Tessa J. Hastings, an assistant professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Outcomes Sciences, has been named the recipient of the 2024 Clinical Research Paper Award by the American Pharmacists Association's Academy Of Pharmaceutical Research And Science for her work titled, "Increasing use of immunization information systems for routine vaccinations in independent community pharmacies: A randomized controlled trial."
The APhA Awards and Honors Program is the most comprehensive recognition program in the profession of pharmacy, encompassing practice and science awards which showcase the incredible work being done to move the field forward.
Hastings' research is broadly dedicated to reducing preventable infectious diseases and improving health outcomes among underserved populations. She focuses on the development, implementation, and dissemination of evidence-based interventions to improve immunization coverage, specifically through pharmacy-based services in rural communities.
Her research has been funded by the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the American Cancer Society, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and others. In total, she has secured 16 funded grants including 7 as primary investigator and 9 as co-investigator or mentor.
She has studied the adoption, implementation, and/or sustainability of multiple pharmacy-based services/innovations including HPV vaccine uptake among rural adolescents; herpes zoster vaccination in underserved communities; pneumococcal vaccination in high-risk immunocompromised adults; immunization information systems; and PrEP usage through addressing health care professionals’ knowledge and HIV-related stigma.
Through the implementation of effective evidence-based strategies, Hastings hopes to contribute to the reduction of disparities in the prevention of infectious diseases.
Hastings will be officially recognized during the APhA Annual Meeting and Exposition in Orlando, Florida, in March.