2023 Annual Conference & National Student Retreat

ANNUAL CONFERENCE SPEAKERS 

Douglas Anderson, PharmD, DPh

Dr. Douglas Anderson is a Professor and Chair of Pharmacy Practice at Cedarville University School of Pharmacy. Dr. Anderson completed his B.S. in Pharmacy and Pharm.D. degrees at the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy where he was the first Pharm.D. graduate. He also completed a PGY1 Residency at Saint Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City, and Fellowship in Internal Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. He is a clinician who has specialized in cardiology (cardiovascular risk reduction) and anticoagulation/thromboembolic disorders. He serves on the worship team at Dayton Avenue Baptist Church in Xenia, OH, by playing electric, acoustic, and bass guitar. He is married to his lovely wife Jen who is a physician assistant, an avid fisherman, and loves collegiate athletics (especially football).

Dawn Battise, PharmD, BCACP

Dawn Battise, PharmD, BCACP is an Associate Professor at Wingate University School of Pharmacy near Charlotte, NC. She enjoys teaching skills lab, chronic disease state management courses, and pharmacology for physical therapists. She had the privilege of serving patients in the family medicine setting for ten years but recently embarked on a new path as Director of the WUSOP Pharmacy Skills Lab. She joined CPFI as a student at Campbell University and has enjoyed fellowshipping with other Christians who happen to be pharmacists ever since that time! In 2023, she is praising God that He has allowed her to participate in the CPFI Annual Meeting for 10 consecutive years. Currently, she is a co-advisor to the Wingate University student chapter and serves as Secretary on the Executive Board. You can often find her playing outside with her husband and two sons. 

Christine R. Birnie, BS  Pharm, PhD

Dr. Birnie serves as Dean and Professor at the Wegmans School of Pharmacy at St. John Fisher University in Rochester, NY.  She joined the school in 2006 as a founding faculty member, was promoted to department chair, pharmaceutical sciences in 2010, and has been serving as the Dean of the school since 2017.  She received her B.S. in pharmacy from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and continued her studies at the same institution, completing a Ph.D. in the area of pharmaceutics. Dr. Birnie worked as a community pharmacist for Rite Aid Pharmacy, and a formulation scientist for Merial, Ltd. before joining the faculty of Palm Beach Atlantic University initially and later St. John Fisher University, where she has spent the last 16 years of her professional career.  Dr. Birnie continues to stay engaged in teaching, research, and service.  She teaches sections of pharmaceutics and compounding in the PharmD curriculum, has developed and teaches annually an elective course entitled Introduction to Medical Missions, and also precepts final-year students in clinical rotations related to international medical missions and local community-engaged learning.  Her scholarship activities include working with students and colleagues on projects related to academic pharmacy, leadership, international outreach, service, and local community engagement.   Dr. Birnie also is actively involved in service, both to the profession and the global community at large. She has led or participated in more than 20 student-based medical mission trips around the world, including such countries as El Salvador, Bolivia, Ecuador, Haiti, Nepal, and India, where she oversees an annual medical mission project. She has served in elected positions and boards for the Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International and the advisory committee for the Global Missions Health Conference.  She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Mary’s Place Refugee Outreach, St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center, and India Connection and was the recipient of a Fulbright Scholar to India in 2013.  

Gregory C. Carlson, PharmD

Greg Carlson retired from over 30 years as a Director of Pharmacy at Pioneer Community Hospital in Stuart, Virginia. Over the course of his 40-plus years in pharmacy, Greg also practiced pharmacy in long-term care and retail pharmacy.  He currently works part-time in an independent pharmacy in Patrick Springs, Virginia. He received his BS Degree in Pharmacy and Pharm. D. Degree from Mercer University, Atlanta, GA. Prior to pharmacy school, he served in the US Army as a pharmacy technician, which included serving a year in Viet Nam in the 24^th Evacuation Hospital. He currently is vice-president of Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International. Greg has served with Samaritan’s Purse since 2019 with deployments to the Bahamas, New York Central Park, Haiti, and twice in Ukraine. He has also been on several GHO mission trips, the most recent to Istanbul, Turkey in May 2022. Greg serves our Lord at home as an active member and deacon of Grace Baptist Church. 

 Justin W. Cole, PharmD, BCPS

Dr. Justin Cole is an Associate Professor and Chair of Pharmacy Practice at the Cedarville University School of Pharmacy. He also serves as director of Cedarville University’s Center for Pharmacy Innovation. Dr. Cole received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Ohio Northern University. Prior to his academic appointment, Dr. Cole worked at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in a number of roles, including as coordinator of clinical and investigational drugs services. Dr. Cole is a board-certified pharmacotherapy specialist and continues to practice as the pediatric behavioral health clinical pharmacist at Rocking Horse Community Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center in Springfield, Ohio. His teaching and research interests include pediatrics, neurology/psychiatry, vaccine confidence, pharmacy ethics, and pharmacy leadership.

Fred M. Eckel, BS, MS, SCD (Hon)

 

Fred Eckel is Executive Director Emeritus of the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists and Professor Emeritus at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Fred grew up in Philadelphia where he graduated from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science.  He earned his MS degree and residency in hospital pharmacy from The Ohio State University School of Pharmacy and Hospitals. He received an honorary doctor of science degree from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia in May 2009.  Fred is a pharmacist by choice, commitment, and concern.  During his lengthy career, he has worked in community and hospital pharmacy settings.  He served as Director of Pharmacy at the UNC Hospitals from 1968 to 1975.  Fred is a past president of ASHP, NCSHP, and the North Carolina Center for Pharmaceutical Care. Fred is Editor Emeritus of Pharmacy Times and has contributed over 250 articles and editorials to the pharmacy literature.  He is a frequent speaker at pharmacy meetings, having spoken in every U.S. state and on all inhabited continents. Fred’s wife, Peggy, is a nurse; his daughter, Sarah, and son, Stephen, practice pharmacy.  Fred’s faith is important to him. Fred is considered a pharmacy futurist. You may not agree with him, but he will make you think.  Be prepared to be challenged, stimulated, and quickened.

Joy Greene, PharmD 

Dr. Joy Greene is a native of North Carolina who received her Pharm.D. degree from UNC in 1998. Joy opened and managed two independent pharmacies before joining the Academy. She has helped open three new schools of pharmacy and currently serves as the Associate Dean for Experiential Education at High Point University. Joy has been married to her husband, Bryan, for 26 years and they have two children. Joy and her family are members of Green Street Baptist Church in High Point. Joy founded Joytime Ministries in 2012. "Joytime" is a one-minute nationally-syndicated Christian radio feature that airs on ~ 2000 radio stations worldwide. Joy speaks regularly at women's events, and she also leads a weekly, online ladies' Bible Study on Facebook Live and YouTube Live. She published her first devotional last summer and is working on another book to publish later this year. Learn more about Joytime Ministries at www.joytime.org.

Daniel A. Hussar, PhD

Daniel A. Hussar is Dean Emeritus and Remington Professor of Pharmacy Emeritus at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy.  He has served as a member of the Board of Trustees and as Honorary President of the American Pharmacists Association and is a Past President of the Drug Information Association and the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association.  He has served on the Board of Directors of World Vision and the Board of Directors of Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International.  He is a recipient of the Remington Honor Medal of the American Pharmacists Association and the Distinguished Pharmacy Educator Award of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. Dr. Hussar’s primary interests are in the areas of new drugs, drug interactions, patient safety, and issues facing the profession of pharmacy, and he has written and spoken extensively on these subjects.  For many years he has published articles in several professional journals on the new medications that have been marketed in the United States.  He serves as the Author/Editor of The Pharmacist Activist monthly newsletter. 

Jay Jackson,  PharmD

Jay Jackson, Pharm.D., is the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy where he formerly attended and received his Pharm. D. degree. Jay also completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at the West Palm Beach Veterans Affairs Medical Center. In addition to overseeing student services, he teaches heavily in the school’s curriculum with a focus on pharmacogenomics, cardiovascular pharmacotherapy, and nutrition support. Jay has a passion for local and international medical missions, having led several trips locally and to the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica. Jay is happily married to his wonderful wife of 12 years and blessed with five children. He also serves as a pastor of a local house church network.

Kelly W. Jones, PharmD, BCPS

Kelly W. Jones, Pharm.D., BCPS is a graduate of the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) where he received both his B.S. in Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees.  He also completed a Pharm. D. Fellowship in Family Medicine from MUSC.  After graduation, he joined the faculty at the McLeod Family Medicine Residency Program in Florence, South Carolina, and worked with them for 28 years.  In 2016, he broke away from academics to help develop a new independent pharmacy located in Florence simply called THE Pharmacy.  Who says a teacher can’t practice?  In 1993, he was awarded Board Certification in Pharmacotherapy and since has renewed that certification three times.  In June of this year, the South Carolina Pharmacy Association awarded him, Pharmacist of the Year for the State of South Carolina.  Dr. Jones was born in Fountain Inn, South Carolina, married to Lisa, and has 6 wonderful children Amanda, West, Carol, Mason, Hamilton, and Jackson.  To these he can add 7 grandchildren; Mae, Kellett, Lily, Sammy, Morgan, Henry, and George.  He currently resides in Hartsville, South Carolina.  His hobbies include family and writing music

Jessica Tegan Langdon, PharmD, MBA, BCPS, NCTTP

Dr. Jessica Tegan Langdon is a clinical pharmacist practicing at the Internal Medicine/Department of Medicine Clinic since 2020 and previously at the Robinson Health Clinic starting in 2016, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  She earned a Doctorate of Pharmacy degree and a Masters degree in Business Administration from South University.  Upon graduation, she completed a PGY-1 pharmacy residency program at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She was the first CPFI NSC National Student Retreat Coordinator and upon graduation has been a member of the CPFI Annual Meeting Committee. She has been the co-chair of the CPFI Student Chapter Advisory Committee since 2016.  She also volunteers as the administrative support team member for her Samaritan's Purse - Operation Christmas Child area team since 2019. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, going on adventures in new areas, and working on various arts/crafts.

Emily Laswell, PharmD, BCPS

 

Dr. Emily Laswell completed her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Ohio Northern University in May 2012. Following her graduation, Dr. Laswell completed a post-graduate pharmacy practice residency at Grandview Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio. During her residency, she also obtained a teaching certificate from the Raabe College of Pharmacy at Ohio Northern University. Dr. Laswell is currently an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Cedarville University and practices at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, where she works with an internal medicine team focusing on the care of patients with stroke and neurologic diseases. In addition to her clinical practice site, Dr. Laswell is currently serving as Faculty President, as well as coordinator for Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) for the School of Pharmacy at Cedarville University. 

 Nathanael Smith, PharmD, BCPS

 

Nate Smith is a 2017 graduate of Cedarville University School of Pharmacy (CUSOP) and completed a PGY-1 residency at St. Mary's Medical Center in Huntington, West Virginia. After residency, the Lord brought Nate and his wife Ashley back to CUSOP where he is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice. He practices in cardiology at Kettering Health Dayton and teaches cardiology and advanced bioethics at CUSOP. Nate has a passion for training Christians who happen to be pharmacists (or student pharmacists) how to biblically navigate the tumultuous time that we currently practice. 

DEVOTION & WORSHIP LEADERS

Jeffrey A. Bates, PharmD

In April 2021, Dr. Jeffrey Bates was appointed Dean of Cedarville University’s School of Pharmacy after serving as Associate Dean for five years.  He works tirelessly with the School’s executive committee to see that the School aligns students’ God-given passions with their God-given abilities ensuring they become exceptional Kingdom ambassadors, ministering, and adorning the Gospel through the profession of pharmacy.  Nearly 30 years after graduating from Pharmacy school, Dr. Bates’ career has centered on pouring into more than 2,300 Pharmacists, modeling excellent care, and striving to exceed expectations. In the years prior to joining Cedarville, Dr. Bates served at Ferris State University’s College of Pharmacy as Assistant Dean and Director of Student Success.  While at Ferris, he founded the Ferris Pharmacy Care Clinic in 2013.  Located inside Ferris College of Pharmacy, students continue to regularly hone their clinical skills, assuring comprehensive care to underserved patients in and around Mecosta County.  Further, he shared clinical responsibilities in an Interdisciplinary Diabetes Clinic, facilitating experiential and inter-professional learning for pharmacy, optometry, and nursing students. Dr. Bates is privileged to have been an invited lecturer many times on both state and national platforms.  Dr. Bates has helped lead several non-profit organizations, serving on the Board of Directors for the Michigan Pharmacists Association, Hope House Free Medical Clinic, Cran Hill Ministries, and the Christian Pharmacy Fellowship International.  He has served as a deacon at Grace Baptist Church in Cedarville as well as led committees in the American Academy of Colleges of Pharmacy and at the Michigan Pharmacist’s Association.  He is currently actively involved in the Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International Board of Directors and chairs its Educational Affairs Committee. He and his wife Sheryl are originally from the west-central Michigan area but are now privileged to call Cedarville, Ohio home.  They have three children and are strong advocates for, and supporters of, foster care and adoption.

Fred M. Eckel, BS, MS, SCD (Hon)

Fred Eckel is Executive Director Emeritus of the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists and Professor Emeritus at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Fred grew up in Philadelphia where he graduated from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science.  He earned his MS degree and residency in hospital pharmacy from The Ohio State University School of Pharmacy and Hospitals. He received an honorary doctor of science degree from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia in May 2009.  Fred is a pharmacist by choice, commitment, and concern.  During his lengthy career, he has worked in community and hospital pharmacy settings.  He served as Director of Pharmacy at the UNC Hospitals from 1968 to 1975.  Fred is a past president of ASHP, NCSHP, and the North Carolina Center for Pharmaceutical Care. Fred is Editor Emeritus of Pharmacy Times and has contributed over 250 articles and editorials to the pharmacy literature.  He is a frequent speaker at pharmacy meetings, having spoken in every U.S. state and on all inhabited continents. Fred’s wife, Peggy, is a nurse; his daughter, Sarah, and son, Stephen, practice pharmacy.  Fred’s faith is important to him. Fred is considered a pharmacy futurist. You may not agree with him, but he will make you think.  Be prepared to be challenged, stimulated, and quickened.

Joy Greene, PharmD 

Dr. Joy Greene is a native of North Carolina who received her Pharm.D. degree from UNC in 1998. Joy opened and managed two independent pharmacies before joining the Academy. She has helped open three new schools of pharmacy and currently serves as the Associate Dean for Experiential Education at High Point University. Joy has been married to her husband, Bryan, for 26 years and they have two children. Joy and her family are members of Green Street Baptist Church in High Point. Joy founded Joytime Ministries in 2012. "Joytime" is a one-minute nationally-syndicated Christian radio feature that airs on ~ 2000 radio stations worldwide. Joy speaks regularly at women's events, and she also leads a weekly, online ladies' Bible Study on Facebook Live and YouTube Live. She published her first devotional last summer and is working on another book to publish later this year. Learn more about Joytime Ministries at www.joytime.org.

Jennifer Sands, BS Pharmacy

Jennifer’s husband Jim was killed in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.  Since then, Jennifer has undergone a dramatic spiritual transformation from tragedy to victory in Christ:  from an unbelieving, devastated widow to a Christian Author, Speaker, and Bible teacher.  A New Jersey native, Jennifer’s story has been featured on The 700 Club, Moody Bible Radio, Homelife Magazine, Fox News, and many other media outlets. She’s the author of 3 books: A Tempered Faith, A Teachable Faith, and A Treasured Faith; and she regularly addresses many audiences with her Biblically-centered messages.  Jennifer is also a 1989 graduate of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. She worked in the same independent retail pharmacy for 30 years before retiring from pharmacy in 2019.  For more information on her ministry, visit www.jennifersands.com. Jennifer looks forward to the fellowship time with her CPFI family! 

  STUDENT RETREAT SPEAKERS

Keith W. Allhands, BS  Pharmacy

Keith Allhands is a pharmacist living in southeast Indiana.  He started out his career working in the first computerized independent pharmacy in the state of Indiana located in New Castle while working part-time at the local hospital. Moving southeast, he retired after 39 years at Dearborn County Hospital working his way from staff pharmacist to assistant director of pharmacy services.  Keith is a Purdue University graduate.  Professional organizations include Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International (CPFI), the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP), the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists (ASHP), the Indiana Pharmacists Alliance (IPA), and Christian Medical and Dental Associations (CMDA).  He is working in his community being a board member and clinic director for the Volunteers in Medicine of Dearborn, Ohio, and Switzerland Counties, a free medical clinic in Aurora, IN.  Keith volunteers as a pharmacist interpreter and a board member of the Hook’s Drug Store Museum located at the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis, a board member of the Dearborn County Federal Credit Union, and a member of the Dillsboro Community C.A.R.E. (Community Action Response Engage) team.  Keith is a supply pastor for various churches for pastors needing vacation/sick time or churches between full-time pastors.  He volunteers on short-term medical brigades.  He is married to his bride, Linda, has three beautiful daughters, and four engaging grandchildren.

Erin Ballentine,  PharmD

Erin Ballentine is from Frederick, Maryland.  In 2019, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Cedarville University.  After completing her Bachelors, Erin remained at Cedarville University to earn her Masters of Business Administration concentrated in Healthcare Administration and her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2022.  Erin is currently in her first year of the two-year Health System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership Residency program at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.  Additionally, she is completing a Master of Science degree in Health Care Management through the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. 

Sarah Marie Freeman,  PharmD

Dr. Sarah Freeman is a recent graduate of Wingate University School of Pharmacy. She is currently completing her Community Pharmacy Fellowship through NCPA/CPESN at TrueCare Pharmacy in Concord, North Carolina. Sarah has a passion for Independent Community Pharmacy and helping her patients understand their health while helping them along their health journey. Sarah enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and church family. Some of her hobbies include traveling, hiking, cooking, painting, woodworking, and meeting new people. Sarah has been an active member of CPFI since 2018 as a student and has now transitioned to a professional member. She has enjoyed serving on her local CPFI chapter and National Student Chapter leadership boards, attending CPFI events and growing with a group of Christians that just happen to be Pharmacists.  

P. Brittiany Vickery, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP, CPP

Dr. Brittany Vickery is a Christ follower, wife, mother, and pharmacist. She is an Associate Professor of Pharmacy at Wingate University School of Pharmacy, Hendersonville Health Sciences Center in Hendersonville, North Carolina where she teaches experientially and didactically.  After graduating from Wingate University School of Pharmacy in 2012, she completed her Pharmacy Practice Residency at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in Knoxville, Tennessee in 2013. She became Board Certified in Pharmacotherapy in 2014, and Board Certified in Psychiatric Pharmacy in 2016. She maintains an inpatient practice site at AdventHealth Hendersonville where she serves as a preceptor for third and fourth-year pharmacy students. She enjoys building relationships with students and supporting them in achieving their personal and professional goals. She is a co-adviser for the school’s CPFI chapter and is privileged to lead Bible studies with the chapter, and host fellowship events. She serves as a volunteer at The Free Clinic in Hendersonville. Dr. Vickery hails from Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and currently resides in Hendersonville, North Carolina. She is a member of Calvary Fellowship in Mills River, NC. She enjoys serving in her church’s children’s ministry, reading the Bible and theology books, spending quality time with family and friends, taking walks with her family and dog, hiking, doing DIY craft projects, and enjoying the beautiful Western Carolina outdoors

Other Upcoming Meetings

APhA 2023 Annual Meeting & Exposition
CPFI Prayer Breakfast
March 24 to 27, 2023
Phoenix, Arizona
Time 7:30 am to 8:45 AM ET
Cost: $25.
Location:  Convention  Center,  Room 131C 
Speaker: Dr. Jeffrey A. Bates, Dean
Cedarville University School of Pharmacy
REGISTER

2023 CPFI Annual Conference & National Student Retreat
Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center
91 North Lakeshore Drive
Lake Junaluska, NC 28745
May 24 to 29, 2023  National Student  Retreat
May 25 to 29, 2023 Annual Conference
Registration opens January 16, 2023 (register with CPFI only)
Learn about Lake Junaluska here https://lakejunaluska.com/ 
REGISTER
Program
Student Program
Schedule-at-a-glance
Speakers

Recent Conferences and Prayer Breakfasts or Luncheons

Global Mission Health Conference
Southeast Christian Church
Louisville, KY
CPFI- Exhibit Booth - main exhibit hall
November 10 to 12, 2022

APhA  2022  Annual  Meeting  & Exposition - San  Antonio, TX - March  18  to 21, 2022
CPFI  Prayer  Breakfast at  APhA - Sunday,  March 20,  2022
Location: Henry B Gonzalez Convention Center, Room: 225C
Time: 7:30  AM  to 8:45  AM
Cost:  $25.
Speaker: Eugene (Gene) Lutz - See Gene's Bio
Presentation: 'How  to be  a Sustained  Release (SR)  Christian  Pharmacist'

 

GMHC Conference:  November 13 and 14
CPFI Board Meeting: November 12 9:AM to 2:00 PM ET 
CPFI Meet & Greet: November 13 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM ET

2020 CPFI Online Annual Conference & National Student Retreat

June 5, 2020

CPFI Prayer Breakfast at the 2020 APhA Annual meeting & Exposition
Cancelled
Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
National Harbor, MD (minutes from Washington, DC)
Prayer Breakfast: March 22, 2020
Speaker: Jennifer Sands
Message: By God's Grace and for God's Glory: a 9/11 Widow's ongoing journey

CPFI 2019 Annual Conference & National Student Retreat
Doubletree by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront
3200 South Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach, SC, 29577
May 22 to 26, 2019

CPFI Prayer Breakfast at the 2019 APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition
Seattle, WA - March 24, 2019
Location: Washington State Convention Center, Rm. 401
Date: Sunday, March 24th
Time: 7:30 AM to 8:45 AM
Speaker: Dr. Daniel A. Hussar - Bio
Topic: 'Priorities'
Cost: $25.
Register for this event when you register for the conference. A small quantity of tickets will be available at the door.

 CPFI Prayer Breakfast at the ASHP Mid-year

Anaheim, CA - December 2, 2018 at 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM
Speaker: Dr. Ashley Devaughan Topic: The Planted Tree
Cost: FREE (RSVP required - please RSVP to [email protected]) 
Location: 2 miles from the Convention Center at 
First Presbyterian Church of Garden Grove, Garden Grove, CA - The Prayer Breakfast will be located in the church lounge indicated with a red X on the map.
FPC Building Map-DEC 2 CPFI Prayer Breakfast.pdf

CPFI Exhibit, Board of Directors Meeting and Meet & Greet at the Global Mission Health Conference
Louisville, KY - November 8 to 10, 2018 

CPFI Exhibit at the 2018 CURE Conference
Buies Creek, NC - October 20, 2018 

CPFI Prayer Breakfast at the Virginia Pharmacy Assoc. 137th Annual Convention
Norfolk, VA - September 9, 2018

CPFI Prayer Breakfast at the AACP Annual Meeting
Boston, MA  - July 22, 2018 

2018 CPFI Annual Conference & National Student Retreat
Student Retreat: May 30 to June 3, 2018
Annual Conference: May 31 to June 3, 2018
Location: Bonclarken Conference Center, 500 Pine Drive, Flat Rock, NC 28731

CPFI Prayer Breakfast at the 2018 American Pharmacy Association (APhA) Annual Meeting & Exposition

CPFI Prayer Breakfast: March 18, 2018 / APhA Meeting: March 16 to 19, 2018
Speaker: Dr. Joy Greene
Title: "When I Grow Up, I Want to Be _____________."
Time: 7:30 am to 8:45 am
Location: Nashville, TN - Music City Center, Room 207B

Exposition  CPFI Prayer Breakfast at the ASHP Mid-year Clinical Meeting

CPFI  hosted a Prayer Breakfast at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting in Orlando, FL on Sunday, December 3rd at the Rosen Centre Hotel, Salon 9 (9840 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819-8122.  

CPFI Prayer Breakfast at the VPhA 136th Annual Convention
Speaker: Mark Johnson, Pharm.D.
Date: September 10, 2017
Location: Virginia Beach, VA

CURE 2017  - CPFI Exhibitor
CPFI Exhibitor - Dr. Bob Cisneros
Date: September 15-16, 2017
Location: Buies Creek, NC

Global Missions Health Conference - CPFI Partner, Exhibitor and host for Meet & Greet
CPFI Exhibitor - CPFI Board Members
Meet & Greet Coordinator - Board Member, Jordan Daniel, Pharm. D.
Date: November 9-11, 2017
Location: Louisville, KY

2017 CPFI Prayer Breakfast at the AACP Annual Meeting

Date and Time Sunday, July 16, 2017 6:45 a.m.–7:45 a.m.
Meeting Room (All programs/sessions are at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center) Presidential Ballroom B, Level 2

 CPFI Prayer Breakfast at the APhA 2017 Annual Meeting & Exposition

Date: Sunday, March 26, 2017
Time: 7:30 am to 8:45 am
Location: Moscone Convention Center: Room 250/262.
Speaker: William A. Kehoe, MA, PharmD, FCCP, BCPS
Department Chair, Director - Office of Academic Success and Instructional Support, Instructional Support Coordinator for the Combined Pharmacy Fellowship/Master of Science Program
University of the Pacific, Thomas J. Long College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Topic: “Keeping a Sense of Mission in Our Professional Life”
Cost: $25.00

CPFI Prayer Breakfast at the APhA 2016 Convention

Date: Sunday, March 6, 2016
Time: 7:30 am to 8:45 am
Location: Rm 301/302, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD
Speaker: Edward M Bednarczyk, PharmD, FCCP

Clinical Associate Professor, Chairman, Pharmacy Practice
University of Buffalo
Topic: 'Quo Vadis: How do we discern God’s will for our lives?'
Cost: $25.

2016 CPFI Annual Conference & National Student Retreat

Date: June 8 to June 12, 2016/Student retreat and 
June 9 to June 12/ Annual Conference
Location: Springmaid Beach Resort, Myrtle Beach, SC

Virginia Pharmacy Association Convention/CPFI Prayer Breakfast
Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at 7:am

2015 CPFI Annual Conference & National Student Retreat Bonclarken Conference Center
500 Pine Drive Flat Rock, NC 28731
Conference: June 4 to June 7, 2015
National Student  Retreat: June 3 to June 7, 2015

The CPFI 2015 Annual Conference & National Student Retreat returns to Flat Rock, North Carolina on June 3 through June 7, 2015! The National Student Retreat will begin in the evening on Wednesday and continue on Thursday. Conference attendees will arrive early afternoon on Thursday with the first continuing education session beginning at 2:30 p.m. On Thursday evening, we will have a worship service at 7 pm followed by an ice cream social at 8 pm. The CE program will continue on Friday morning through Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. A country barbeque is planned for Friday evening and will include a dual zip line and a campfire.  We are planning another silent auction this year and proceeds from the auction will be used to continue efforts to build up a body of Christian pharmacists in the DR Congo. Saturday afternoon will be free time and there will also be an opportunity to participate in a service project! Fred Eckel will lead our Sunday morning worship service which will be held in the Bonclarken chapel. The theme for this year's conference is 'Tell Your Story' with a focus on Psalm 105:1 "Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name, make known among the nations what he has done." (NIV)   
Anyone interested is welcome to attend the CPFI Board of Directors meeting which is scheduled for Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.

 2014 Global Missions Health Conference - Nov. 6-8th, Louisville, KY

The GMHC was another very successful conference Nov. 6-8th. There were over 2900 medical professionals and students that attended. The times of worship were amazing and the 4 plenary session speakers were all stimulating. We had a chance to attend 7 out of the 70 plus breakout workshop sessions. With all the recent news about the Ebola crisis I opted to attend 6 different sessions that focused on Ebola diagnosis and treatment. We got to hear from some of the men and women who have been on the front lines carrying for these patients, a couple of whom developed the disease and have completely recovered, with God’s help and the dedicated care of fellow missionaries serving under challenging conditions. What a blessing to hear from and learn from those that have been the hands and feet of Jesus.
CPFI was one of over 100 exhibitors that were able to showcase their marketplace or mission ministry at the conference. We must have had close to 100 pharmacists and pharmacy students stop by our booth during the 3 days the exhibit was open.

CPFI 2014 Annual Conference & National Student Retreat ‘Give Glory to God’ Jun 11-15, 

2014 CPFI Prayer Breakfast

Global Mission Health Conference
November 7-9, 2013

Pharmacist attendees can earn up to 7 hours of ACPE-approved CPE credits. CPE is being sponsored by the Cedarville University School of Pharmacy, in collaboration with the Global Missions Health Conference.

 Southwest Regional Student Retreat

The LORD really moved and made his presence known at CPFI’s First Annual Southwest Regional Retreat Aug. 2-4, 2013! We learned to have joy in all that we do, even in the times of unwanted circumstances. Dr. Copeland, UIW-FSOP CPFI advisor, shared with us that “fear/anxiety prevents the absorption and distribution of joy” in his teaching, The Prescription for Joy. He also explained to us that joy is relationship dependent rather than situation dependent. Dr. Eckel, CPFI National President, helped us to understand that we can't control our circumstances but we can control how we respond in his teaching, Joy is a Choice. Lastly, in his leadership training titled, Traffic: Leadership on the Highways of Life, Pastor Kevin Duhart, Lead Pastor of the Rock Fellowship Church, explained to us that leadership is the act of inspiring others and that leadership starts with servant hood.

We were blessed to have students in attendance from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Science Center-Amarillo, and of coarse, the University of the Incarnate-Word Feik School of Pharmacy, the hosting chapter of the retreat.

The highlights of our retreat were our Night of Worship with Tantivity, a local worship band in San Antonio, TX, our reading of inspirational stories to the assisted-living residents at The Village, and our water balloon fight at our BBQ dinner.

One of our most impactful moments of the retreat was our chapter discussion and updates, where many ideas were bought forth and inspiration and encouragement was shared between chapters. The most impactful moment overall was that one person received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and three people rededicated their lives to Christ.

It was amazing to see how awakened and revitalized everyone left the retreat, set on fire to spread the joy of Christ to his or her respective chapters. For we know “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22 NASB), was our retreat’s scriptural theme.

Germesia Kwame
CPFI Southwest Regional Director

2013 Virginia Pharmacists Association Prayer Breakfast

The 132nd Annual Virginia Pharmacy Association Convention was held on July 29 to 31, 2013, at the Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach, Virginia. CPFI sponsored a prayer breakfast on Tuesday, July 30 and CPFI member, Gene Erb, presented the program titled “Medical Missionary Service”.

Dr. Erb and his daughter traveled to El Salvador this past June as part of a CMDA-GHO medical team ministering to the needy in a coastal mountain region of the country. Dr. Erb discussed how God helped them overcame obstacles as they worked to bring the Gospel and medical care to the people of El Salvador. Team members volunteered their time to serve and in turn received many blessings along the way.

CPFI Board members, Mark Johnson and Greg Carlson, are pictured ‘manning’ the CPFI exhibit booth at the convention. CPFI Board member, John Cowley, was also instrumental in coordinating CPFI participation at the convention. Our thanks to the leadership of  the Virginia Pharmacy Association for welcoming us to the meeting. 

2013 CPFI Annual Conference and National Student Retreat

The CPFI 2013 Annual Meeting was held at Bonclarken Conference Center, Flat Rock, NC from June 6 through June 11, 2013.  Pharmacists, student pharmacists, and their family members from 23 states, Canada, and the Congo  gathered at the Bonclarken Conference Center, a Christian conference center, located at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Gracious southern hospitality,  beautiful surroundings, excellent food, and comfortable contemporary guest rooms are just a few reasons why Bonclarken has become a favorite  location for many who attended.

Global Missions Health Conference
November 8-10, 2012 Louisville, KY

AACP CPFI Prayer Breakfast
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center
Kissimmee, Florida

FPA CPFI Prayer Breakfast
Friday, July 6, 2012
Marriott Resort Golf Club & Spa
Marco Island, Florida 

VPhA CPFI Prayer Breakfast
VPhA's 131st Annual Convention
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
7:00 am to 8:00 am
Wyndham Hotel - Virginia Beach
Devotional Leader: Mark Johnson


2012 CPFI Annual Conference

The CPFI 2012 Annual Meeting was held at Glen Eyrie, the Navigator Headquarters, Colorado Springs, CO from June 7 through June 10, 2012.  A worship service started off the conference on Thursday evening at 7 p.m. and an ice cream social followed. The CE program was Friday morning through Friday afternoon and again on Saturday morning. Friday evening was an optional social event, dinner and concert at the Flying W ranch. Saturday afternoon was free time and Saturday evening was the CPFI awards banquet.  Program details are available with the schedule and a listing of the continuing education topics.

Prayer Breakfast - APhA 2012 Annual Meeting

CPFI hosted a prayer breakfast at the 2012 APhA Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA. The event was at the convention center on Sunday, March 11th from 7:30 am until 8:45 am. Stephen F. Eckel from UNC Health System was the guest speaker.

Prayer Breakfast - Alaska Pharmacists Association 2012 Annual Meeting

AkPhA hosted a prayer breakfast at their 2012 Annual Conference in Anchorage, AK. Approximately 20 people gathered at the Marriott Hotel on Sunday, February 19th from 7:30 am until 8:15 am for a light breakfast worship and a short message from Ron Herman, CPFI President.

2011 CPFI Annual Conference

The CPFI 2011 Annual Meeting was held at SpringMaid Beach, SC June 9 through June 12, 2011. Attendees arrived on Thursday and were challenged late in the afternoon to examine what our  "World View" is and how that affects our healthcare and spiritual decisions.  A worship service was held at 7 pm and an ice cream social at 8 pm. The CE program continued on Friday morning through Friday afternoon and again on Saturday morning. An optional social event was held on Friday evening. Serving Others (And the King will answer them, "I assure you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" Matt. 25:40) was the theme for the conference.  Educational sessions included a new drugs update, a brief review of monoclonal antibodies, an update on asthma therapy and information about recent interest in Vitamin D.  Time was spent looking at the cost of drugs, the role of a healthcare safety net, making professional decisions and end of life issues.  Lastly we talked about best practices for short term mission trips.  Student pharamcists participated in both engaging discussions and fun social activities.  Free time was available on Saturday afternoon and we had our annual awards banquet that evening, followed by singing on the beach.  The CPFI Board of Directors met Wednesday evening and Thursday.

Dr. Warren E. Weaver Service Award

“For Following our Lord’s Example of Service to Others”

The Dr. Warren E. Weaver Award was established in 1990 "to identify the person who most exemplifies the Lord's example in service to others through CPFI." The award is given only when the awards committee and/or the Board determines that there is an outstanding individual that deserves recognition.