Pharmacy graduate to receive Kappa Epsilon/Merck Vanguard Award

LeAnne Davidson Kennedy, 1993 PharmD graduate from Campbell University, will receive the 2012 Kappa Epsilon/Merck Vanguard Leadership Award on March 10. The presentation will take place at the Kappa Epsilon reception, in conjunction with the American Pharmacists Association’s Pharmacy Exposition in New Orleans. Kennedy is the clinical specialist for inpatient hematology and oncology at Wake Forest Baptist Health (WFBH) in Winston-Salem, NC.  In 1993 she received her doctor of pharmacy degree from Campbell University’s College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, followed by a pharmacy practice residency at WFBH.  She presently is director of the PGY2 oncology residency.

For 18 years she has worked with the blood and marrow transplant service at WFBH and continues an active interest in supportive care and anti-infective therapies.  LeAnne is also an adjunct assistant professor at Campbell University and for the University of North Carolina’s School of Pharmacy plus Wake Forest University’s School of Health Sciences.  In 2002 she received board certification in oncology.

Numerous committees continue to benefit from her leadership and participation.  She is serving as a founding member of the Hematology and Oncology Pharmacy Association and in 2001 founded the North Carolina Oncology Pharmacist Association.  Organizations utilizing her expertise are the American Society Blood and Marrow Transplant, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, America Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Pharmacists Association, and others.

Kennedy’s career path includes innumerable lectures, 24 presentations, and 38 research projects as primary or co-investigator.  She is a prolific writer and has contributed to 18 publications on multiple subjects, including oncology, blood, transplants, chemotherapy, and disease prevention.

During her career, she has received many honors and awards including outstanding pharmacist, continuing excellence, most influential pharmacist, and preceptor of the year.  In 2005, Kennedy received the first Award of Excellence from the Hematology and Oncology Association. Throughout the years Campbell University has invited her to give keynote and graduation addresses.

In addition to professional activities she is a contributor to the larger world, active in community service, church, medical mission trips, crisis control, and United Way.  Kennedy is an esteemed professional harpist, having performed at the Kennedy Center, Washington, DC, at convocations, for various churches, and at weddings.  

Kennedy and her husband Gary reside in Winston-Salem, NC and have two sons, Jeffrey and Andrew.

Kennedy is a member of Kappa Epsilon, (Alpha Rho), and the fraternity is honored to be represented so admirably by one of its own.