2021 Army Pharmacy Leadership and Innovation Award

Dr. Adam Edward Lang receives the 2021 Army Pharmacy Leadership and Innovation Award

Sponsored by the University of Cincinnati Master’s in Pharmacy Leadership Program, the 2021 Army Pharmacy Leadership, and Innovation Award was recently awarded to Dr. Adam Edward Lang. This award was established in 1994 to recognize superior achievement in which either a person’s or an organization’s vision was lifted to a higher standard recognized as functioning beyond the norm.

The 2021 Award recipient, Dr. Adam Edward Lang, was recognized for his significant efforts to reduce tobacco and nicotine use for thousands of Army soldiers.

The award was presented during the recent 2021 Joint Federal Pharmacy Seminar (JFPS) conference. JFPS is coordinated annually by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) as a national conference for federal pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. The JFPS 2021 conference was held virtually, with hundreds of attendees, and provided educational sessions and recognition ceremonies for federal pharmacists and technicians honored for their professional achievements through the annual Service Award programs.

Nomination Criteria

Nomination criteria for the Army Pharmacy Leadership and Innovation Award include any Army Pharmacy Employee (military or civilian) or Pharmacy Department or Section that has demonstrated excellence in leadership through innovation in improving patient care, operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, or other such worthy improvements in practice. The UC Masters Degree in Pharmacy Leadership is proud to sponsor this key award recognizing leadership of an Army recipient each year.

The 2021 award recipient, Dr. Adam Edward Lang of Fort Eustis in Newport News, VA, was recognized for his significant impacts on reducing tobacco and nicotine use throughout the Army.

Demonstrated Excellence in Leadership Through Innovation

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Lang determined that smoking was one of the few modifiable risk factors of both transmission and severity of the COVID-19 virus. He proposed and implemented a tobacco treatment campaign targeting more than 30,000 beneficiaries who receive medical care at Fort Eustis and its outlying clinics. The campaign included modified standard practices to transition to full telehealth capabilities, created standing orders for patients to obtain medications through different pharmacies, and provided 90-day supplies to help limit patients’ exposure to the virus.

Additionally, Dr. Lang’s research on tobacco and nicotine use, which included thousands of participants, identified high rates of nicotine use among young trainee soldiers. Notably, Dr. Lang’s findings led to the implementation of an Advanced Individual Training (AIT) nicotine-free policy in the 128th Aviation Brigade. He designed and led the implementation process and coordinated educational resources, behavioral services, and pharmacologic interventions for over 1,500 eligible soldiers.

Further, Dr. Lang found a significant increase in AIT soldiers’ beliefs in remaining nicotine-free after this strategic implementation. With the success of his efforts, Dr. Lang’s research is being considered as a model for further policy change throughout the Army.

Dr. Lang’s research has been published in the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) journal, and the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine with further work under review for peer-reviewed publication. He has also published the framework for how to implement a nicotine-free policy in the military in CHEST.

Dr. Jenelle Sobotka, Director of the online certificate and master’s programs in Pharmacy Leadership, commented, “Dr. Lang’s successful efforts to reduce nicotine use in the military population represent the leadership skills and initiative for driving change that our MS in Pharmacy Leadership program hopes to build and enhance in pharmacists who enroll in our program.  We congratulate him and wish him continued success with his initiatives in the future.”

Learn More About the Pharmacy Leadership Program with UC Online

The Pharmacy Leadership program from the University of Cincinnati James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy is flexible and 100% online. Build your business management skills and advance your career as a leader in the pharmacy field with a program custom-built for busy working pharmacists.