative research from 1970 to 1972 and chaired its coordinating committee on large-volume parenterals for 1972-80. I
He led an effort to develop national guidelines for intravenous therapy that reduced infection and other IV-related complications.
Barker, who has been at Auburn since 1975, has received numerous honors and awards in recent years, including the American Pharmaceutical Association's Remington Award Medal, considered the highest award in the profession.
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CONTACT: Barker, 334/844-5152.