Kelly Karpa, associate professor of pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, has been named a 2013 Macy Faculty Scholar by the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation. Begun in December 2010, the program is dedicated to facilitating education reform through medical institutions across the nation. The dean of each of these institutions may nominate one outstanding faculty leader, recognized for their potential in innovating education. This candidate may then apply for the award.

From this year’s pool of 60 applicants, Karpa was selected as a member of the third class of Macy Faculty Scholars — a prestigious honor, as the foundation chooses no more than five scholars each year. The foundation has identified Karpa as a “leader for change” and will invest in her research pursuits for medical education reform at the College of Medicine. For the next two years, Karpa will dedicate half of her work to a new research project for transforming medical education related to medication management. Karpa’s proposed project includes leading education sessions with third- and fourth-year medical students and nurse practitioner students.

“I aim to help future prescribers transition between simply learning drug facts and actual application of pharmacologic principles,” Karpa said.

Her plans to achieve this goal are to teach students principles associated with medication selection and management for patients. “Ultimately,” she said, “I hope to lead efforts that result in safer and more effective medication prescribing and utilization.”

This research will be supplemented by a grant from the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation and overseen by the National Advisory Committee.

In addition to this award, Karpa was recently inducted into the Academy of Pharmacology Educators.