Statesboro native Dr. Kelly M. Smith, who is an associate dean, academic and student affairs and professor, pharmacy practice and science, at the University of Kentucky, College of Pharmacy, will receive the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation's 2018 Outstanding Alumna Award, on June 30 at the ZTA Convention in Orlando.
An alumna of Gamma Pi Chapter, Dr. Smith received her bachelor of science degree in pharmacy in 1992 and doctor of pharmacy degree in 1993 from University of Georgia. She completed her residency in drug information practice at University of Florida Health in Jacksonville in 1994. She then joined the University of Kentucky Health Care/Chandler Medical Center Department of Pharmacy staff as a drug information specialist and became an assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy in 1996.
She has advanced up the ranks of College of Pharmacy throughout her career, becoming a tenured professor in Pharmacy Practice and Science in 2007 as well as anoutstanding administrator. She served as interim dean of the college from 2015 to 2016 and has been associate dean since 2009.
Dr. Smith is also nationally recognized leader in her field, currently serving as president-elect of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. She will be installed as president of ASHP in early June 2018.
From 2001 to 2005, she served as Director of the UK Health Care Drug Information Center and became a nationally know expert and speaker in the field of "club" or "acquaintance rape"drugs. She spoke on the subject at conventions and leadership conferences for ZTA and other national women's fraternities. Dr. Smith also served ZTA as a Province President from 2001 to 2003 and chairman of the national Standards and Enrichment Committee from 1997 to 2001.
"Kelly's outstanding career in pharmacy education makes all of us in Zeta Tau Alpha proud," said Foundation President Becky Hainsworth Kirwan. Dr. Smith, a native of Statesboro, lives in Lexington, Kentucky. Her mother, Janice Alexander Smith, of Statesboro, is also an alumna of ZTA, initiated at Lambda Chapter at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, and a former Province President.